The Educational Sun Rising Over the Kenyan Desert

A man woke up early one morning to watch the sunrise and headed to the town's shoreline. He noticed that another man had arrived before him and was hurriedly picking up something from the beach and throwing it into the sea. As he got closer, he realized that the man was collecting starfish that had washed ashore and returning them to the water. Still, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The man who had arrived earlier replied, “I am returning the starfish to the water.” Surprised, the newcomer asked, “Why are you doing that?” As he continued tossing the starfish into the sea, the early riser answered, “So they can survive.”

The newcomer said in astonishment, “But there are countless starfish along this beach, and you are all alone. What difference can your effort possibly make?”

The man picked up another starfish and threw it into the water. Then he turned to the newcomer and said, “Look, it made a big difference for that one!”

...

In 2015, when we traveled to Kenya as part of a Qurbani mission to supervise the sacrificial animal distributions of the Deniz Feneri Association, we found hundreds of thousands of starfish waiting for a helping hand. Part of our team went to the Kakuma refugee camp, while we headed to the Dadaab camp with a group of kind-hearted people who loved collecting starfish.

To reach the camp, one must endure a long overland journey from the capital city of Nairobi. We learned from Mr. Ahmet Gazi that in previous years, two people who had come to assist on behalf of the Rida Association lost their lives during that long journey. We prayed for God's mercy upon them. One passed away in a traffic accident, while the other died after suffering a blood clot in the brain.

The camp near the town of Dadaab is the largest refugee camp in the world. In Dadaab, we witnessed 700,000 people living far from their homes and homeland, waiting helplessly for the world to remember them. Hundreds of thousands of victims and oppressed individuals, young and old, men and women, stand waiting for the compassionate hands of caring brothers and sisters living in other parts of the world to reach out to them.

These people are struggling for survival with limited food distributions from the United Nations and the support of a few aid organizations.

As representatives of the Deniz Feneri Association, the Beşir Association, and the Rida Association, we fulfilled the trusts placed in us by our donors by carrying out hundreds of Qurbani sacrifices in Dadaab. We witnessed that every part of the sacrificed animals, including the hides and even the hooves, was put to good use. The educational initiatives of Rida and Deniz Feneri, which reached at least some of the orphaned children in the refugee camp, brought comfort to our hearts.

One sight that made us especially happy was the Aysel and Şerif Fındıkkaya Orphan Complex, whose construction had been initiated by Deniz Feneri near the town of Dadaab and was nearing completion. As we toured the construction site at sunset, the progress we saw was a sign of how many starfish would soon be given a chance to hold on to life.

The orphan complex, commissioned by businessman Mehmet Fındıkkaya from Bursa in honor of his mother, Aysel Fındıkkaya, and his late father, Şerif Fındıkkaya, aims to contribute to the education of refugees living in the Dadaab Camp, where 700,000 refugees endure difficult conditions, as well as orphaned children brought from nearby villages. It will serve as both a center of service and a beacon of hope for Kenyan orphans and refugee children alike.

The complex includes a mosque, a school, an orphanage, a library, a health room, an administrative building, a soup kitchen, a Qurbani slaughter center, and a guesthouse designed to accommodate visitors traveling to Dadaab from Türkiye and other countries. The complex will be able to provide education for at least 300 orphaned children.

Within the orphanage complex, there will be a 350-square-meter school, a 430-square-meter orphanage building, a service building housing a 250-square-meter library and health room, a soup kitchen and slaughterhouse, and a 155-square-meter mosque. This project is of vital importance to the town of Dadaab. The orphaned children who receive an education here represent a great source of hope both for their families and for their country. More importantly, the Deniz Feneri Association, which coordinates the project, will also provide support to help these orphaned children complete their university education.

The Aysel and Şerif Fındıkkaya Orphan Complex is like an oasis created in the middle of the desert. There, orphaned children selected from the Dadaab refugee camps and surrounding villages will be prepared for life and the future. I sincerely congratulate my friend and brother, Mehmet Fındıkkaya, the benefactor of this complex. I pray for God's mercy upon his late father, Şerif Bey, and wish his mother, Mrs. Aysel, a healthy, blessed, and long life.

According to a narration from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Envy is justified only in the case of two people: one whom Allah has given wealth and who spends it in the cause of truth until it is exhausted, and another whom Allah has given knowledge, who judges by it correctly and teaches it to others." (Bukhari, Knowledge, 15)

...

I wrote the above lines upon my return from Kenya, where I had traveled in 2015 to supervise the slaughter and distribution of Qurbani sacrifices. Some time later, the construction of the complex was completed. In 2018, we attended its opening ceremony together with our donor, Mehmet Fındıkkaya, and a group of invited guests.

At the beginning of the project, the estimated cost was $300,000. However, the amount eventually rose to approximately $500,000 due to additional components added to the project. Mehmet Fındıkkaya personally covered $350,000 of the cost. The remaining amount was supported by TİKA, the Turkish Red Crescent, and the Maarif Foundation, creating a remarkable example of collaboration.

At the time of the opening ceremony, Mehmet Fındıkkaya's mother was still alive. After the ceremony, she watched the footage her son brought back and listened to accounts of the project's impact. She was deeply pleased and offered prayers. At that time, Mrs. Aysel was experiencing some health problems. She passed away not long afterward. May she rest in peace and be granted Paradise.

Through the orphan complex that continues to serve in Dadaab, Kenya, Mehmet Fındıkkaya keeps the names of his father, Şerif Bey, and his mother, Mrs. Aysel, alive. I pray for God's mercy upon both Şerif Bey and Mrs. Aysel, and I wish Mehmet Fındıkkaya a long and healthy life. By initiating a lasting charitable endowment (sadaqah jariyah) in honor of his parents, he has enabled the realization of a benevolent project that stands as an example for all philanthropists.

During one of our conversations, Mehmet Fındıkkaya said:

"Through Deniz Feneri, I had water wells built in memory of my father and mother. Later, I also sponsored water wells for my aunt, my uncle, and other relatives. Building wells for my aunt and uncle made my mother very happy. While she is still alive, I want to make her even happier."

Mehmet Fındıkkaya also ensured the completion of a mosque construction project that had remained unfinished in Côte d'Ivoire. We are also aware of his intention to build a mosque in Bursa in memory of his parents. We hope he will be able to realize this noble intention soon.

From time to time, master's and doctoral students, as well as researchers from Europe, the United States, and our own country, visit Deniz Feneri. They are curious about the motivations and methods behind the work of Turkish NGOs and humanitarian aid organizations, which have grown increasingly influential over the past twenty-five years.

Most of my guests ask similar questions:

"Do you cooperate with the official institutions of the countries where you operate? Do you work jointly with local NGOs in those countries? Do you collaborate with your own country's government institutions and civil society organizations?"

To answer these questions, I tell them the story of the Aysel and Şerif Fındıkkaya Orphan Complex, which we inaugurated in Kenya in 2018, and summarize it as follows:

"The land for our complex was allocated by the Garissa Governor's Office. The project was spearheaded by a local humanitarian organization, our partner on the ground. In Türkiye, the project was owned and managed by the Deniz Feneri Association. Its supporters included our donor Mehmet Fındıkkaya, TİKA and the Maarif Foundation, both prominent public institutions of our country, as well as the Turkish Red Crescent, one of Türkiye's most valuable humanitarian organizations."

I then ask my guests, "Is this example sufficient as an answer to your questions, or would you like another example?"

My interlocutor usually responds:

"This is a perfect example of cooperation and partnership. There is no need for another example."

And then they thank me.