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Muammer Demir, 34, who was recently forced by economic problems to settle in Süleymanlı village in the Elmadag district of Ankara, offers a new life to families affected by the crisis and left homeless because they cannot pay their rent and bills.
Demir has led the establishment of a life of co-production and sharing for families who have had to leave their homes, and now invites everyone who has become homeless due to the crisis to his village. He said that together with the families who came, they want to develop the idea of a commune-based village.
Demir spoke to MA about their plans for future. He started by telling how he started his own journey;
“I had a vehicle, I sold it and bought 50 sheep, they gave birth. I bought barley for them, I bought wheat. First I put them with a friend’s flock, and then I started shepherding. It is really hard to survive these days, 2.25 lira to buy a loaf of bread, so it’s a unhappy sad situation, I’m not thinking of only myself, I’m more sad for other people, people are in a very difficult situation.”
He has invited homeless people to live with him in the village and has received many positive replies. People have come to the village to live onthe farm with him.
“Some of our friends had to sleep in the mosque in the past, some slept in the park, I have bread to share.” Demir says. He summarises their dreams for the future with the following words:
“Actually, we have a dream of building a communal village, so let’s produce food for ourselves, do it ourselves, let’s eat it ourselves, everyone can have a different job, let someone look after the chickens, someone collect the eggs, someone give them water and medicine, a do-it-yourself style of living, work for yourself as much as you can.”
