| OGUZELI, TURKEY |
Youth to youth for new school     Oguzeli, a city with 12,000 habitants, about 40 km from the region centre Gaziantep, was honoured with an exhibition of awarded art works from The World of Art magazine's archive, on the occasion of the opening of the new school. For a small school, surrounded by slightly hilly fields of olive and pistachio trees, this event was especially festive, because it hosted the best young people's art works from 40 countries of all the continents. The Principal Mr. Mehmet Gönen and the pupils were proud of the fact that they became part of a great global fraternity of young art creators, and especially that they were their hosts. For this special occasion they equipped a special room and proclaimed it the school's gallery. I gladly promised them at least two exhibitions from our great archive of world's art works in future. The exhibition was opened by the ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Mitja Štrukelj, the mayor of Oguzeli, Mehmet Baškir, and the mayor of Gaziantep, Omer Can. As their guest and the founder of The World of Art magazine and the International competition I was paid special attention, as all the children and the rest of the school staff wanted to take pictures of me, show me around their school and offer me drinks. Sincerely happy and moved by their thoughtfulness I bid my farewell to all those magnificent children and people. I have brought a request for our readers or schools in Slovenia and abroad though. A small school with 270 pupils, lost among olive and pistachio trees in Euphrates river valley, 60 km far from the Syrian border, wishes to make new friends and be able to view through a window to the other and different world. Are we prepared to accept an offered hand of friendship? With great joy and hope I am expecting your mail with a positive response and I will connect you with them on the road to new friendship. Mihailo Lišanin |
