Baking cookies for earthquake victims Turkey and Syria
On Wednesday, February 15, students sold home-baked Turkish food, apple pie, and various cookies to other students on Roeterseiland campus. The money goes to Giro 555. “In Turkey, it’s normal to help each other as a community, and we want to do that here, too.”
Anyone who walks into the Common Room in the B building on Roeterseilandcampus on Wednesday will see a large table full of baked goods. Since 11:00 a.m., students have been selling different treats there, including Turkish dishes such as börek and couscous, different kinds of cookies, apple pie, and banana bread. Students can “buy” the delicacies through a donation to Giro 555.
Eren Konyar (20, Politics, Psychology, Law & Economics) is one of the organizers of this fundraiser. Konyar explains from behind the table what the baked goods are called and what they contain. Everyone’s tastes have been considered: there is a lot of vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free food. Wearing hygienic gloves, Konyar hands out the baked goods on small plates and shows students how to donate and in what amount. A minimum donation of two euros is required for each treat, but more is always allowed.
Konyar sees the action as a joint effort by many students. “I started asking around a few days ago if any students wanted to bake something or help with the organization. That went quickly. We agreed with the Common Room that we could “sell” the baked goods here.
It was quite a lot of stress to organize this, Konyar says, “I am also a student, of course, so normal life goes on. But still, I think it’s important to do. In Turkey, it’s normal to help each other as a community, and we want to do the same here. And the stress I’m experiencing is nothing compared to what the earthquake victims are going through.”
Chocolate cookie
A little further away, student Suzan Ros (20, Education Sciences) sits on the bench eating a chocolate chip cookie, which she finds “very tasty.” She is on the board of the Common Room and was already there at 11:00 a.m. today. “I think it’s good that they are organizing this. Many enthusiastic students have already stopped by to buy something. Besides, this is a nice way to call attention to the earthquake victims. Everyone who cooked and baked did their best and the food is delicious, so those are extra motivations to donate. I like the couscous the best so far.”
Student Sebastian Alvino (22, psychology) is also a member of the Common Room board and also liked the couscous best. “I also helped set up the table. We want students to feel welcome here, to meet, and to help each other. That’s also exactly what this action is about - helping each other.”
