When I did school presentations in Turkey, or Türkiye as it is now called, I was lucky that my time in Istanbul coincided with the annual Istanbul Book Fair. It also coincided with the publication of my book Stepping Stones, A Refugee Family’s Journey, in Turkish.

This set of fortuitous circumstances led to a wonderful adventure for me. After my school workshops, the Turkish publisher invited me to sign books at the Istanbul Book Fair. I had attended many North American book fairs but this one in Turkey, was amazing. Not only were there millions of books on display, but the general public came flocking in huge numbers to buy books. I was used to Book Fairs where books are displayed and introduced, often to bookstore owners or educators. But in Istanbul the Book Fair seemed an invitation to all enthusiastic readers to come and buy books.

There were tables loaded with books: graphic novels, historic biographies, coffee table art books, romance novels… you name it. All in Turkish of course. And people of all ages streamed in to buy books - whole families loading up books. It was amazing and heart warming to see how much people loved books here.

During my time at the Book Fair, the Turkish publisher provided me with accommodations. But not just a hotel room in the city… I was privileged to stay in a very special place.

A stained glass portrait of the beloved Turkish author.

Aziz Nesin was perhaps Turkey’s most famous writer. Born in 1915 during World War I, he grew up in tumultuous times. Despite the fact that no one in his peasant family could read or write, Aziz grew up to be a writer. The only way he could afford school was to attend a free military school. So he became a soldier throughout WWII. He was very critical of the Turkish regime and used a pen name to write newspaper articles, poetry, satire and much more. He eventually wrote more than two thousand stories, including more than a hundred books and is now considered somewhat of a folk hero. Aziz was jailed for his rebellious writing but because the government did not know all of the pseudonyms he used, some of his writing was taught in schools. His writing has been translated into many languages. His outspoken atheism often made him a target of Islamic extremists.

Nonetheless he was a beloved writer of many books that helped to define Turkey. In 1972 he created the Aziz Nesin Foundation in order to help children like himself to get a proper education.

Funded by the continued sales of his many books, the Nesin Foundation's site in Çatalca, Istanbul, and housed in his own former residence just outside Istanbul, the organization hosts about 40 pre-school or early-years elementary school children, who stay until ‘they completed their education, and maturity to navigate society independently’. The foundation conducts workshops, events, camps and, aside from school, the children have plenty of opportunities to develop hobbies by getting lessons in painting, dancing, ceramic, music, theatre and sports and also spending time with animals at a nearby farm.

The children growing up here form a close community that keeps Aziz Nesin’s educational principles alive. They live away from their families but form loving bonds of friendship and thrive.

Aziz has donated his own home to house the children. And this is where I stayed. Just outside Istanbul near a small village in this sprawling house full of kids. The children were cheerful and kind, excited and lovable. They were keen to listen to me speak English and tell them about my books. Their leaders had prepared a craft by collecting stones, glue and cardboard so that the children could listen to the story of Stepping Stones and then create their own stories in rocks.

Those in charge of meals, cooked and served plates full of delicious food, after which we spent the evenings making crafts, talking about books, stories and life.

I roamed through the house full of furniture bought by Aziz Nesin himself. There was art on the walls and statues everywhere. Room upon room full of books looked like we were living in a library.

Aziz’s own office resembled a museum with awards and recognitions and artifacts preserved in glass display cases. Looking at his smiling face under a bushy head of hair in many photos, I felt like I would have very much enjoyed meeting this rebellious writer who made the pen mightier than a gun, and who saw humour in the most dire circumstances. I felt very privileged to spend some time in this house of this literary hero, among children who were keen to learn and curious about books and the world.