Turkey
Turkish Section of IBBY
Çocuk ve Gençlik Yayınları Derneği (IBBY Turkey)
Karaköy Kemeraltı Cad.
Öney İş hanı No:6 Kat:5
Istanbul
Tel. [int. +90] 532 456 7363
E-mail: cgyd@cgyd.org
Facebook: @cgydernegi
Instagram: cgydernegi
Twitter: @CGYDernegi
President
Ms Nilay Yılmaz
E-mail: nilay@nilayyilmaz.com
(address of the section)
Vice-President
Ms Çiğdem Gündeş
E-mail: cgundes1735@yahoo.com
(address of the section)
Secretary
Ms Esra İlter Demirbilek
E-mail: esrailterdemirbilek@gmail.com
(address of the section)
Bookbird Correspondent
Ms Almıla Aydın
Email: almilaaydin14@gmail.com
(address of the section)
In February 2023, a series of violent earthquakes shook the south-east of Turkey and the neighbouring regions of Syria, affecting 15 million people (including more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees) in 11 Turkish provinces. Since then Turkey has witnessed a major domestic migration with nearly 2 million finding refuge to almost every region of the country. Many children have been left orphans. It took no longer than 4 days after the disaster for Çocuk ve Gençlik Yayınları Derneği–IBBY Turkey to start planning an initiative to support children in the affected areas.
IBBY Turkey is currently working on the establishment of a children’s library located inside a prefabricated cultural centre under construction in the town of Nurdağı, in collaboration with the local authorities of Gaziantep, one of the most affected provinces. The opening of this library is scheduled for the end of May. In July, a similar library will open in Islahiye, a town located a few kilometres away from the Syrian border, now mainly made of tents and containers. These prefabricated libraries are key as they will serve as temporary learning spaces until the education programme is resumed and children are able to return to school. They will also be a safe haven for children to find comfort through books and reading amidst destruction.
The Turkish Section of IBBY was first founded in 1994 in Istanbul and re-established in 2005. Its members include writers, illustrators, translators, publishers, editors, librarians, teachers and academicians.
The Turkish National Section was responsible for the first children’s book fair in Turkey. Since 2005 the National Section annually selects the “Book of the Year” among children’s and Y.A. books published within the previous year. The awards are given during the annual TÜYAP İstanbul Book Fair in November.
A bilateral Project was carried on in 2007-2008 together with the Greek National Section. Picture books from each country were used to help Turkish and Greek children to get to know each other and to overcome their prejudices.
A number of stories for children about the handicapped, written by our members, was published in various media to create public awareness on the subject.
The Turkish NS participated in the Nami Island activities by sending two members, a professional of traditional shadow puppet and a collection of Turkish children’s and Y.A.
A one-day conference on children’s literature in Turkey was held in France in collaboration with the Charles Perrault Institute.
After a mine disaster in 2014, a bibliotherapy Project was launched in the town of Soma, a children’s library was set up within the public library there and a collection of over one thousand children’s and Y.A. books, most of which were dealing with traumatic subjects, was donated.
Members of IBBY Turkey visit schools for readings and they also give children’s literature conferences in schools and universities. The Section works together with the Society of Researchers of Children’s Literature to promote children’s books.