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FROM PRAGUE, WITH LOVE

Voice of Engin's FriendsⒸ

“Whether we call it sacrifice, or poetry, or adventure, it is always the same voice that calls” ~Aristotle

From Prague, With Love

"I learned some Turkish words, I now make Turkish tea and bough a teapot in Austria"
Hello from the Czech Republic (Europe). Engin has dramatically changed my life. I’ll tell him like I do on the [Friends of Engin Akyürek YouTube video] comments. I put together a letter:

Thank you so much for being there. You helped me out of a difficult life situation. My husband died. Add to that, Covid. I was not allowed to go anywhere; it was six months after that, the series Fatmagül’ün Suçu Ne? was broadcast. Immediately, I fell in love with Kerim. Since then, I’ve been looking for everything that you have filmed.

I learned some Turkish words, I now make Turkish tea and bought a teapot in Austria with my daughter in a Turkish shop. I wanted to be connected to you. That’s why I was tempted to write comments (on YouTube) and why I have been writing for 4 years, to feel the connection to you in some way again. I even wear clothes from Turkey. This year I went to see your country.
I’ve never eaten good oranges like the ones in Turkey.

I’ve been supporting you for a long time. You are a huge personality and a humanitarian; a great talent as a writer too. You are worthy of the Emmy Award with your talent and skill being at the highest level. We [your friends] LOVE you!
Lýdia
Prague, Czech Republic

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ONENESS

Voice of Engin's FriendsⒸ

"The human voice is the organ of the soul" ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Oneness

"I now experience my life fully."

Engin Akyürek.
How can one actor playing a role evoke so many emotions in me? You don’t just watch and read his work, you feel the energy and the meaning behind it. I dove into his writings (English translations); simplistic, with a deep compassionate understanding of others and the world. It inspired me to look within and beyond myself. I came across an Engin [Akyürek] interview, in which he relayed a version of the quote “Be the change you wish to see, it begins with you.” How many times have you read or heard this quote? “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Personally, over 1000 times. This time, it hit differently.

I began to question, what does it truly mean personally and as a collective?
How am I leading and being throughout my day?
How is my relationship with others?
Am I truly making an impact with the people I encounter?
Which of my values do I find myself most out of alignment with right now?

CONNECTION – I was lacking connection. Connection is the energy that exists between people. Connection occurs in the heart center. It’s so easy to get sucked into our day-to-day life and allow time to pass us by, but: What would be possible if we truly connected to others in a meaningful way? If we took the time to have conversations, make eye contact and hold space without judgment? To be the reason someone else feels seen, loved and appreciated? Ultimately, it’s not what is happening around us, it’s about who we are and who we become in the process of life.

I now experience my life fully.
I lead each day with intentionality and love. Love towards God, myself and others.
I can show up in a way that is so raw and authentic, which is truly a gift.
I’ve created meaningful friendships and connections, just by listening.
There is so much beauty in the silence, in the listening and in the allowing. And I encourage you, too, to zoom out, observe and know the world is so much bigger than us, yet we all remain connected.
Connected by Engin.
Merly Amos
New Jersey, USA

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LOST AND FOUND [HOPE]

Voice of Engin's FriendsⒸ

“Raise your words, not your voice” ~Rumi [Mevlâna]

When Light Emerges from the Most Unsuspected Places

"..a dark and misty unknown turned into a glowing, crystal clear path.."
I had entered a new path in my life; determined new goals for myself and started working on them. But the situation didn’t go as I expected. I was starting to lose hope and I guess I was going to return to work as a waiter or barista. Work is not the reason I’m mentioning this; I loved the work I was doing. It was the life I was living and industry I was working in that I hated, because of dark-hearted betrayer people I’d met along the way.
One evening, a sweet lady (she knows who she is) responded to my application to work on a project. When I asked for further information, I learned that it was philanthropic in nature. This organization was about Turkey and Engin Akyürek. When the sweet lady said the name “Engin Akyürek”, the only thing that came to my mind was just the actor guy. After we agreed to work together, I started researching about Engin and learned that he wasn’t “just the actor guy”. He is also a globally well-known humanitarian. I was deeply impressed and moved by his charitable work. It made me feel blind that I didn’t know this gentleman even though he is in my own country! But on the other hand, I felt so proud and warm at heart.

Having to now know Mr. Akyürek, and also Friends of Engin Akyürek, helped me find the hope that I had lost. They give me the strongest support on the new path I created for myself. My faith in the beauty of people has been restored by the sweet lady I’ve met. Now I’m working on a job that I love and I’m getting closer and closer to my goals in life each and every day. One step at a time. My relationship with my family and friends has strengthened. By the virtue of Engin Akyürek (even though he doesn’t know) and his “Friends”, dark and misty unknown turned into a glowing, crystal clear path for me.

Dear, sweet people of the Friends of Engin Akyürek family: I love you to infinity and beyond…
THANK you..

Aitoo
Tekirdağ, Turkey

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“LOST” IN İSTANBUL

Voice of Engin's FriendsⒸ

“The voice of beauty speaks softly; it creeps only into the most fully awakened souls” ~Nietzsche

Lost in Istanbul

A Mini Collection of Poems

May the smile in your eyes
be eternal,

that the words
drawn in the silence
may always be your voice,

melodious and sweet harmony
that inhabits our heart.
August , 2021

Photo: Kadıköy, view from Moda

Love at first sight
at the first sunset
on the waters of the Bosphorus
at the first light rising
on the Sea of Marmara

Istanbul,
listening to Istanbul,
feeling Istanbul
with my eyes closed…
February 2022

Photo: Sunset at Sea of Marmara

Istanbul
My eyes adore you,
unique city,
without knowing you yet…

I wish I could also
like Orhan Veli,
hear you
my eyes closed!
June 2022

Photo: Istanbul, view from Galata Tower

Maria José Couto
Matosinhos, Portugal
Read Maria’s Blog

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BEACONS OF LIGHT, TWO IN A POD

Voice of Engin's FriendsⒸ

“There is not index of character so sure as the voice” ~Benjamin Disraeli

An Example to Behold

Engin Akyürek, the person I look up to.
The way he carries himself in the public eye is very appealing to me. He is very keen on his private life, has a good name in the press, obviously with no reason to speak badly of him. Engin Akyürek is a very down to earth person who seems easy to talk to. He writes about his childhood, his traumas and other scenarios. All relate to us in some way or another because we have been in similar situations. I, personally, can truly find myself in his stories; to see how he solves them and moves on from them. The most important thing, however, is to learn and grow from them, he keeps pushing himself to his next limit. By helping others through sharing and being helpful, fills his own satisfaction of life. Same goes for me, “who does good, meets well” that’s why he inspires me so much.

As an actor, Engin really gets into his role for each situation handed to him. He plays his part in the most natural, liveliest, most believable way. From watching his movies and series, I experience a lot more concentration; a feeling of focus, like I’m actually there experiencing the same thing. Engin Akyürek emulates kindness and sincerity. An important thing for him is using his knowledge to help others to become successful; he does so selflessly, without wanting anything in return. He lets other people stand in the light though he is the one who truly deserves it.

I’ll never get tired of complimenting Engin Akyürek on his acting and writing skills. I didn’t expect it, but the moment I saw his series for the first time, was the moment I felt he enriched my life. I immediately knew this gentle man would teach me a lot. Back then, I needed a model to follow, and now I’m confident enough to take the lead.
Engin Akyürek: Thank you for being such a great example. You were my searchlight, lighting my path with your wisdom. You are so special to me, and I want you to know that.
Mimoent Cortet
Amsterdam, Netherlands

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A FRIEND, DISCOVERED

Voice of Engin's FriendsⒸ

“The ones who have a voice must speak for those who are voiceless” ~Oscar Romero

So Many [Priceless] Discoveries

"..I need to watch some of his work or read one of his short stories."

Confined due to the pandemic, I “met” Engin Akyürek in Kara Para Aşk on Netflix. His performance impressed me so much that I searched tirelessly for all his work. I watched all his movies and series. Through my research, I learned about his book Sessizlik, which I purchased in digital format in Turkish. Later, I got the Spanish version (Silencio). From there on, it has been a constant discovery of the personality of this huge actor and writer. Every day since, I need to watch some of his work or read one of his short stories. My “relationship” with Engin starts with a feeling of closeness at this point. The more I read the stories (a product of his prodigious imagination and creation) and the more I watch him in series (one after the other, over and over again) the more I feel he is close to me, just as he said: “friends, not fans.” He gives so much of himself to the characters he performs and is so real that he makes me live the dramas and the happy moments with him as if he were a close friend. He gives me the feeling that, all of a sudden I could meet him, maybe on the street, around the corner or in some coffee shop while having çay.

Surprisingly, I discovered his philanthropic side; his support to Darüşşafaka Society from the profits of his book plus every year with his support to yet another organization. For all of this, even more so, I feel that it is his way of life I see mirrored in myself, because it is how I live my life too.

From his donations, to the fact that he considers me a friend and not a fan; his willingness to come to us through Zoom to thank us for our support, plus sharing with us a little bit of his inner self, all of this makes me feel more connected to him. This is despite being so far away from his country, in a place where the culture is so different from mine, even though I have little hope of ever meeting him in person.
Engin Akyürek definitely changed my life.
Maria José Correia
Lisbon, Portugal

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