LIFE for PRR Through the Eyes of a Volunteer: A Story Reaching from Kilis to the World

Hello dear KOZ-DER readers, I am Özlem ÇİLOĞLU. 🌿

Once again, I would like to tell you about an amazing project. But this time, our destination is not abroad. It is beautiful Kilis, a small city in southeastern Türkiye that became a province after separating from Gaziantep — small in size, but full of big stories!

Today, I would like to tell you about the “LIFE for PRR – Join Life” Youth Exchange project that we carried out in Kilis between 3–11 July 2025, not only from the perspective of a participant, but also as someone who was involved as a volunteer from the preparation process until the very last day of the project.

Because some projects last only a few days, but the traces they leave within you last much longer.

Ours was a little like that. :)

Before Everything Began…

Since I was already in Kilis before the project started, I had the opportunity to support the KOZ-DER team voluntarily with the logistical and preparation processes of the project.

Canva designs, roll-up designs, participant cards, meetings with participants, travel arrangements, protocol visits and many other small details — which were actually extremely important for making the project happen — were among the things we worked on.

When looking from the outside, we sometimes think that a project begins when the participants come together. In reality, behind those few days are weeks of preparations, planning, phone calls, designs, transportation arrangements and endless questions of, “Have we thought about this too?” :)

By being involved in this process, I became not only a participant in the project but also a member of its volunteer team.

And then the long-awaited day finally arrived…

From Gaziantep Airport to Kilis!

Our project officially began when the participants arriving from different countries reached Gaziantep Airport.

Together with our friend Enes, we travelled to Gaziantep Airport by car, welcomed our participants and took them to their accommodation in Kilis.

The participating countries were Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, Romania and Türkiye.

However, it was not only our friends coming from abroad who contributed to the project. Many Turkish volunteers were also actively involved at every stage. Some worked on logistics, some on social media, some in field activities and others stepped in to solve the small crises that appeared when we least expected them.

So, as you can imagine, as a team we used the phrase “We’ll handle it.” quite often. :)

The First Days: Energies, Games and Secret Friends

As in every Youth Exchange, our project began with energising activities.

While trying to get to know each other, it was truly wonderful to watch people from different countries connect so quickly in the same environment.

And of course, when we talk about a Youth Exchange, we could not forget one of our essentials: the Secret Friend activity.

Who is whose Secret Friend?

Who will prepare a little surprise for whom?

Who is trying to figure out who their Secret Friend is?

As the project progressed, we understood more clearly how these little games could create such beautiful connections.

Because people who did not even know each other’s names just a few days earlier had started to become beautiful memories in one another’s lives by the end of the project.

Getting to Know Kilis

You cannot come to Kilis and leave without getting to know Kilis.

Our first visit was to the Kilis Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism. There, we watched a presentation about the history, culture and tourist attractions of Kilis, and afterwards we began exploring the city through small trips.

I have to admit that during this process, I also learned some things about Kilis that I did not know before. :)

For example, we discussed how, contrary to what many people think, Kilis is not an Arab city, although its geographical proximity to Syria has naturally led to influences from Arab culture.

Another common misconception was the idea that Kilis had separated from Hatay.

No, friends — Kilis became a province after separating from Gaziantep. :)

Sometimes projects like this make us realise that even though we live in the same country, we may not know one of its cities as well as we think we do.

A Little Creativity, Some Needle and Thread, and Plenty of Recycling!

One of my favourite activities during the project was the recycling workshop.

We visited a recycling centre, examined waste materials and tried to create clothing and different designs using these materials.

The best part was that we did not have expensive materials, professional equipment or special tools.

All we had was a little creativity, some effort, a needle, thread and imagination.

And the results were truly beautiful.

That day, I found myself thinking once again:

Perhaps instead of constantly buying and consuming more, we can learn to put some effort into what we already have and reuse it.

For me, this was definitely one of the most beautiful stops of the project.

Because what emerged was not just a design. It was also the idea that “We do not always have to buy something new in order to transform something.”

Kilis Night: Traditional Sıra Night or Nightclub?

As we continued discovering the culture of Kilis, we organised a traditional sıra night at the historic Kabaltı Cafe for our young participants coming from abroad and from different cities across Türkiye.

And I think one of the biggest discoveries of the project happened there.

Some of our international friends told us that they found the sıra night even more entertaining than nightclubs.

We would be lying if we said we did not feel a little proud of Kilis when we heard that. :)

Music, food, conversation and people from different countries sitting together around the same table…

Sometimes intercultural learning does not require long presentations.

A table, a few songs and plenty of laughter are enough.

Discovering the Journey of Water

Our project was not only about cultural visits.

Environmental issues and sustainability also played an important role.

Within this framework, we visited the Kilis Wastewater Treatment Plant. We observed how water is treated, learned about reuse processes and saw the stages wastewater goes through before being released back into nature.

We also visited the Kilis Soap House to see how used olive oil in Kilis is collected and transformed into soap.

Afterwards, we visited the Alaaddin Yavaşça Museum and explored the streets of Kilis.

So within just a few days, we were learning something about history, culture, the environment and sustainability all at once.

From Oylum Höyük to Göbeklitepe…

We visited Oylum Höyük and its museum, one of the important centres of archaeological research in Kilis.

Seeing the excavation site and coming into contact with the traces of civilisations that lived there in the past was truly impressive.

Then we turned our route towards Şanlıurfa.

This time, Göbeklitepe was waiting for us.

We took a short journey into the history of Mesopotamia, into some of the earliest periods of human history and towards the traces left behind by people who lived thousands of years ago.

It was also wonderful to see the amazement of our international friends towards Turkish culture and history.

Sometimes, because we live in our own country, we begin to see certain things as ordinary. Moments like these remind us just how unique those same things can appear through the eyes of someone visiting from another country.

The Days When We Started to Know Each Other Better…

Towards the end of the project, we were no longer only getting to know Kilis; we were also getting to know one another much better.

Each country introduced its own history, culture, traditions, dances and food.

Suddenly, within one room, there was a small world stretching from Poland to Italy, from Croatia to Romania and Türkiye.

We learned new words from one another’s cultures, became accustomed to different accents and, of course, tried to improve our English.

Sometimes we did not understand a word.

Sometimes we pronounced something incorrectly.

Sometimes we simply laughed together and tried again.

But isn’t that one of the most beautiful parts of learning a language?

Speaking without being afraid of making mistakes.

Turkish Cultural Night 🇹🇷

And then it was finally our turn to introduce our own culture.

During the Turkish Cultural Night, we presented our history, traditions and flavours to our friends.

Of course, the essentials on our table were obvious:

Turkish coffee and Turkish delight.

Because some things do not need much explanation.

If there is a cup of Turkish coffee with Turkish delight beside it, then a small story about Türkiye has already begun. :)

The Project Ended, but the Story Did Not…

Eventually, those beautiful days between 3 and 11 July came to an end.

The project finished.

Suitcases were packed.

The goodbyes began.

But I think this is exactly where one of the most beautiful aspects of Youth Exchanges begins.

Because when a project ends, photographs are not the only things left behind.

New friendships, new cultures, new words, new perspectives and stories that you will remember even years later remain with you.

After we went our separate ways, we did not lose contact.

We still talk.

We still keep up with one another’s lives.

And once again, we realised that some friendships simply cannot fit into a project lasting only a few days.

To Everyone Who Supported Me…

I would like to thank our association president, Mevlide Özkaraca, and her husband, Halil Özkaraca, for supporting me in every area throughout this project and giving me opportunities to develop myself.

I would also like to thank our volunteers Büşra and Sait, who always supported me in media-related work during the intense project period, Enes Bozkurt, who supported us with transportation, and our friend Muhammed, who stood by me during the logistics and planning processes.

With your support and affection, this truly became a wonderful experience for me.

I would also especially like to thank my Polish friend Arkadiusz Cheda, who always supported me in improving my English, and my dear roommate from Croatia, Mina Kovacic.

I would also like to thank Handan Akarsu Scarabello, one of our partners in Italy, and her husband for their contributions to the project.

What About You?

If one day an opportunity like this appears in front of you, do not spend too much time wondering, “Should I go?”

Apply.

Maybe you will be accepted.

Maybe you will share a room with people you have never met before.

Maybe on the first day you will feel nervous about speaking English.

Maybe you will use the wrong words.

Maybe you will make a friend from the other side of the world.

Maybe a few days later you will find yourself wondering, “How did I become so close to these people so quickly?”

But believe me, when you return home, you will not be carrying only your suitcase.

Inside it will be new stories, new friendships, new knowledge and a slightly more developed version of yourself.

For me, LIFE for PRR was exactly this kind of journey.

A journey that began in Kilis but went far beyond the borders of Kilis; a journey that brought together people from different countries and reminded me that volunteering is not only about helping with something.

It is also about learning, creating, sharing and growing together.

Thank you for listening to me.

Do not forget to follow us.

See you again in new projects, new stories and perhaps even in another country.

Stay happy.

A volunteer friend who loves sharing her memories with you :)