Kurdish in Turkey

KURDISH IN TURKEY

PHOTOGRAPHY: AMANDA VOISARD

Yarren Kesman,3, walks along side her mother, Gulcan after fetching scraps of wood to burn to heat their home.

“I feel like I am a stranger here”, said Gulcan Kesman, a Kurdish resident of Istanbul Turkey. Kesman says she is continually discriminated against for being Kurdish despite having lived in her community for over 10 years. Kesman said the women feel as though integration is much harder for them than their husbands. “We can’t even ask our neighbors to watch our kids,” she added. Feeling alone and isolated, she and her two sisters-in-law often confine themselves to the small ramshackle community they live in, referred to by locals as "‘Gecekondu’ – a term translated as home built overnight.

The family of 18 is supported by 3 brothers, Irfan, Yenge, and Nimet, who work long hours at a water pipe and doner restaurant making barely enough to get by. They say one-third of their checks must go towards school tuition fees, of which they say they receive no aid from the Turkish government. Their squatter settlement has been under threat to be demolished for several years. Despite over 15 warnings to vacate their residence, the family remains in the small shanty dwelling, which is situated adjacent to the Nasantasi neighborhoods, one of the most affluent areas of Istanbul. This is just one such development of about 50 neighborhoods in Istanbul that are earmarked for urban renewal projects by the government. With little to no alternatives, the residents live in a perpetual state of fear of eviction.

Yarren Kesman, 3, peers out from the window of her Uncle's shanty as her cousin, Firat, 5, takes advantage of the weather outside their home in Istanbul, Turkey. The family lives within a squatter community of Gecekondu homes, translated as house built over night. Yarren's father, and two Uncle's work long hours to support the family of 18.

Songul Kesman, 13, and Firat Kesman, 5, wait outside the doorway as their aunt, Gulcan Kesman prepares dinner for the household.

Songul Kesman, 13, walks up the hill from her home to fetch fresh bread for a neighbor. Songul lives in a the Gecekondu community, a squatter settlement, located in the middle of one of Istanbul's most affluent areas.

Cidem Kesman nurses her infant-son, Remzi in the one-room home, she, her husband, and five children share in Istanbul, Turkey. The Kurdish family, moved to Istanbul several years prior and are renting a small Gecekondu or squatter house in the same neighborhood as her in-laws. Gecekondu, translated as house built in one night, is a community nestled smack in the middle one of the more affluent neighborhoods in Istanbul. While "legal", the community is in danger of being torn down in the to make way for the urban renewal project.

Yusuf Kesman, 4, plays in his parents bedroom as his mother, Gulcan, breaks apart an old door for firewood outside their home.

Yarren Kesman, 3, climbs the stairs to her families home.

Cidem Kesman foldes laundry as her son, Firat, 5, entertains himself in Besiktas, Istanbul.

Afernoon tea is served as the kids entertain themselves writing with chalk on the front step.

Rabiya Kesman, 3 plays in between gecekondu - translated to home built over night.

Irfan Kesman tickles his son, Firat, 5, during an afternoon off work, at his home in Besiktas, Istanbul.

Selcan Kesman holds her distraught son, surrounded by her nieces and nephews.

Songul Kesman, 13, makes tea for the household.

Irfan Kesman takes one last look in the mirror before leaving for his 10-2am shift as a shish kepab cook at a local restaurant. Kesman says he has trouble with his hands which are black from cooking for long hours.

Irfan Kesman leaves for the late shift at a local kebab restaurant.

The families must make due with the limited means they have, often the children must attend to each others needs.

Miskal Kesman rocks her grandson, Remzi to sleep with the aid of her granddaughters, Rabiya, 3, and Seda, 3, Kesman. Selcan Kesman rests at rear.

Yusuf Kesman, 4, jumps from the ledge of his families Gecekondu, nestled in the heart of Besiktas.