Hep Beraber: First Student at the Biga Women and Children's Center!

Dear Friends:

Another day, another milestone for the Biga Women and Children's Center! Things are moving quickly now...

Last week, I wrote with the great news that Canakkale Ceramics had committed to finishing the center exterior - a wonderful pledge from a great local company. Already this week, they sent personnel to the center and completed the work. See pictures of the painting process and beautiful finished product below! This professional exterior was exactly what the Bikad women had been hoping for - this kind of "finishing touch" is what will inspire good relations with their neighbors and respect in the community.

In November, the women started moving furniture into the center and collecting on promises of donated furniture from local businesses. This week, we see pictures of a largely furnished center. My personal favorites are the ones of their first registered student playing a game of blocks at one of the children's tables :)

This has been a great week at the Biga Women and Children's Center...in her email to me center leader Ayfer Baykal opened with "Sevgili Jill, bugun farkli bir mutluluk yasadik" - "Dear Jill, today we experienced a different kind of happiness." She was referring to the joy felt by the women when they registered their first student for the 5-6 year-old group. They will be registering three groups of students - 5-6, 3-4, and a younger nursery group. They hope to begin classes in about three weeks, approximately January 15th.

Our opening ceremony is on-hold until at least March and perhaps early this summer, depending on when I can make it over during a school break. We originally wanted to do it during my late-January break but the ground froze over before they could finish their garden work. I'll keep everyone up-to-date on this, in case you'll be in the neighborhood!

all my best and thanks for following,
Jill

1. The center's first student, ready to learn!