Kalkan Turkish Local News recently visited the Kalkan Rehabilitation Centre on Gül Sokak, or to give it its proper name, the Özel Kalkan Özel Eğitim Rehabilitasyon Merkezi.  A literal translation is the Special Kalkan, Special Education and Rehabilitation Centre.

For many people Kalkan represents a superb holiday destination or a wonderful place to come and live.  It's easy to forget that Kalkan and the surrounding areas have many of the same medical and social issues that other towns have, including towns in the UK. 

This school provides much needed support to people who suffer from various kinds of mental impairment, or learning difficulties.

The centre is run by Zehra Tanç and her staff of 6 teachers and 2 assistants.  They look after approximately 100 people, whom they refer to as students.  Most are children, but their oldest person is in his 40s.  At any one time there are never more than about 30 students in the centre, as attendance is spread over 5 days - Tuesday to Saturday, with some attending in the morning and others in the afternoon.

Some of the students are capable of going to regular school, and supplement this learning with additional sessions at the centre.  Others are unable to attend regular schools and get most of their structured learning at the centre.  The parents of the students do not have to pay for them to attend.  Funding comes from the government and also the Esnaf Foundation.

The staff took me round the centre and I found it to be a welcoming, warm and caring environment.  The fabric of the building appeared in reasonable order, although there was some evidence of paint peeling where the wet winter has taken its toll.  But this was the exception and overall, the surroundings were bright and cheerful and clean.

The children were also friendly, if a little curious to have a 'yabanci' visitor.  On the morning of my visit, all of the children were from nearby Çayköy.  The rehabilitation centre has its own minibus and brings in children from a number of surrounding villages, as well as from Kalkan itself.

I was first introduced to Hatice, a 2 year old girl in the care of Nilgün, one of the teaching staff.  This was an example of one to one care for one of the centre's younger children.  The room was quite simply set out, and included a bed for resting on and a large wall mirror where Hatice could see her own reflection.

Next was Iraz, a lively and happy young lady whose smile beamed out so brightly that you couldn't help but smile right back.  Iraz is 10 years old but has learning difficulties which means she is educationally at the level of a 6 year old.  Her teacher Yusuf was providing one to one tuition which involved Iraz learning from the computer and also writing down some answers in her exercise book.  Iraz has impeccable manners and was kind enough to shake my hand and ask me how I was, and she was also keen to tell me about her brother, mother and father.

We then moved to another room where a small class of children were being read a story by teacher Emine.  The idea was to read the story and then ask questions to see how much the children could remember.  Unfortunately, the appearance of a camera wielding stranger was enough to break their concentration, however they were as keen as mustard to have their photos taken.

Several broad smiles for the camera later we moved on to another room, where 14 year old Neslihan was being taught numbers and colours by her teacher Bihter.

I don't honestly know what I expected to find when I was shown round.  Having met Zehra I can see that she is a kind lady who very much cares for the people in her charge.  All of the staff were friendly too, (in the usual Kalkan tradition), and were charming hosts. 

This kind of work requires a very special type of person.  It's not easy, but the rewards are enormous when you can see the children making progress.  People who work with the disabled are often unsung heroes, wherever they may be.  So KTLN wanted to shine a little light on the wonderful work that is going on right in our midst.

KTLN would also like to make you aware of a fundraising event that is taking place on Wednesday 13th May, starting at 3 pm, at the Rehabilitation Centre on Gül Sokak.  The families of the children who go to the centre will be making lots of delicious food that you may purchase.  The children have also made things to sell, such as decorated bottles, dishes and simple fashion jewellery.

If you are in Kalkan at this time, why not go along and help them to raise funds to help with a few little extras for the children.  Also, if you have anything that you could give them as a gift, such as toys or teddy bears, feel free to bring things along.  They will be much appreciated.

Directions: Taking the main road out of Kalkan you come to the spot where many banks are located.  Opposite Deniz Bank you will see Iş Bank on the corner of a side road.  This road is Gül Sokak.  Follow this road almost to the end.  Just before Sevgi Hotel you will see the Rehabilitation Centre on your left.  Alternatively, go up the road by Tesko supermarket, past Extinct retaurant and then turn right on to Gül Sokak.  Keep going until you see the centre on your left.