SOCIAL PROJECT AGAINST OTHERING: “THE RYHTHM OF LOVE”

Abstract

Although the numbers differ it is estimated about 600.000- 1.000.000 Gypsy oriented citizen live within the borders of Turkey. The gypsies have first moved to Anatolia in the 16th century but many gypsy families have brought into Turkey after the Lausanne Treaty. Gypsies as well as the Jews were the first two minority groups who have adopted and internalized the Turkish identity enforced by the Kemalist politicians. Unfortunately it seems the gypsy attempt towards the acceptance of Turkish National and religious identity does not damp the othering process which the gypsies face with in Turkey. The social right to accomplish educational facilities without being supressed by secret boundaries created in the Turkish Society is one of the major disadvantages of the gypsy society today. This paper will discuss a social project being carried out by TOG (Volunteers of the Society Foundation) at Bandırma region which fight against the othering process gypsy youngsters have to face with throughout their educational life. “The Ryhtm of Love Project” tries to give an opportunity to the gypsian youngsters who continue their educational life by improving their musical talents within their spare times. The project also proved out those gypsian students who is participating the project have both improved their educational- social talents and began to sweep out the difficulties they came across on the way up to their university careers.