Education is Power

Dear Buldan Foundation Fellow,

 As you know, we have just launched a new project called "Education is Power" that aims to provide scholarship for girls. We do not want to say to much and leave the floor to a student who is one of our succesfull girls, she wrote a letter for you, here it is ;

 “I am writing to you from Istanbul. I was born in Buldan where a small town in Denizli. I went to primary school in Buldan, then I was accepted to a High School of Science in Mugla. At first, my parents didn't want me to send to another city even if it is two hours away from my mother town. Because I was 14 years old and I was a girl. In small towns like Buldan, it doesn't necessary for a girl to go to high school in another city. What is more, they even don't go to university usually. Anyway, there was not any good high school in Buldan. At least, my parents understood the importance of going this school for me. I spent four years there, I stayed at dormitory. Conditions of this school wasn't good at all. We were staying 6 people in a room. We had not enough space to work. Older students were bullying us while we were junior student at dormitory. Despite the fact that it was a hard school, my performance was not enough because of these conditions. I wanted to leave this school many times. But My family reminded me every time that it was my choice and I could not give up every difficulty that I faced. After the high school, there was an exam to be accepted for universities. My results weren’t enough for my goal. Then I studied one more year for this exam and my dreams finally came true, but there was a problem. Although I wanted to be an architect, my parents wanted me to attend faculty of medicine, since being a doctor in Turkey means a guaranteed future. However, I made my choice and I choose Istanbul Technical University to be an architecture student. It is the best architecture faculty of Turkey. At first my parents scared of cost of my education. Because living in Istanbul is expensive. Before I went to school, I met Board of Buldan Foundation just before it was established. I was lucky, they supported me several times and they provided scholarships not only for me but also girls like me. Then Buldan Vakf was established and now Foundation is working for supporting girls who are university student. Now beside my school, I have new hobbies such as mountaineering and climbing. My next goal is learning French and I want to go to France as an Erasmus Student. I enjoy my life and my profession. I would like to thank to everyone in my life. Lastly, thank you for reading this.

Sincerely yours, 

A Girl From Buldan “

Dear Friends,

As you know, we have just launched a new project called "Education is Power" that aims to provide scholarship for girls, most importantly to make their dreams come true. Purpose of scholarship is to empower girls by removing the financial burdens associated with going to, surviving in and graduating from university. Foundation with its partners is supporting 25 girls at this moment. The goal of this project is to increase this number to 200 with your pricesless support.

We do not want to say to much and leave the floor to a student who is one of our succesfull girls, she wrote this letter with her own handwriting in Turkish, we translated by using google translate. This is her story ;

"I am a student and this is my story. I was born in a small town of Denizli which is called Buldan, where people live in traditional life.I started primary school in Buldan.  When I was in 6th grade I took the first major exam that would affect my life. But I was only eleven years old and I did not realize it was a test that would affect my life. My exam results was great. Then I realized that the result was the award of my studies. I took exams at 7th and 8th grade, but that time I was experienced and had discovered the happines of being successful. Due to my exam results, I was accepted to the best high school in Denizli.The idea of going out of the small town and going to a school in the city center initially scared me. Because I had to leave my home and stay in the student hostel.I've never been out of town alone before.

Over the time my fears have passed, and as a girlI have felt the power within me. I learned that there is nothing better than doing what you really want to do. At the same time I discovered new feelings and new powers inside of me. The town I was born is very small. Women live under oppression and  most of them are uneducated.I did not want to be like them. I discovered the power and potential inside of me.I enjoyed the happiness of fulfilling my own desires by getting rid of all this. My point of view has changed. I did not have a role model like mother in my teenage days becuase they are divorced when I was at 2nd grade. I have decided not to see my mother for some reasons. I am very happy to fill in this gap by studying, even though these are the factors that ruined my childhood. I was with my father until the 8th grade.My father tried but could not support me because he was not well educated. So, I had to deal with all my problems all by alone but I had made a decision to deal all of it but not to tell anyone ; my solution is to work very hard.

 Anyway, I got out of Buldan and made my own road map, without any guidance.  Later on, I got  a good education in science in Denizli Aydem Science High School. These periods were not easy either. I think I've been programmed to live just for studying and to overcome for my problems. At the same time, as I was studying for the university entrance exams while I was in the high school last year, I went into the fuss that my father would be left alone when I to go to university. My father is the same and he decided to get married. This was a big fight for me. I lived alone with my dad for 10 years. As a daughter like all girls, I was in love in with my dad, anyway he got married while I was in 12th grade.

 But of course, I was in different moods. Because people can not get rid of their habits quickly if they had them for many years,  I have already learned that. I could not feel comfortable at home any more and feeling strange like my dad.  At the end of these periods, eventually I finally got Industrial engineering faculty of Galatasaray University which is my target.  As a woman, of course I have heard the following sentences: "You are a girl, why you want to have a job like engineer", "you could earn more money if you become a doctor", "you can not live in Istanbul, you are a girl". I always said to myself: 'How traditonal is their opinion.' While I was expecting some respect from them or waiting for the congrat for my success, this was the way how people shown their support .

 A woman could not live in Istanbul alone, I did not care. A woman could not read engineering, I did not care, everyone should be a doctor, I did not mind that. This school is French, how you do it, you can not, I did not mind. I said that man has a learning ability. I mean, he came out of one of my ears. Where am I after the rhetoric? I am a first-year student of industrial engineering at Galatasaray University. Again as a woman I opposed the usual views and increased my point of view a little more. I came to Istanbul in 2016. The new school will create a new me. I started. I first learned French. I already admire that it was a craving for me to learn. I've had the opportunity to learn it from French people for a year.

 Of course, the other universities were not like the preparatory class. I had to work again. But I was so happy that I reached the target and destroyed the tabular so that this difficulty did not impress me much. Anyway I learned French. I'm in first grade right now. All of my teachers and lectures are French. I am forced, but I think I have reached myself. My next goal is to be a very successful woman in my profession. I even want to be a role model for people. I want to improve my English and French. As a woman, I will also advance in the direction of my goals without listening

Besides all I lived, I met with Buldan Education and Solidarity Foundation  when I was 12. Grade. They are always with me both with their financial and spiritual support. By their support, I believe that I will  reach my goals soon…

regards".

Now, it is your term...

Sincerely yours,

Buldan Foundation