Turkish woman dedicates her life to orphans in Istanbul

By Sefa Mutlu

ISTANBUL

An octogenarian Turkish woman dedicated most of her life to orphans in Kasimpasa neighborhood of Istanbul's Beyoglu district.

Oya Kayacik, who has been caring for orphans in Kasimpasa Children's Houses Site for 60 years, shared her long-term journey with Anadolu Agency.

Kayacik never got married or had children, only chased her passion for helping the deprived children.

She said she lost track of time while taking care of the children's needs all those years.

"I have considered it [Children's Houses Site] as my home. When you stay at any place for many years, it becomes like your own," she said.

Kayacik said when she came to the orphanage for working, nobody believed that she will stay for this long.

"I do not know how it happened […] I could not think anything else other than staying here," she added.

Kayacik said she never looked at the children with the eye of an administrator or teacher. "I was one of them. I used to eat and play with them," she added.

She said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's has also spent most of his life in Kasimpasa. "Our president also knows closely about my works."

Kayacik said Erdogan loves children and loving children was part of the spirit of the Kasimpasa neighborhood. "I thank him [Erdogan] very much. He helped us extensively," she added.