With just one year left before graduating from his university in Istanbul, 23-year-old Mehmet Sirin Erbul had grown nervous about his job prospects. One of five children in his family, Mehmet excels in school, but faces a challenging job market in Turkey, especially for youth who lack experience. “There are simply too many candidates for the posts available,” explains the aspiring teacher.

Yet unlike many of his peers, Mehmet gained hands on teaching experience through the Dreams Workshop, an arts-based program that trains youth volunteers to teach younger children. Launched in 2003 and supported by Nokia, the Dreams Workshop is carried out by the Educational Volunteers Foundation of Turkey (TEGV). To date, nearly 30,000 children and youth have benefited. With its focus on arts education, the program offers disadvantaged children a rare opportunity to explore their creativity, express themselves, and simply have fun.

Shy by nature, Mehmet was at first apprehensive about joining the program. “I went just to go along with my friends,” he says, but enrolled as a volunteer because of the warm welcome he received. Through the program, he confronted his fear of teaching.

While Mehmet knew a lot about art, his formal education failed to equip him with the skills to interact and engage authentically with students. “Now I know a range of techniques that can be used and have developed classroom management and communication skills,” says Mehmet, who no longer feels awkward in approaching students. While at first he didn't speak at all during classes and volunteer meetings, now he’s much more outgoing. Says Mehmet, “With each meeting I opened up more. I lost my shyness.”

Working with students also boosted his confidence. “I began to think, ‘I can do this,’” Mehmet affirms. “I realized I had been afraid that I couldn’t do as well as other teachers. Now, I know I can teach.”

Mehmet values the chance the Dreams Workshop has given him to contribute to the lives of children who have few creative outlets in their lives. “The workshop offers a place to get away from daily life and be together with the children,” he says. It’s tiring, but it’s a good feeling. You may have had a terrible day but you don’t even think about that.”

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