Incirlik Airmen bring cheer to hearing-impaired Turkish children

by 1st Lt. David Liapis
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

12/27/2013 - INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey  -- Members of Team Incirlik threw a holiday party for 20 hearing-impaired Turkish children at Seyhan Isitme elementary school Dec. 26, in Adana, Turkey.

The event was the third of its kind at the school in as many years. It was organized by the Incirlik Protestant Men of Chapel group, and was attended by seven volunteers from the base.

Ayse Unal, an assistant at a variety of Adana's special needs schools, said she has worked with volunteers from Incirlik Air Base for the past 20 years at Adana's schools for the hearing impaired and blind.

"Last year it was the TDY unit [90th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron]. Before that, the chapel would come," said Unal, "Every year we celebrate with the Americans. The children love them and look forward to them coming."

Members of the Incirlik AB chapel community donated gifts, decorations and food for the party. The toy drive, headed up by the Incirlik Protestant Women of the Chapel group, netted 78 gifts for the children.

"I wish more people could have been here to see the outcome," said Robyn Mihalyi, PWOC vice president of programs. "I think it's a good outreach for PWOC and PMOC to work together."

The youth played games, danced and ate with the volunteers for nearly three hours. The evening culminated with eating cake and opening presents.

"The children are so happy and look forward to this event," said Yunus Cinkir, Seyhan Isitme elementary school principal. "When the children are happy, we are happy."

One student, Murat Enni, 16, communicated his feelings about the event with the help of one of the teachers. He signed, "Very good! I'm happy with everything."

Because Seyhan Isitme is one of only eight schools in Turkey for the hearing impaired, some of the students who live in cities such as Ceyhan and Osmaniye are boarded at the school throughout the week, said Bisar Korkmazer, a teacher who has worked at the school for three years .

Ceyhan and Osmaniye are approximately 50 and 100 kilometers away from the school, respectively and with some of the children away from family, events like this mean even more. Members of Team Incirlik who participated know how much this means to all the children involved and are dedicated to keeping this tradition going. 

"I think it's very likely we'll do this again," said Lenore Castillo, wife of Chaplain (Maj.) Paul Castillo, 39th Air Base Wing, "It was such a good, positive event that brought such joy to the children. It was a blessing to us to be able to bless them."