About Us

Where Volunteer Spirit and Peace Welcome Women Immigrants

In 2019 we renewed a home and workspace in Kırkpınar, a town of Sakarya, where Lake Sapanca is within walking distance, as well as an array of local cafes and restaurants on a street that was once part of the Silk Road. It has been in the trial process of serving as a platform for, and by, refugee and migrant women and non-binaries – we promote the terms “border-crosser” and “newcomer” too! Our aims are raising awareness, promoting creativity, developing capacity and competence.

Mission in a Nutshell:  UmAy is an independent, privately-owned home and workspace (145 m²). We aim to provide refugee or migrant women and non-binaries with the opportunities to get involved with a diverse network, create, heal, and share stories and experiences. We believe that spirituality cannot and should not be a narcotic comfort in a broken world, but that its healing effects might appear in surprising and awakening ways. Join us for a meaningful discourse around the challenges of our times and get support in taking new steps in your lives.

Women and non-binaries experiences and struggles as newcomers can be learned from while sharing and developing a safe workspace that exists in harmony with Nature.

We do and will consider becoming an extension of a like-minded organization or university centre, if the opportunity arises, to expand our offerings to a wider community of women and non-binary individuals to join the movement for voices of immigrant writers and artists to achieve a just and peaceful world.