Ayla Altan-Schirmer, 13, of Orinda, a student at Miramonte High School, helps lead an effort to build a small library for children displaced by earthquakes, natural disasters and regional conflict in the Basmane region of Izmir, Türkiye. Inspired by a visit to the area last summer, she has raised more than $2,000 toward her $5,000 goal to create a space where children can read, imagine and heal.
Ayla Altan-Schirmer just wanted to give her dolls a good home.
But the 13-year-old student at Miramonte High School wound up inspiring people 5,000 miles away to build a library in a region ravaged by earthquakes and overwhelmed by refugees from war-torn Syria.
It all started, though, when Altan-Schirmer and her family moved from Berkeley to Orinda, and she realized it was time to give away some of her dolls. The decision seemed obvious after her visit to the Basmane region of Izmir, Türkiye, with her grandmother last summer.
The students she saw on her trip were displaced from their homes due to earthquakes, natural disasters and regional wars.
“As long as the children used their imagination as much as I did with the dolls, I was more than happy to give them to them,” she said.
But her passion to help grew beyond this one-time donation because Altan-Schirmer wanted to have an impact that reached more people. She decided that building a library for the children in Izmir would help grow kids’ imaginations – and that’s what she’s doing.
Grateful to adults for listening to her, donating money to buy books and providing their time to the project, Altan-Schirmer sees her dreams becoming a reality.
Dr. Cemil Tugay, the mayor of the affected region, is committed to growing the library in its own building.
“This made me realize, besides my family and the kids, my small gesture was recognized and acknowledged by people who have authority,” said Altan-Schirmer.
The recognition also helped move the project forward.
Altan-Schirmer has a goal of raising $5,000 and has already raised more than $2,000 so far.
As the project grew, Altan-Schirmer found herself stepping into roles she had never expected. She learned how to explain her ideas to adults, ask for help and speak confidently about why the library mattered.
Those experiences changed how she views her own voice.
“You worry people will say no or think it’s not important. But I learned that when you really believe in something, inviting others in isn’t asking for yourself – it’s advocating for what you believe and what you are passionate about,” she said. “In this case, it’s the kids and the space they deserve.”
That lesson has shaped how she continues to approach the project.
“It takes time for people to notice what you are saying, or acknowledge that you have an opinion” she said. “The most important thing is not to give up. Otherwise, you will not get there.”
The experience has shaped not only the project, but Altan-Schirmer’s growth along the way.
Her mother, Basak Altan, talked about the impact her daughter is making on people’s lives.
“We’re proud of her in a quiet way. Not for the recognition or the milestones, but for choosing to care, for sharing what she has and for discovering that imagination and empathy can create connection – sometimes across oceans – one book at a time.”
People can donate through Altan-Schirmer’s Bridge to Türkiye Fund (BTF) at https://secure.givelively.org/donate/bridge-to-turkiye/join-youth-group-s-fundraisers/basak-altan-1J.
