Ayşegül Duygu Saylam

Isn’t it all about love?

We are naturally talented for things that we care about.

Some, like me, were lucky to listen to their inner voices. Brought up in Istanbul, later longtime travels to Switzerland and France during studies, I was groomed to operate in international tourism industry as a businesswoman.

But, life paths do not always follow a usual pattern. I have been an expat to various third-world African countries that shaped my lifetime choices.

Seeing hunger, poverty, sickness, hopeless faces, pain and worst; acceptance of all those, were milestones of my lifetime plan.

I would, as much as I could, fight against hunger and poverty and try to be a drop in the ocean to bring sustainability to those people of the world.

Some may see it as naive or some as ideology; yet I see it possible.

Attracting people, who think like me, started years ago when I tried to raise awareness to importance of arts in every science of education.

I believe art is the only way to bring communities together regardless their origins. Therefore, we can change ‘perceptions’ and ‘concerns’ about each other.

I also consider technology as a form of art, and find the joy of it in connecting people to share, grow and sustain a certain level of today’s literature, movements and way of thinking.

In 2007, the law of attraction proved itself and connected me to Twitter. As the new baby of social networking; twitter makes it possible for us to learn about eachother, and our interests and concerns.

The following six months on twitter, were full of surprises and opportunities to discover. One evening in 2008, a tweet asking to ‘volunteer for Twestival in your city’ put the entire puzzle in place.

I was confronted by a group of people who were ready to give, and willing to help people in need through a marvelous way: A festival.

As Rumi says;

Do what you love and love what you do.”

Rumi’s quote explains why I love what I do. I always wished to be able to add to the community I live in. World is my community with no borders and we are just one of other 6 plus billion.

Twitter Festival: "Twestival" Istanbul March 2010

Since 2009, every six months İstanbul is celebrating Twestival like the other 250+ world cities. I am serving my people by organizing each twitter festival’s core team and gathering sponsors to create awareness.

People are volunteering to put all their efforts in this festival’s organization and execution. Locally and globally, I meet people who all try to give back.

I love what I do, because I am just a part of a chain that brings people to celebrate a festival around the globe with spectacular events and attractions.

A global ‘goodness army’ we are.

Here we are, with our designer bags, suits and platform sandals from İstanbul, Sydney, Stockholm, New Delhi, Tokyo, and San Francisco… trying to be a glass of water or a book for those in need.

We love what we do and it is all about love.

I’d like to share some quotes from my colleagues in the İstanbul Twestival Global 2010 Organization Committees…

İstanbul Twestival Global 2010, Events Execution Manager, Tolga Dizmen of Showhow:

Those years while I was studying to become an engineer, I was a member of music club, which changed my life. That’s how it started, my life become all about festivals, concerts one after the other. Each time, watching faces, seeing joy in them reminds me how much love what I do. I hope this feeling stays with me for ever.”

İstanbul Twestival Global 2010, Visual Communications Director – Duygu Burunsuz of İmece:

It all starts by knowing what you want. To be successful, to win, to grow…Sometimes it continues with not knowing what you want too.”

I am happy for as mush as I can touch lives. What I do, is the reflection of that goal that brings me happiness. Twestival is one of those things that I do. Its like, you touch something and somebody, it touches the other and it grows…

To become ‘us’ has to start with ‘me’ — To become ‘us’ with children around the globe that I never knew and most probably will never see. I love what I do, that’s why I will continue doing it: To touch others…

Connect with Duygu and Istanbul Twestival on Twitter: @istanbulTWSTVL

Visit the Official Istanbul Twestival Website