Turkish charity helps Ethiopian orphans paint dreams

A Turkish aid foundation helped a group of Ethiopian children engage in drawing for the first time, at an orphanage in the southern part of the country.

The Yetim Foundation met Ethiopian orphans living at the Yalova Girls' Orphanage in southern Ethiopia Kofele as part of the "Pictures Touching Dreams" project that has been carried out in 13 countries across three continents.

The project aims to change the common perceptions about orphans and create a space where children can be happy and have an opportunity to bring out their inner talents.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), the Project Writer and Coordinator Canan Doğru said: "Wherever we go with this project, the emotional situation is the same. The living conditions and education systems of the countries don't make children happy."

Meryem Büşra Orhan, an art director, İlhami Atalay, a painter, and Furkan Can, a social service expert, were also part of the three-day project.

The project enables children depict their emotions and dreams - often scarred by war, natural disaster, disease, poverty, hunger, and drought - through pictures.

The pictures are later analyzed by professionals and the children are provided with psychosocial support.

The artworks will be put on sale on Nov. 20 at Istanbul's Ali Emiri Efendi Cultural Center, following an exhibition and a documentary screening.