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In Turkey, Hearing Impaired Students Give Major PerformanceDate: August 5, 2003 
June was a momentous month for students who attend Gazanfer Bilge School for the Hearing Impaired in Karamürsel, Turkey. They gave two major theatrical performances and eleven graduated from eighth grade.
After five months of intensive practice, the middle school students presented a play about a popular folk hero known as "Keloglan." The play was part of a celebration "Children are Our Future" that happened on June 2, 2003 at the Sabanci Culture Center in Izmit. The event was sponsored by one of UMCOR's partners, the International Blue Crescent (IBC). The theatrical performance received a great amount of press and was on CNN Turk, Cine 5, TRT 2 and in many local newspapers.
The 50-minute, ten act play was well-staged by 28 students. For the main role of Keloglan, whose name means "bald man," 7th grader Kurban Aydin even shaved his head in keeping with the character. Some of the presentation was acted in the seating area in order to keep the audience involved in the story. The audience did not need to know Turkish Sign Language or even listen to the words. They story could be understood by watching the actions of the performers.
Two days later, the young actors went to Istanbul to perform at Isik Elementary School. The young hearing students in the audience quickly learned that they had to wave their hands in the air instead of clapping them so that the actors could "see" the appreciation.
On June 12, eleven eighth graders graduated. The ceremony was attended by parents, teachers, students, friends and family. The students received certificates and small gifts of appreciation for their hard work. Everyone wished them best of luck in fulfilling their future goals.
Although mandatory education in Turkey is through eighth grade, many of Gazanfer Bilge's students have decided to go to high school. Many of the boys will attend the Nilüfer Hearing Impaired Vocational High School in Bursa. The girls will either choose Yeditepe Hearing Impaired Vocational High School, a co-ed high school in Istanbul, or Mert Öztüre Hearing Impaired Vocational High School for girls in Izmir.
Gazanfer Bilge School for the Hearing Impaired has received financial grants from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
Photos: 1. "Keloglan" (center) is flanked by two guards. 2. Students of Isik Primary School wave their hands to show their appreciation of the performance. 3. Happy students toss their mortarboards into the air after graduation. Photos courtesy of Gazanfer Bilge School for the Hearing Impaired. Click on any photo to see a larger version.