Songül Yüce has been realizing her dream for thirty years!

Children learn ballet, piano and painting together, and are strengthened by the healing power of art.

Songül Yüce has been interested in art since 2005. She teaches ballet, gymnastics, painting and dance courses. After graduating from high school, when she couldn’t study at the Faculty of Fine Arts, which was her dream, she was stuck in her heart. She wanted to take care of children, to have ballet and gymnastics, to give education to children. In 2005, she started her business with her labor and achieved her dream. She went door-to-door to schools, introduced her business to teachers and gave flyers. She developed her business over time and started to offer dance courses, sports, drama and painting courses for women. She gave these trainings at her workplace by contracting with teachers. She developed her business, prepared students for the Fine Arts High School, prepared students for the Faculty of Fine Arts, and trained teachers.

After the earthquake, everything changed for Songül. The place where she gave courses collapsed and she could not save any of her belongings. During that period, she went out of the city and stayed there for a while. But she wanted to return to Hatay.

”The city is dead but I said I have to do something, I didn’t want to sit at home.”

When she returned to Hatay, she borrowed money from friends and relatives and borrowed materials. She restored a small room she inherited from her mother and started working and taking courses again. When she started, she thought she could not do it again, but she was patient, she did not despair, she believed. She said it would happen and it happened. The old workplace was much bigger and more spacious, but Songül says that the current workplace has a more intimate atmosphere. After the earthquake, she believes that children need art to heal, overcome their traumas and forget, and she strives for children.

Thanks to Songül, children in Samandağ meet with art.

Songül came across the news about MaviKalem’s children’s playground in Samandağ on social media. Then she saw the Women Build Your Business project! She wrote her application letter with excitement. The material support provided by her inclusion in the program enabled her to start her business 7-8 months early.

Songül is now doing her courses. When the children are happy, she is happy too. Even though her children tell her that she should quit her job and rest, she never gives up and holds on to her work with both hands. She gives free courses to children who cannot come to the courses for any reason. With the money she earns, she pays the debts of the art school she restored and buys new materials to improve her business.

”When children are happy, I am happy. I produce, I can be useful. I will continue as long as I can because I love this art. When children laugh, I laugh and when they cry, I cry because I love my job very much.”

Songül Yüce’s dream is to continue in a big place like before and bring more children together with art!