Yes - you did read the heading right!!! - now for an explanation
A couple of weeks ago the Governor of Fethiye invited the Chairmen of both the 3C’s and FIG, to visit a new Muğla initiative which is a foster home scheme aptly called “Love Houses”
These houses are just that, in that they are there to provide a loving, caring and permanent home environment for small groups of orphans, or children whose parents are serving long-term prison sentances, or for various reasons are unable to take care of them.
Local government has recently set up four boy’s homes and one girls' home all located in the Fethiye and Ciftlik area. These are family villas and apartments which have been furnished to provide comfortable homely accommodation for the youngsters. Each home is staffed by three “mothers” who work on a 24 hour shift system (one day on, two days off so there is always a "mother" there as a constant). The atmosphere in the homes was found to be very loving - lots of hugs and cuddles - and the children are found to benefit far more in a stable home environment like this rather than being sent to an orphanage or other institution (where in the long run youngsters tend to become "institutionalised" )
The charities visited four out of the five "Love Houses". One of the houses is home to young boys aged 3 to 6 years, another for boys aged 7 to 10 years and the other houses visited were for the older boys aged 11-16 years. The youngsters come from all over the Muğla area.
Although it was found that the government have provided the children with comfortable, well equipped living accommodation, the youngsters do not have the "personal extras" like games, toys, pin boards for their rooms and garden playground equipment and the Governor of Fethiye was hoping that the two local charities would be able to help support this new initiative.
Following the visit, the 3C’s agreed to support this worthwhile scheme and have already provided a slide for the youngest children. The charity had also recently been donated a swing, and thanks to a donation towards it’s refurbishment from a prominent member of this forum, the swing is also now in situ in the garden of the same “Love House”. A full size basketball hoop which had also been donated to the charity and which they have also had refurbished, is now installed in the garden of one of the homes for the older boys. We have so far spent 2,500 TL on this project and will be looking to see what else the youngsters need and what other help we can give to support them over the next few weeks, and in a way become "friends" of the "Love Houses".
new slide
donated swing before refurbishment
Slide and refurbished swing (thanks!)
