"This is why I decided to organize something myself," says the 24-year-old Master in Management student from HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management.
Because of the language barrier and the unfamiliarity with the social sector in Istanbul, finding a project partner was essential; also because there is no official refugee shelter in the metropolis on the Bosporus. "At the same time, there is a large number of migrants in Istanbul who earn a few liras by doing simple tasks or services such as collecting plastic or selling bottled water," explains the student.
Not only donations in kind but also small cash contributions can help asylum seekers. "Almost every exchange student I met has received a generous Erasmus grant," says Julia Mayer. "I told myself that it would only be fair to donate part of the Erasmus money for this cause. Another option would be to pass on the remaining liras before returning home."
60 gift boxes for Syrian refugees in Istanbul
With the support from the International Relations Office of Sabancı University and a local refugee organization, Julia Mayer initiated the Christmas and New Year's Donation Project in late 2015. For this purpose, she approached all national and international students at the private Turkish university. Even some professors contributed or promoted the initiative in class.
Donations were collected until December 21, 2015. Then Julia Mayer and her team packed the gift boxes.
They very consciously decided on the shape of a present. "After all, everyone likes to unwrap gifts," says the HHL student. "In the end, we had more than 60 gift boxes for women, men, children and families." A women's or men's gift box contained a pair of pants, a T-shirt, a sweater, a new pair of socks, underwear and toiletries.
"It makes you humble"
Julia Mayer will never forget when they handed over the gift to the refugees, most of them from Syria. "It was very moving because the refugees who live in Istanbul are going through very hard times." Julia Mayer goes on, "When you look into their eyes that all of sudden start to sparkle because they are so happy to have something good happen to them which they were not expecting, I was happy for them."
The HHL student noticed a great contrast to the "idyllic world we have in Leipzig". She says, "It makes you humble."
The refugee project initiated by Julia Mayer is now being continued by students from Sabancı University.