“The last gift of thousands of people who died for our happiness
in the name of the orphan…” These words The state was under a huge financial burden during the war.
bringing the needs and education of thousands of orphans to the agenda of the parliament during times of oppression and
The name that shows a great example of conscience belongs to Kastamonu Deputy İsmail Mahir Efendi.
As a result of the motions made in the parliament to protect the children of martyrs, the war began
those who have been called to arms and attained the rank of martyr while performing their duty, or
education and support for orphans who died of various diseases and are in need of mercy
What is the point of establishing a darüleytam in the provincial and district centers for their education?
It has been discussed that the benefits and rewards it will bring are: “How much will the defense of religion and homeland be
If it is sacred, it is equally a sacred duty not to condemn the children of those who became martyrs or disabled in this cause to material and spiritual deprivation and to always think that they are a legacy to the nation.” The opening of darüleytams was accepted with the bill accepted thanks to İsmail Mahir Efendi, who displayed a great example of conscience by saying (BOA, BEO. 4185 /313812 18 September 1913). İsmail Mahir Efendi, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Darüleytam General Directorate, is the first name to become the head of this organization.
What exactly Darüleytam means is written at the entrance of the institutions.
It is understood from the inscription: “In the name of the happiness and safety of the nation and the Ottoman State
It is an institution of compassion and education specific to the orphaned children of the self-sacrificing Islamic and Turkish martyrs who sacrificed their lives .
It was first opened as four branches in Kadıköy, Istanbul on December 31, 1914.
Afterwards, darüleytams began to be opened in many parts of Anatolia, and in April 1917
The number of these schools, excluding Istanbul, has reached 67. During the war years, 40 thousand orphan children
He was protected in these orphanages and was taken care of by his mother during the most difficult times of the war.
He became a shelter for these children who were deprived of their father's compassion and protection.
The increase in the number of Darüleytams is directly proportional to the number of orphans.
Since the issue of orphans is a product of war, poorhouses are also a product of war.
It witnessed many wars, occupations and struggles during the 9 years it was active.
The Darüleytams carried this heavy burden when the security in Anatolia was disrupted and the occupation in Istanbul began.
Despite many economic impossibilities, he tried to remove the occupation in Istanbul
Considering that prices increased by 400% during the period, it is necessary to provide food for children, medicine
It is harder to provide them with at least one layer of clothing.
can be understood. In this respect, darüleytams are against all the impossibilities, social environment and political
Despite all the negative conditions of the environment, the care shown to the orphaned children is important.
has examples of conscience. Fish oil purchases for sick children at Bebek Darüleytam,
Decisions made regarding weekly meat consumption, drinking water in times of epidemics
The decision to transport them to the hospital in demijohns was made despite the war and the occupation that followed.
remarkable.
In the examination table prepared on August 7, 1920, at Bebek Darüleytam
The most important problem of the 434 children examined was malnutrition.
It was observed that there was a weakness caused by this. Thereupon, Bebek Darüleytamı
There was a request for fish oil to be given to children, thereupon Haydarpaşa Darüleytam
A committee was formed by the hospital to discuss the request. January 19, 1921
In the meeting decision dated , it was decided that children should digest this oil before purchasing it in large quantities.
It is economical to buy oil in bulk, as it is not possible to experience
It was decided to determine the variety and characteristics. After purchasing in large quantities
First, the names of the children who need treatment with fish oil and how much
about the situation where the need for fish oil is recorded on a table and shown
Information was requested from Bebek Darüleytam (BOA, MF. EYT 17/89).
The meat and vegetables coming to Darüleytam branches are certified by a doctor.
It has been ordered to be accepted. In another document regarding the quality of meat, it is stated that piece meat is accepted.
The decision not to do so is noteworthy (BOA, MF. EYT. 11/115). Branch physicians
It was decided to give 150 grams of meat 4 times a week, the meat to be taken is male
or it should be of good quality and should not be diseased, pale or stale,
After it cooled down, it was decided to deliver it as a whole and not accept parts.
(BOA, MF. EYT. 11/37. BOA. MF. EYT. 11/115. April 8, 1919). Due to the need for better protection of the students in the hospital against the disease, it was deemed necessary to form a health committee to protect the sick students in the Haydarpaşa Darüleytam from the cholera cases seen in the epidemic Istanbul. In addition, it was decided to carry drinking water to the hospital for the sick students. Accordingly, it was decided to carry the drinking water by means of demijohns recorded in the inventory list taken to the hospital.
Although children of martyrs are accepted to Darüleytam,
It has been observed that the conditions have been relaxed according to the current situation. One of the clearest evidences of this is
Bodrumi Ismet Oglu, who was found guilty of preparing forged documents and executed
After Osman's wife passed away, his daughter Zehra and his son Kemalettin went to the poorhouse
(BOA, MF. MKT.1230/ 39, 4 October 1917). Again, Cretans whose houses were burned
the children of the immigrants, the orphaned children on the streets, the children who lost their homes in the Tophane fire
The children of those who were burned were registered in the orphanage.
One of the most common diseases of the war period was trachoma. A contagious disease
Beykoz due to trachoma, an eye disease that leads to blindness if left untreated
A part of the Darüleytam has been converted into a 'Trachoma School' for other patients with this disease.
793 patients, 13 employees and 3 teachers in this Darüleytam
placed, healthy children were distributed to other hospices (Özer, S. 2014, in Turkey)
Fight Against Trachoma 1925-1945, Özkaya, H. 2016, Infectious Diseases in the Republican Era
Fighting Diseases, Turkish Journal of Family Medicine , 20.2, 77-84).
When Ismail Mahir Efendi died, he was buried in the garden of the orphanage in Bebek.
When this building was seized by the occupying forces after the occupation of Istanbul, his grave was taken from here.
It was taken and moved to the Bebek cemetery.
After Ismail Mahir Efendi, the general manager of Darüleytam (Öksüzcü)
The years he spent there were the years of occupation of Istanbul. Following the Armistice of Mudros in 1918, Istanbul
Foreign school buildings that were converted into darüleytam after being occupied were occupied within 24 hours.
As a result of the efforts of Selahaddin Bey upon the order to evacuate the palace, mansion,
Valuable buildings such as the waterside residence were allocated to orphans with the permission of Sultan Vahdettin and
The remaining orphans were placed in these buildings: Valide Bağ Pavilion, Çağlayan Pavilion, Beykoz
Mansion, Bebek Mansion, Balmumcu Pavilion, Ortaköy Mansion, Hatice Sultan Palace, Sait Halim Pasha Mansion, Yusuf İzzetin Efendi Mansions are the buildings that serve as a hospital.
(BOA. MF. EYT. 7/51).
Darüleytamlar, during the period of its activities that included the years of war and occupation,
In a time when issues such as death, migration and what is left behind are more on the agenda,
He displayed an example of conscience by addressing the issue of orphans.
Vakfiye, Islahhane and Eytam established at different times of the Ottoman Empire
As he thought, the darüleytams bear important traces of the practices and institutions.
It was also an example for institutions such as “Himaye-i Etfal” and “Child Protection Agency” that were established later.
has happened.
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