An octogenarian Turkish woman has dedicated most of her life to orphans in the Kasımpaşa neighborhood of Istanbul's Beyoğlu district.
Oya Kayacık, who has been caring for orphans in Kasımpaşa Children's Houses Site for 60 years, shared her lifelong journey with Anadolu Agency.
Kayacık never married or had children, only focused on chasing her passion for helping deprived children.
She said she lost track of time while taking care of the children's needs all those years.
"I have considered (Children's Houses Site) as my home. When you stay at any place for many years, it becomes like your own," she said.
Kayacık said when she came to the orphanage to work, nobody believed that she would stay for this long.
"I do not know how it happened… I could not think anything else other than staying here," she added.
Kayacık, who earned the nickname "Mother Oya" said she never looked at the children with the eye of an administrator or teacher. "I was one of them. I used to eat and play with them," she added.
She said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's has also spent most of his life in Kasımpaşa. "Our president also knows much about my work."
Kayacık said Erdoğan loves children and that love is part of the spirit of the Kasımpaşa neighborhood.
"I thank (Erdoğan) very much. He helped us extensively," she added.
