Kenyan Isa: A White Man Caresses My Head

Many interesting life stories have been revealed in the "Turkish Competition for Foreigners" organized this year for the third time by Dilset Zambak Publications.

Kenyan Isik College student Isa Ares who has won a silver medal in the competition was just one of them. Ares comes from a place where racial discrimination rules the country. Ares who does not believe that a white man would never approach a black boy without an ulterior motive, added, "Turks are so different. I love my teachers so much. A white man touched my head for the first time in my life."

Ares was found by Turkish teachers in one of the poorer regions of Kenya, Garisa. The teachers of the Nairobi Isik College, who have been active for seven years, searched for students two years ago by knocking on doors one by one all around the region. The teachers gave examinations and tests to the students, and normally registered students who achieve a minimum 450 points or more than 500 points with a scholarship, Ares received only 382 points at the completion of the test, however, that was enough to grab the attention of the teachers of the College. Teacher Bekir Guclu said, "Getting 382 points from such a location that is worse than even the east of Turkey was really a great success. The region is so poor, it is where refugees live along the Somalian border; therefore, we enrolled Isa to the College with a full scholarship."

He had a good time in Turkey while attending the Turkish competition and made many friends from numerous countries, the successful student Isa said, "I will keep in touch with all of my friends using my Turkish. Turkish will be our common language. I will wage war against racial discrimination (racism)." He plans to help poor people after returning to his country and completing his medical education, Isa offers thanks to God for meeting the Turks. (By Tuncer Cetinkaya, Istanbul)

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