Sultan Ölçek
As a Europe Aid Foundation volunteer, I went to Arakan for the first time in 2018, twice, during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha.
If I were to express what I saw there in one word: MISERY.
Doing charity work means this to me: BEING HUMAN
On the first day, we went to an orphanage in the camp in Arakan to distribute holiday gifts. We drove up to a certain point and then walked. The view was terrible and could not be compared to anywhere else. It was like we were on another planet, the world had just been created. The children were naked, the men had no clothes on, their lower parts were wrapped in cloth-like sheets, and there were not many women around. Makeshift houses made of reeds everywhere are full of garbage, the water wells opened by aid organizations are the most spectacular of all, and there are puddles around, dirty water, and odors. Most importantly, PEOPLE of the same religion as us lived here. Along the way, children follow us, increasing in number. My whole life was flashing before my eyes, step by step. My God, how do these people live, what do they eat and drink, how do they make a living, how do they meet their daily essential needs, where do they go to the toilet, where do they wash... The questions were growing in my mind. The fight for a single candy, a balloon... Children were looking at our bags, reaching out their hands and even attacking us. For the first time, I realized what hunger can do to people. While we were living in ultra-luxury in the heart of Europe, some people were struggling to survive. But without compromising their true self. When I asked a child his name with signs, he said ISLAM, maybe it was his name, but it reminded me of many things. That child's voice is still in my ears. I witnessed why my LORD emphasized MORALITY for the first 13 years, why he said to be HUMAN first, be moral, help the poor, protect and watch over the orphan.
I witnessed the ETHICS of helping while helping, the ETHICS of giving while giving, and what a beautiful blessing even a smile is. The spiritual peace within me was more beautiful and peaceful than I had ever felt before that day. When the offer came again for sacrifice, I happily accepted it. What impressed me the most was that when we visited the orphans again when we first went there, they all knew me, they were too shy to approach me, but they were pointing with their hands, as if to say we know him, as if a high-ranking person you know comes and looks into his eyes, as if you are the audience so he can see me, they were looking exactly like that. Then, when it was time to say goodbye to them, I went to them to say goodbye to them, the children hugged my legs, their mother's hands were on me, caressing my head, and they were mumbling something, obviously, they were PRAYING. It was very difficult to leave and I feel like they are waiting for me this year. I think these are feelings that can only be learned by experience.