kursadbayhan

away from home

The project "Away from Home," which I began work on nearly six years ago, covers the inhabitants of Eminönü and Küçükpazar as one of the areas in Istanbul largely populated by migrants. Thousands of young migrants chasing their hopes and dreams work hard for their livelihood under challenging conditions. This group of people, which we could name the fourth generation, after the migration waves in the 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s, work in day jobs because they lack a professional education. They dwell in single-room homes with limited supplies of water and electricity. Individual rooms of apartments are rented on a monthly basis. One room is typically occupied by a minimum of 10 people. Oftentimes, rooms in houses that lack a kitchen and bathroom are used for cooking and bathing. Migrants usually occupied with peddling, and junk and scrap dealing make approximately $200 a month. After spending $50 for rent, migrants send the balance of their income to their families back home. Only a few are able to achieve their goals of a better life and manage to bring their families to Istanbul.

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