6 February 2023
The artist Gülben Ergen visited the Istanbul branch of the Turkish Beyazay Association, which operates at the Bağcılar Municipality Disability Centre.
The Istanbul branch of the Turkish Beyazay Association, which lights the way for everyone with and without disabilities through the Careers for People with Disabilities Project and its accessibility work launched in recent years, hosted the artist Gülben Ergen. Aiming to stand by people in the fields of both education and disability, Gülben Ergen followed the work of the Turkish Beyazay Association closely.
Briefed by the President of the Istanbul branch of the Turkish Beyazay Association, Hanife Baykal, particularly about the Careers for People with Disabilities Project, Ergen also spent time with people with disabilities one by one, had photographs taken and listened to the life stories of people with disabilities and their families.
The artist Gülben Ergen said: ‘‘So many hearts that have placed their hopes in the pupils of their eyes and buried their hurts within. Some have no arms, and never did; some have no feet, and never did; some do not see, some do not hear. From the age of 3 to 53, was there not one person I met whose face was downcast? Every one of them has a smiling face, smiling words, a smiling heart. Showing the carpet they have finished, weaving their kilim, pouring their soap into the mould, playing their bağlama, dancing, singing, painting a picture — they are the truest artists of life. All that is needed is that they be given the opportunity. All that is needed is that there be a centre like this.’’