Projects / Ankara
In July, 2011, A Face to Reframe partnered with Friends of Kardelen in Ankara, Turkey. We had 7 Kardelen workers and 6 youth participants, each affected by living with disability in Turkey. Our goals were improved participant perception of their own worth; increased awareness of social issues and the participants' power to document and expose them; increased knowledge of their own ability, self-awareness, and thinking skills, and belief that their view counts; increased awareness by the public of the beauty and dignity of the disabled; a positive and creative learning environment. Indeed, our project also focused on whimsy, a fun and playful way of releasing emotion and training the eye to see differently. Please scroll through the work of the participants! Every purchase you make goes to benefit them directly.
Ankara, Turkey: Kids in Focus
Summer 2011 brought A Face to Reframe to Ankara, Turkey to partner with Friends of Kardelen, a nonprofit organization providing care to Turkish families striving to keep their disabled children at home. We designed a photography project focused on perspective, not skill, and calling out worth and dignity that comes from recognizing one's own opinion, individuality, and being celebrated. Seven Kardelen workers and 6 children affected by disability participated in the 5-day project.
To learn more, buy the book, scroll through a sampling of the participants' images for sale, and read the blog. All proceeds from the sale of the book and prints go to the work in Turkey, for the purchase of wheelchairs, birthday party celebrations, transport costs, therapy equipment, and/or local staff expenses.
Ankara: Kids in Focus Book
Support the work with disabled children in Turkey by purchasing a 40 page, softcover photo book of the kids' images and words. Only $25!
Tugce in action
Of the six participants, all were affected by disability in Turkey in different ways. Three were physically handicapped themselves, two were siblings, and one was the child of one of the Kardelen workers. They participated as equals.
This photo was taken by Ceylan, the 17 year old sister of one of the physically handicapped Kardelen workers. Ceylan participated as a sibling affected by disability in Turkey. Her sister was weakened by Polio as a child and then permanently paralyzed as an adolescent in a car crash that took their mother's life. Due to a number of horrific things, Ceylan's sister ended up in the orphanage/institution where Kardelen first began their work. She was later "rescued" and provided handicap accesible housing and a job with Kardelen. Ceylan now spends summers with her sister and desires to be a doctor in the future.
Blurry Reflection
By Ceylan
One of the project assignments was to photograph reflections. When we regathered, we discussed the concept of reflecting things to the world. What do you reflect? What does the world see? What would you like the world to see? How would you choose to be perceived?
Reflections
by Ceylan
"Reflections" assignment
In her eyes
By Ceylan
"Reflections" assignment
A hint of disability
By Samet
"Reflections" assignment
Samet is the 10 year old sibling of Volkan, another participant. He is an energetic boy, mischievous and fun-loving, with a keen eye to people and the personality that shows through their expressions. He wants to be a chef when he grows up.
Reflected Self
By Tugba
"Reflections" assignment
Tugba is a 16 year old twin affected by Cerebral Palsy. She is a vibrant teenager whose desires are like those of any 16 year old girl. She longs to look cute, likes to listen to music, wants friends and wishes to go to school. Sadly, these last two are disappointments in her life. She stopped going to school after 8th grade and has difficulty navigating the poorly designed streets, sidewalks, and public transportation system in Ankara.
Reflected Glass
By Tugba
"Reflections" assignment
Portrait of a portrait
By Ceylan
"Reflections" assignment
Shapes- circles
By Tugce
"Shapes" assignment
Following an assignment of photographing shapes in everyday life, participants discussed ways that normal, ordinary things can become things of beauty. We talked about how we are all different shapes ourselves, and no one shaped person is more or less beautiful than another. This photograph, of the famous round sesame roll seller, was taken by 16 year old Tugce. She is a stylish young lady who loved the camera! Mastering the skill of holding, framing, and shooting with one hand, she became our most prolific documenter.
Street seller
By Zeynep
"Scavenger Hunt" assignment
The first thing we do is get comfortable with the camera, and this is best done through a game! One of the items on the scavenger hunt list was "a man" and a more challenging option was "an old man." Zeynep, age 10, accomplished both in this wonderful portrait of an average man on the streets of Turkey. Participants were instructed to extend value to others by seeking permission before taking their photograph. Zeynep is the vivacious daughter of one of the Kardelen workers, with intimate knowledge of many of the families living with disability that her mother helps.
Old man
By Samet
"Scavenger Hunt" assignment
Hiding sun
By Zeynep
"Scavenger Hunt" assignment
Circles, Squares, Beauty
By Tugba
"Shapes" assignment
Ordinarily pretty
By Volkan
"Shapes" assignment
Volkan is a 13 year old boy with a rare genetic skin disease that makes him dependent on a wheelchair for most of his mobility. He is a bright and thoughtful teen who loves his family, education, and wants to be a doctor when he grows up. Of this bridge with multiple shapes, he says, "Actually they made the bridge from many different shapes and engineered something beautiful. This work was not easy but the result was pretty. Normally people don’t like to take bridges to cross over busy streets but this one is so pretty that I’m sure people are willing to take the flight of 35 stairs to the landing and look down. I would love be able to do that."
Oh these steps!
By Tugba
"Self-Portrait" assignment
Tugba's photographs from her self-portrait work are a mixture of gorgeous flowers, small wood carvings of musical instruments, a school building and stairs, ramps, potholes... "When we go visiting anyone, I would love it if there was an elevator there. I wish our home had a ramp so that I’d be able to visit my grandmother easily. It’s hard for me that I can’t be out on the street on my own. Oh these curbs, oh these steps! When I see others walking I get sad and wish I could walk like everyone else." The most poignant image of all is this posed shot of her sister at the nearby intersection of a main thoroughfare. The endless stairs illustrate Tugba's frustration: "Oh these steps!"
Natural Beauty
By Tugba
"Self-Portrait" assignment
"I love flowers."
Music
By Tugba
"Self-Portrait" assignment
"I love music."
Barriers to Relationship
By Tugce
"Self-Portrait" assignment
Tugce's self-portrait photographs show emotions that run deep. She captures barriers in the home to independent living; a kitchen faucet and countertop that are too high to reach from a wheelchair; a western toilet in a room too small to enter; a high lip into their home... "I don’t like it when people look at me with pity in their eyes. I’d like to be able to go outside on my own. Sometimes when I go outside people look at me strangely and it makes me upset so I go to a corner and cry. Kids in our neighborhood do not want to play with me because I am disabled. This makes me really sad. I’d like to help my mother out at home with kitchen work. We have a toilet at home but I can’t close the door and cannot bring my wheelchair inside."
Life is short
By Volkan
"Self-Portrait" assignment
Volkan's self-portrait photographs express a depth not typical for 13 year old boys. His thoughts are that of a quiet, introspective, intelligent young man trapped in a body that doesn't match his desire. Of this image of the hourglass, Volkan says "Life is short, like this hourglass."
Life is all mixed up
By Volkan
"Self-Portrait" assignment
"Life is all mixed up, like this yarn."
Life is a test
By Volkan
"Self-Portrait" assignment
"Life is a test (sinav)"
Neighborhood Friend
By Volkan
"Self-Portrait" assignment
Volkan took his camera home and photographed the community shop owners. There is an absence of friends in his images from home, and his family refused to have their portraits taken, but these men stand out as faces of peace. These local businessmen are kind and accepting. It must answer the longing Volkan expressed at the beginning of the project: "I would like people to accept me as I am. I don’t want them to pity me."
Businessmen who share
By Samet
"Self-Portrait" assignment
Samet's self-portrait photographs from home include the terrace herbs he cultivates to every detail from inside his house, including a toy gun, their favorite cartoon on the TV screen, and the family clock! He photographs the local businessmen who care for him and his brother, the neighborhood mosque and the view from the top. Overall, one gets a sense of well-being from his photographs. Of these men, Samet says "They share with us."
