Project Description:
Hej! I am Melisa and I came from Turkiye to Denmark for long term ESC project. For my personal ESC project, I organized a “Turkish Culture Night” to bridge the gap between my home country and my local community(Sinding) here in Denmark. I gave a talk about Turkish history and we also did folk dance together with the Sinding community.My goal was to move beyond stereotypes and share the true essence of Turkish hospitality through its history, language, and, most importantly, its flavors. The event brought together 50 people for an evening of storytelling and traditional dining.
The Process: From Action Plan to Reality
Following my action plan, I started with writing details and sending to my organization AFS. And then I researched the historical ties between Vikings and Turks.The logistics were the most challenging part; I had to scale up traditional recipes to serve 50 guests. This involved managing a large-scale kitchen operation, luckily my host family helped me cook 🙂
Results and Implementation:
The implementation was a huge success. The event was attended by 50 curious guests from Sinding Community which made the evening feel very personal and warm. I delivered a presentation highlighting surprising linguistic similarities and historical anecdotes. The highlight was seeing 50 people enjoying the meal I cooked from scratch with my host family and proving that food is a universal language. The project successfully created a space for dialogue, curiosity, and shared laughter.
Reflections: What I Have Learned
This project was a very meaningful experience for me. It was wonderful to see so many people interested in Turkish culture and enjoying the food. I learned how to manage a large-scale project, handle time pressure in the kitchen, and speak effectively to a diverse audience. I feel proud to leave this mark on my community before my project finish, and I hope it inspires future volunteers to share their own unique stories 🙂
ESC Solidarity Projects 