Toy Library Opens in Bornova
Ribbon-Cutting First, Then Playtime
Bornova Municipality has opened a Toy Library at the Altındağ Atatürk Cultural Center as part of the “I Played, Now It’s Your Turn” campaign, aiming to provide access to toys for children facing economic hardship. At the opening ceremony, Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized the impact of growing up without toys and expressed his hopes for a more just and democratic Turkey.
Another Social Responsibility Project for Children
The Toy Library, which adds to Bornova Municipality’s social responsibility projects for children, was officially inaugurated with a ceremony attended by Mayor Ömer Eşki. The ribbon was cut by children and their mothers together, creating joyful and colorful moments.
Mayor Eşki: “May We Never Need Toy Libraries Again”
In his speech, Mayor Eşki drew attention to Turkey’s ongoing economic difficulties and how access to play and entertainment is becoming increasingly limited for children. He noted that toy libraries first emerged globally during the 1929 economic crisis when children could not access toys.
Highlighting the financial struggles faced by many families in Turkey, Eşki stated:
“We’ve become a country where people can’t pay their rent, can’t buy milk for their children, and can’t even bring bread home. In such times, unfortunately, the first thing people give up is entertainment—and that means children lose access to toys. But we can’t predict how a child raised without toys will shape the future. The energy a child gains from toys, the affection they feel for them—these emotions help nurture more compassionate, empathetic individuals. I hope we build a Turkey and a world where there’s no need for toy libraries. Instead of toy libraries, may we open many toy museums. We launched the ‘I Played, Now It’s Your Turn’ campaign to meet today’s needs. So far, we’ve collected 1,293 toys. With the support of compassionate residents of Bornova, we aim to expand the number of our libraries.”
A Call for a Just and Democratic Turkey
Mayor Eşki concluded his speech with the following remarks:
“We hope to live in and build a world where such needs no longer exist. To achieve this, we must overcome what we see as the greatest economic challenge facing Turkey—ensuring that justice and democracy function properly. We must free the country’s great minds from prisons and build bright, democratic days together. We may not witness them ourselves, but we are fighting for them. Hopefully, our children will.”
1,293 Toys Collected Through the “I Played, Now It’s Your Turn” Campaign
So far, 1,293 toys have been collected for the Toy Library through the “I Played, Now It’s Your Turn” campaign initiated by Bornova Municipality. Children can borrow toys from the library, take them home, play with them for a while, and then return them—promoting a culture of sharing from an early age.