Journey Through Books: Bringing Literature and Kindness Together in Sarılar
İZMİR - This year, Tohumluk Foundation is continuing its “Journey Through Books – Literary Encounters for Students” project in Sarılar, in İzmir’s Kemalpaşa district. Through the project, we aim to help children connect with books, develop their imaginations, and express themselves. On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, we held this year’s first author gathering at the Sarılar Culture and Arts Workshop.
Author Güzin Öztürk met with the children for an interactive conversation about her book *Ses Koleksiyoncusu* (“The Sound Collector”). Students shared their thoughts and asked questions, creating an opportunity to explore the book together. Discussing a work with its author gave them space to reflect on their reading and ask about the things that sparked their curiosity.
At the end of the gathering, we gave the children books signed by Güzin Öztürk. We hope these books will accompany them on their individual reading journeys and inspire curiosity about new stories.
Later that day, author Dilek Yılmaz led the “Kindness Among Peers Workshop,” inviting children to reflect on friendship and mutual respect. Through games and drawing activities, students explored kindness and found different ways to express their feelings and ideas.
Together, the literary conversation and workshop created an environment where children could contribute through both words and pictures. The exchange that began with books extended to friendships and how we understand one another. For us, these gatherings are valuable because they give children opportunities to voice their own thoughts while listening to others.
We sincerely thank authors Güzin Öztürk and Dilek Yılmaz for their contributions, the children whose curiosity and participation brought the gathering to life, and the teachers and school administration for their support.
At Tohumluk Foundation, we will continue connecting children with the world of books and supporting their imagination, creativity, and self-expression through literature and art.
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