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Welcome!
We are going to Turkey!!!
We are grateful to Arçelik, a division of Koç Holding in Turkey, for making our trip to Turkey possible. We truly appreciate that they are sponsoring our trip.
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Hi! I am Sierra Cihan Germeyan, and I am organizing a trip to Turkey for a group of students from my school - Bethany Christian High School. As a Turkish-American who has one Muslim parent, it has been very frustrating for me to hear the continual negative responses towards Muslims and people from the near and Middle East since 9/11. The media in the United States negatively influences peoples perceptions and has built terrible stereotypes against Muslims. The prejudice that has developed is leading us further and further away from peaceful situations in our world.
Prejudice is best broken down through education and positive contact between two opposing groups. Through bringing a group of students to Turkey, Im hoping to break down barriers so that my generation can work towards more peaceful resolutions of conflicts.
I wanted to raise funds for this trip to keep costs minimal for students so that the trip can include people from all socioeconomic groups, not just those who can afford it. Arçelik graciously donated the funds for the trip. The students were selected by the Student Life Committee partially based on their commitment towards peace issues, and a desire to learn more about global issues and cultures. My mom, Jennifer, is a teacher at my school and she will be the trip leader. I will go as well so that I can share the love I have for Turkey and provide a teenagers insight during the trip, as well as help with communication. As a result Arçelik made my dream come true.
I attend Bethany Christian High School, which is owned and operated by the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. Mennonite Christians are pacifists and have a strong peace philosophy. Mennonites choose not to participate in wars and other violent conflicts. The Mennonite philosophy goes along well with my ideals for this trip. My school provides a week in April each year called Interterm, in which students participate in alternative learning experiences. Service is often a part of these experiences, as well as expanding one's knowledge of the environment or other cultures. Because of Arçelik's generous sponsorship, we are able to take eight students to Turkey for Interterm 2007.
Again I want to thank Arçelik for making this trip happen.
Sincerely,
Sierra Cihan Germeyan
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| Webmaster: Chelsea Germeyan |
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