Immigrants meet with their past at the Culture House in Sinop
The Culture House, which was opened 5 years ago in Sinop and exhibits the photographs and old belongings left behind by the first generation of exchange migrants who lost their lives, sheds light on the 101-year history of the history of the exchange.
In accordance with the exchange agreement signed between Türkiye and Greece on 30 January 1923, the descendants of the exchange migrants who left their homeland 101 years ago and settled in Sinop are trying to pass on their culture to future generations in the Culture House they opened in the city.
The Culture House, which was opened 5 years ago by the Sinop Mübadele and Balkan Peoples Culture Research and Solidarity Association, founded by the exchange migrants living in the city, hosts various activities such as girls and exchange food days, where exchange migrant women come together and chat, as well as historical photographs and items left by the first generation of exchange migrants.
The House of Culture, which is frequently visited by the first settlers from different regions of Turkey, contains items used by the first settlers such as gas lamps, measuring instruments, churns, household items, clothes and photographs of the first generation of settlers who lost their lives.
Kenan Aral, President of Sinop Mübadele and Balkan Peoples Culture Research and Solidarity Association, told AA correspondent that they are making great efforts as members of the association to transfer the culture inherited from their grandfathers and ancestors to future generations.
Explaining that they, as the exchange migrants living in the city, became an association in 2014 and tried to carry out cultural and social activities, Aral stated that they aimed to ensure the continuity of their culture with such activities.
Stating that they have transformed one floor of their association, which previously operated in a restored historical building, into a House of Culture, Aral emphasised that they exhibit the belongings of their ancestors and the photographs of the immigrants who lost their lives.
Visitors to the House of Culture experience emotional moments
Pointing out that those who visit the Culture House have the opportunity to refresh their memories, Aral said, "For example, last week a group of 20-25 people came from Samsun. They visited, they were very touched. They said, 'We experienced the exchange for the first time in Sinop'. One of them even brought a gift to our association to be used. They said, 'From now on, we will bring you the items left by our ancestors and grandfathers in our villages'. Their eyes filled with tears."
Aral pointed out that they experienced emotional moments as much as the visitors during the visits and said, "Some of them examine the photographs of the first generation of immigrants and take their photographs saying 'My uncle, aunt, grandfather was here'. They even show them to their relatives in Istanbul and Ankara via live broadcast."
Stating that they are planning to realise different activities in the future at the Culture House, where hundreds of old items inherited from the first generation of the first generation of immigrants are presented to the interest of visitors, Aral said the following:
"From now on, we will do our best to keep the Balkan and Rumelia cult alive. For example, food culture, folk dances, choir work, Balkan music... We will try to expand these by making different work programmes. We will do everything we can to ensure that it is not forgotten and passed on to future generations. I think that our House of Culture will spread all over Turkey and the Balkan geography, because there are visitors from the Balkan geography and there are those who will come."
