P6: Female - Tr - Yavaş Gamats

EXPECTATION
First of all, I think this will be a good experience for me. I expect to get the experience of joint work, and get more information about the underlined topics in our program such as; nationalism, globalization… etc. I would like to also share my opinions about these issues with the other participants and lecturers.
With the help of this summer school I expect to meet Armenians of Armenia and make friends from there. This will also help me to get information about their lifestyle and opinions on major life issues that we will discuss. Moreover, during all those activities I will be learning something new every second. And I want to “experience” the delights of this too.
Most important of all, I would strongly like to be a part of the reconciliation process between these two close nations; Armenians and Turks. After years have passed, when I turn back and look I will be able to say that I have also contributed something for this peace and I had the opportunity to meet such distinguished lecturers.
I have read articles about the agricultural success of Vakifli Koy, some books about Samandag and heard a lot about the tasty food of Antakya. Thus, now I will be able to see the place that I have wondered for years and take home the good memories I have obtained.

10.08.05
After 2 or 3 nervous and excited hours I reached to hCa building. And after seeing the faces of the other group members all my nervousness has gone and I started to feel the happiness and gladness of meeting new people. It was as if everybody knew each other beforehand. We just told our names to each other and started to chat which made the atmosphere more intimate. The ones who came from Armenia started to ask questions to us about Turkey, Istanbul and surroundings when we are on bus. We were asking questions about their lifestyle and etc.
We sang Tarkan’s songs together and it was really fun :)
So it is the first day and we have already met and learned things about each other.
Hopefully we will learn more… :)

11.08.05
I had quite a great time more than I had expected for the first day. The lecture about Antakya was really informative. And our discussions about history the introductive course for conflict&resoulution were great experiences. After all the activities the musical feast that we had in disco and later on in the room were unforgettable. Toygar was playing the guitar and we all sang Armenian, Turkish and English songs. And when I went to bed I fell in a sleep while I was thinking about yesterday and filled with hopes for today.

12.08.05
Yesterday I was chosen for the journalism group. It was really amazing to write an article in English and was a good experience. Some of our friends went to Vakifli Koy, some went to lunapark and some were singing in the hotel yesterday night. We have 3 days left and I really want time to pass as slowly as it might be. As our group we are working on our final presentation and it will be fun… hopefully :)

13.08.05
It was really nice to discuss globalization and identity with Ferhat Kentel, Nazan Maksudyan and Murat Belge on Saturday. And our excursion to Vakifli Koy was amazing with its atmosphere and its people. Our conversation with the eldest grandfather of the village and all the eyes of the villagers were so intimate and lovely. It was a good chance to be in Vakifli Koy.

Support to the Armenia-Turkey Normalisation Process is a programme implemented by a Consortium of eight civil society organisations from both countries with the financial assistance of the European Union under the Instrument for Stability.

The overall objective of the programme is to promote civil society efforts towards the normalisation of relations between Turkey and Armenia and towards an open border by enhancing people-to-people contacts, expanding economic and business links, promoting cultural and educational activities and facilitating access to balanced information in both societies.

The Consortium partners include Civilitas Foundation (CF), Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), Public Journalism Club (PJC), Regional Studies Center (RSC) from Armenia; and Anadolu Kültür, the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (hCa), and Hrant Dink Foundation from Turkey. The programme will include a series of activities such as media support, TV talk shows and citizen reporting to contribute to better mutual understanding.

The programme will also include travelling discussions; workshops and trainings for youth and teachers; exchange of artists, architects, and entrepreneurs; fellowship opportunities and travel support to enhance encounters and cooperation across the border. Research on business and economic opportunities; celebrity discussions about the past; and opinion exchanges of high-level former officials will also be a part of the programme.

One of the main pillars of the Programme is inclusiveness – to engage and support new actors in the dialogue process. To this end, the Consortium created a Grant Scheme to invite individuals and civil society organisations from Armenia and Turkey - other than the Consortium members - to propose and implement their own project ideas, which will contribute to the overall objective of the Programme and multiply the shared outcomes.

The results of all activities will be shared with the public through the trilingual website, which will serve as a networking tool featuring the overall picture of the past, current, and future developments in Armenia-Turkey dialogue initiatives.

For further information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.