Voices Newspaper Altinkum Didim Turkey

A GROUP of English-speaking Turkish professionals in Didim has launched one of the first Citizen’s Advice Bureau-style helpdesks in Turkey for British people seeking help and advice on coping with living here.

The group, made of young professionals, who come from all walks of life, have set up the Turkish-British Association (TBA), which aims to bridge the two communities by offering voluntary services to help foreign residents.

A raft of service will include help regarding issues affecting all aspects of living in Turkey, buying and selling a property, getting the necessary visas, schools, hospitals and other public bodies.

The association, which has been accredited by the Government – one of the first of its kind, will raise awareness to British people’s problems in Didim within Government departments and push the press, media, as well as the legal system, to recognise the existence difficulties which the British people going through.

The non-profit making association is the brainchild of 27-year-old mum of one, Fulya Önder, who spent ten years living and working in Shropshire.

She also spent two years at the Telford branch of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, and since returning to Turkey has seen the need to set up a similar service for British people trying to adapt to the Turkish culture.

She has been joined in forming the association with Erenğul Yıldız, who works for Moneycorp and has lived in the UK for two years; Erhan and Sermin Karademir, both sales coordinators; Refit Aydilek, a computer graphics designer, and two other friends.

All speak excellent English and have offered their services to the British community to help sought their many problems, or guide them to the best possible expert on all matters.

Fulya said: “Despite the fact that a well developed country such as the UK and a country like Turkey, which is trying to make it to the 21 st century without forgetting its cultural backgrounds, may seem to have very little in common, it is true that the coexistence of cultures enrich one another.

“Moreover, we cannot dismiss the increasing numbers of British people living in Didim and the Turkish people living in Britain as well as the number of intercultural and interfaith movements existing in both countries.

“I will draw on my experiences when I worked at CAB to do my best to give advice to people, impartially.”
The Wolverhampton University law graduate, whose eight-year-old son, Kaan, is diagnosed with ADHD, said she sympathised with many British families who were struggling to cope with helping their children through the education system.

She said the association would offer help to anyone who needed it.

She added: “We have a strong team who all have professional jobs, who are living in Didim holding both or either countries citizenships, thus knowing and understanding the needs of individuals who live far away from their motherland.

“We provide a voluntary service and have strong connections with many charities and societies as well as cultural, religious and governmental establishments in both countries.”

The association would also provide assistance to local Turkish community and businessmen who wish to strenght their relations with the British community.

Fulya added: “We will treat each person with confidentiality, respect, honesty and respect. We need to get the two communities united and help each other to make changes for the better for Didim.

“We invite British people to come to us and seek help, or to join the association. It will become stronger as more members join and our association is known throughout the town.”

The association’s help line is 811 0810 and available from 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Anyone wanting further details can contact Fulya by emailing her at fulyeronder@gmail.com.