Turkish delight: Fundraising food festival for underprivileged children

The money raised by PakTurk school will go in the funds for new admissions.

ISLAMABAD: Mild flavor and diversity makes Turkish cuisine one of the best in the world. In the recent past, this cuisine has gone beyond kebabs and has taken in the Middle Eastern and central Asian influence.

The PakTurk International Educational Foundation on Saturday held a Turkish food festival at their girls’ campus in Sector H-8 to raise funds for underprivileged children who are unable to afford schooling.

Every year, at the beginning of a new semester PakTurk International School holds a Meena Bazaar and food festival to raise funds for new admissions. It’s organised by teachers and other staff members who volunteer to cook and bake every year in support of the cause.

Frequented by people from all walks of life; students, parents and visitors, the event was a great cultural exchange between the two countries. Turgut Puyan, Deputy Chairman PakTurk Foundation, while speaking to The Express Tribune said “This event is open to public and the funds from today will go in a pool that we have for underprivileged children who want to continue studying but cannot afford it.” He expressed that businessmen and entrepreneurs from around the country are invited once a year to attend this festival and make donations.

The festival had a variety of salads, savoury items and desserts. Savoury delicacies included Manti – dumplings made using minced meat topped with a garlic-yogurt, Icli kofte – deep friend beef meet in cracked wheat, Sarma – grape leaves stuffed with rice and Dolma – green pepper stuffed with rice and minced meat. The desserts section had the famous Bakhlawa, a sweet pastry made using chopped nuts and honey, Ashura, a pudding made with seven kinds of grain, fruits and nuts and Turkish cakes and pastries.

“There’s a variety of dishes I tried today and I absolutely loved everything,” said Mehmoona Sher, a visitor. Such events should be held frequently to highlight and promote different cultures, she added.

Alamgir Khan, a sponsor and well-wisher said “We must try to play our role in uplifting the educational and social welfare of our people.” PakTurk is providing quality education in 170 countries worldwide by its cultural and humanitarian exchange programs, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2015.