Traditional Cooperative and Mutual Support Practices in Turkey

Description

Will Ruddick:

"In ancient and modern Turkey, there are several traditions and practices that involve cooperative labor and mutual support among community members. Some examples include:

• Aşıklar: A traditional system of mutual support among farmers where groups of men work together on each other's farms, singing and sharing stories as they work.

• Dayı-damat: A traditional system where families support each other in times of need, such as during harvest season, by sending members to help with the work.

Cumalık: A modern practice where friends and neighbors gather to help with tasks such as building a house, harvesting crops, or caring for livestock.

• Muhtar: A modern system where a neighborhood leader organizes and coordinates community projects and initiatives, such as fixing roads, planting trees, or cleaning up public spaces.

These traditions and practices demonstrate a strong sense of community and mutual support, values that are deeply ingrained in Turkish culture and history."

(Fb, February 2023)