Sanat Vizyon Istanbul (or in English, Art Vision Istanbul) consists of a small group of dedicated individuals who see art as a means for peace and healthy mental development amongst refugee children living in Turkey. Based in Australia and Turkey we are working together raising funds to provide art equipment for kids on the streets. From canvases and paintbrushes to recording equipment and cameras
we want painting, drawing, singing, dancing, poetry and photography to flood the streets of Istanbul! Contact us here on our page or donate on the link below to find out ways you can help. https://www.gofundme.com/ArtVisionIstanbul
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Sanat Vizyon İstanbul (veya İngilizce'de, Art Vision İstanbul) mülteci çocuklarının akıl sağlanın gelişiminde sanatı kullanan yardımsever bir grup insandan oluşmaktadır. Sanat Vizyon İstanbul bağış toplamak için hem Türkiye'de hem Avustralya’da kurulmuştur. Yardımseverlerden gelen bağışları sokakta yaşayan Sureyeli mülteci çocuklar için sanat araç gereçleri satın alımında harcıyoruz. Kağıt ve fircalar’dan kameralar ve kayıt ekipmanlar’a boyuma çızılma, şarki söyleme, dance etme, şiirlik ve fotoğraflık İstanbul’nın sokaklarda canlanmak istiyoruz! Hem Facebook ya da GoFundMe sitemize bakıp bize katılabilirsiniz! Sizlerden gelecek teklif ve fikirlere açığız. Umarım projemize sizde katılırsınız. https://www.gofundme.com/ArtVisionIstanbul
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A little bit of background...
There are currently around 8.7 million Syrian refugees living overseas as a direct result of the civil conflict in their home nation. Turkey has the highest number in the world, with 2.7 million currently taking refuge in the country, many in Istanbul, and many being children. Moreover Turkey has its own struggles with the Syria conflict; bearing the weight of so many refugees takes its toll on young Turks. While direct capital investment in such humanitarian crises is often hailed the most effective way of providing assistance (i.e. Direct donation to Red Cross/Red Crescent etc.), We believe that in the case of the current crisis in Syria, the specific psychology is different. In our experience, the provision of a long-term “platform” in which people, namely children, can express their emotions, and moreover be allowed to express them, is extremely important in surpassing civil conflict. For Syrian children especially, the political reasoning for the great upheaval that has occurred in their country has gone unnoticed; all they have been witness to is the day-to-day suffering of their friends and family. Many will have lost a parent, or both, brothers, sisters and friends, and many will have actually seen them die. All they know is that a large combined power has taken from them things they will never get back. As you can imagine their emotions are a potent mixture of sadness and hate. We believe at the delicate and impressionable stage of life that is childhood, such strong emotions can be extremely powerful, in one way or another. They divide young people into those that channel the hate and those that channel doing something to ensure others never experience what they have been through themselves. We need to make sure that they follow the latter pathway as unfortunately the former is what militant groups prey on and use as fodder for committing their own atrocious agendas. So, this is where Sanat Vizyon Istanbul comes in. We are a small group of humanitarians based in Queensland who have connections with the Middle East and Europe and want to do something to help. We are looking for financial support from Australian businesses and interest groups in the provision of art equipment to young Syrians and Turks on the streets of Istanbul. Art is a powerful tool that has been used throughout the centuries to release, and normalise, negative emotions. Think of artists like Van Gough, Monet, Queen, the Royal Family dance group, Sia, Shakespeare…all used/use art in whatever medium (poetry, dance, music, painting etc.) to release desperation. In many cases, this has assisted in the acceptance of a situation and allowed individuals and many followers to gain empowerment and energy to move on. We see art as having a very positive impact on young Syrians and Turks in Istanbul. In May this year Nadir will travel to Istanbul and do on-ground work with coordinators to deliver a trial version of the project and determine the uptake of the resources we provide. We aim to raise funds in Australia to first buy canvases and paints/pencils in Turkey that can be distributed among groups of children in the city. Each one will be given a number and invited to meet back at that location in a few days time if they wish. Their productions will be photographed and shared on social media as part of this Sanat Vizyon Istanbul page. The names of our partners and supporting companies will be listed here as well, and all other marketing will ensure any donations from contributors are publicly announced in both Turkish and English. Depending on the success of this, we would then like to enact a second stage which will be to locate a centre where art workshops can take place, and a micro industry where art can be traded. This will then be expanded into other mediums of art including literature, dance and singing. We believe very strongly in the power of humanity, in that from the very worst of situations we can feel gratitude for a moment that, if used wisely, can inspire the most powerful of positive change, the change we all wish to see in the world. Although this is an issue far away from home for us in Australia, we must understand we are biologically and emotionally connected to it; capable and responsible of helping, in an understanding that one day we too may need that help. In a time when the world is changing beyond recognition from east to west we must take this social contract of kindness as our foundation and use it as our launchpad so that from the dark, comes light. We would love to hear your thoughts on our project. Whether you want to donate at our GoFundMe portal (https://www.gofundme.com/ArtVisionIstanbul) or you have a brilliant idea you want to share with us, let us know! Dr Mark Nadir Runkovski
Dr Donna Treby
Mr Imran Khan (Helping the Homeless Brisbane)
Ms Alicia Hawken (Helping the Homeless AU)
