The Olympiads children, who have been rehearsing for the city performances and final show, back and forth, have carried on their visits at the same time. Those in Istanbul for the Olympiads shows paid a visit, on June 11, to Alarko Group Chairman Ishak Alaton. With his graciously friendly attitudes, the businessman engaged closely with the children asking them, one by one, about their schools and countries alongside their highlights. Unable to hide his astonishment, “This is so beautiful! This is impossible!” Alaton said and congratulated the students.
Alaton asked the teacher from Kenya “How many of our schools do we have there?”, and inquired about the schools. Moved by the song and poem performances of the students, Alton said, “This movement is a very significant one that contributes to world peace as well, alongside education. This is what I’m telling my friends asking me about it.” According to Alaton, the Turkish Olympiads event is a grand organization as it takes,not only financially but logistically as well, a lot of effort. Noting that he and his then-partner the deceased Uzeyir Garih made a request to Moscow’s mayor for the Turkish school to be founded there in 1990s. He said he visited the school too after its launch and got informed about its activities. Alaton said he’s been receiving great many questions about the movement and went on to say, “I’m telling them about the significance of the education offered at these schools and their contribution to world peace.” He additionally stated his belief that the perception of Turkey worldwide will be rather different in the future, thanks to the Olympiads students.
Suzer: They are all like my own children
The students’ another stop was Suzer Group Honorary President Mustafa Suzer. Suzer received the Olympiads children for breakfast and sang along with them as they performed their songs and folk songs. Having talks with the students and concluding the schools’ high quality is obvious from their Turkish, “This makes us feel proud” said Suzer. He noted that he had visited the schools in many countries and expressed his pleasure to see their teachers’ service just like a second Turkey consulate. Speaking of the students greeting him in every country upon his arrival, he underlined he loves them just like he does his own kids. Following their conversations, Suzer presented gifts to the students. The students, in return, presented theirs to Suzer and his family.
On the other hand, some other students in Ankara at the time, visited MAKRO Board of Directors President Seref Songor in his office. Songor said Turkish language has always symbolized peace and friendship and added: ‘It’s a grand event that brings students from nearly every country around the world and gets them meet Turkish people by taking them from one city to another. I would like to my offer my heartfelt thanks to those involved.”
Published [in Turkish] on Zaman, 13 June 2013, Thursday
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