Just a little dream

I believe there is always a rainy day that changes somebody’s life. Young and excited Umut Acikgoz had such a rainy day as well. In it everybody was escaping from rain to their homes, except Umut, who this day met a woman that helped her realize her dreams.

19 year old Umut Acikgoz came to the city on 25th of September to meet Serap Kirdar who is working in the Project Department of the Municipality of Tuzla. They talked a lot about the projects in European Union countries and Umut told her that she wanted to go abroad, with Serap’s support. She accepted her proposal and thus, Umut came closer to her dream and her story has begun.

First project was in Slovenia, Kamnik. She was so excited because this was her first experience abroad. In Slovenia, Umut attended studies about environment, met many people from different cultures, different kinds of life styles, she even ate raw fish which although upset her stomach was great. She also learned to dance in different ways and finally realized that when she returned to her hometown her life will never be the same anymore.

Is it easy to find love? In 8 days? In a project whose topic was youth problems in rural areas? For Umut it was in her second project in Italy, Agnone. Maybe it was love at first sight or something ridiculous but what’s certain is that Umut experienced something most people cannot in their whole lives.

After her third and fourth projects, which were both in Berlin, Germany, she joined the European Student Association (AEGEE) and after 6 months she became the project coordinator. This association was not enough for her so, she decided to quit from the organization after a while. After that she found a better and a more professional place which was called Youth Art, Research and Training Association. Umut had many trainings in Youth art and developed herself day by day. She drew her interest towards work in the civil society and her journey is still continuing.

So, what should we learn from this part of Umut’s life story?

She started this journey only going abroad but later on she recognized varied cultures and people. She opened the door to another lives, she fell in love, finally choose the profession which she wanted to earn her living. You cannot know what life will offer you. Life continues to surprise us and we wish Umut luck for the rest of her life…

Umut AÇIKGÖZ