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Komsu Kafe Collective

Let's open collective cafe in Istanbul, with good food and open doors.

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Komsu Kafe Collective

Komsu Kafe Collective

Komsu Kafe Collective

Komsu Kafe Collective

Komsu Kafe Collective

Let's open collective cafe in Istanbul, with good food and open doors.

Let's open collective cafe in Istanbul, with good food and open doors.

Let's open collective cafe in Istanbul, with good food and open doors.

Let's open collective cafe in Istanbul, with good food and open doors.

ali tilly
ali tilly
ali tilly
ali tilly
1 Campaign |
Istanbul, Turkey
$733 USD $733 USD 18 backers
14% of $5,200 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal


THE PROJECT

What is KOMŞU (komşa) Kafe?

Komşu (komşa) Kafe is a collective coffee place, where you can eat homemade food, drink fair coffee, talk with friends, read books or draw a masterpiece.

It is a place where you can feel at home, escape from the fast life outside, let your thoughts wander through the rooms and express yourself.

Komşu (“come shoo”) means ‘neighbour’. It is a place where everyone is respected equally no matter where you come from and where the way will lead you. It is a place where young and old, families, migrants, neighbours and strangers can meet, discuss and while ours away. It is our common space, in a city that leaves so little room for true encounters.

Where is KOMŞU (komşa) Kafe?

It is in Turkey’s metropolis Istanbul. Some of us where born here, others moved from different places of the world and stayed. It is home to all of us, a home we try to create every day.

It is in Kadıköy, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, in a small neighbourhood called Rasimpaşa. While Taksim is always in the center of attention when it comes to urban renewal projects, gentrification and resistance, it is by far not the only affected area in Istanbul. With Rasimpaşa we decided to stay in a neighbourhood where we felt an enduring project will be possible, because of its location, people and other existing alternative activities.

Why KOMŞU (komşa) Kafe?

1st objective:  To work as a collective

Because we all want to work together.
Because we want to be our own bosses. We know that with all our abilities and experience combined our project is feasible. We don't need anyone to tell us what to do.

Because we believe that living another way is possible, as well as another world who can be build from trials, experiences, ideas, desires.... Think of a system where incomes are equally distributed, where people from different backgrounds can meet, where employees aren’t exploited, where migrants can feel accepted, where any kind of ‘other’ is welcome, where the living is at the core and not money.

Because we believe it's not that hard to achieve, and because we have good reason to try.

2nd objective: Create a new common space

We need more places to meet, to gather, to talk, to share. In Turkey, as in many places in the world, people are starting to voice their opinions, to say stop, to say they don't want any more shopping malls and luxury apartments, but spaces for everyone. Since the wave of protests of June 2013, a lot of new groups, networks, and forums have been born.

Istanbul is a huge city with a population of more than 13 millions inhabitants. The urban renewal projects are as enormous as they are dangerous and surely not made for the people who live in the city. On the contrary, we want to create a space which represents us, a space on a human scale.

3rd objective: Create new collectives

In the long term, if our project is as successful as we hope it will be, we will be able to integrate more members to our collective; this means more people having a stable and fairly paid job.

The situation of migrants in Turkey is extremely difficult. There are very few possibilities to find a job, racism is violently prevalent, and every day living conditions are very poor. One of our aims is for migrants to escape this situation by working in such a collective.

Later, we hope to be able to open more Komşu Kafes in other neighbourhoods of the city, each with its own character.

Our Principles:

Anti-authoritarian

Anti-hierarchical

Anti-sexism

Anti-discrimination

Anti-exploitation

More communication!

ABOUT US

For now, our collective is made up of the two Alis, Ufuk, Melike, Ercan and Nora.

We got to know each other in a kitchen (mutfak), which is the common space of a broader Migrant Solidarity Network (Göçmen Dayanişma Ağı). Besides other actions, in this kitchen we collect vegetables from the organic market, cook together and share the food with all hungry bellies around. It is a place where neither money nor credit cards are valid but solidarity and collaboration. In this place the idea of Komşu (komşa) Kafe came to life.

Ufuk and Ercan are professional cooks, one Ali has worked in many cafés and restaurants, the other Ali and Nora are experienced in project management and Melike with administrative work. All of us have experience with the concepts of collectives. That is also how we know that it is important to share knowledge. There will be no specialists in our collective, it is rather our aim to enable each one of the collective to manage all waiting tasks.

Here is how we describe ourselves:

Ali “the petite French girl”: Petite yes but strong. I fell in love with Turkey and decided to stay here for good. I worked in different places as a social worker with migrants and refugees and in small jobs here and there (reception in hostels, waitress in cafés...). I am really looking forward to seeing this café being part of my neighbourhood and to get to know all the people around.


Ali ”the Syrian, the serious”: I like to help people and I like to cook. I never smile but sometimes make other people laugh. Also I enjoy meeting new people. If this dream becomes real, if this project helps me helping others, meeting them, cooking for them, then, I give you my word I will learn how to smile.


Ufuk ”the big chef with glasses”: My biggest pleasure is to see smiles emerge on others faces when they taste my food. To me, cooking is a sort of communication, above languages. I am sure there is magic in good food. You can see it as an art to knock down borders that tear us apart.


Melike ”the amazon queen”: I understand myself as the cheerfull and emotional mascot. I make the others burst with laughter and keep them motivated by smiling continuously. I have a great passion for coffee, visiting my home first question you will hear from me is “strong Turkish coffee, creamy Espresso, Latte Machiatto or Filter coffee?” My dream: no more boss!


Ercan “the Mediterranean handsome cook”: Actually my plan was not to settle down in Istanbul for long. But after the idea of Komşu (komşa) Kafe came up I felt that this is the one project I really want to give my energy to. I love cooking vegetarian food and the surprised “elline sağlık!” (health to your hands) that follows when people realize that they just had a full dish without even thinking about meat. 


Nora: Honestly, how difficult is it in this system to find a job you do not have doubts about? To find a company, an organization or a place you want to invest your energy, that matches with your political visions? The project Komsu Kafe is the first place I am truly convinced by, because of the people, the ideas and the sensibility in handling the other.



THE FUNDS

We definitely need help to start our project. Mainly we need this money to set up the place, to paint the walls, to install a big open kitchen, for the courtyard and to fit the café with tables, chairs, light etc.

According to our estimations, we will need 5000 euros more to complete the installation. Luckily we have plenty of friends willing to give a hand.

But with those 5000 euros, we can start. All we need is your support.




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Choose your Perk

For small budget

Currency Conversion $10 USD
€10 EUR
Our eternal gratefullness + A mail to thank you + The explication of our short animation video if you didn't understand our art..
3 claimed

Small budget big hearts

Currency Conversion $21 USD
€20 EUR
Previous rewards + A breakfast offered at Komşu (Komşa) Kafe for 2
4 claimed

For small appetite

Currency Conversion $36 USD
€35 EUR
Our eternal gratefullness + A mail to thank you + The explication of our short animation video if you didn't understand our art.. + A dinner offered in Komşu (Komşa) Kafe
1 claimed

Romantic weekend in Istanbul

Currency Conversion $52 USD
€50 EUR
Our eternal gratefullness + A mail to thank you + The explication of our short animation video if you didn't understand our art.. + A romantic dinner for two, with candles and everything + A place to sleep for 2 night in one of our house, for your next visit in Istanbul
0 claimed

Special treat in Istanbul

Currency Conversion $73 USD
€70 EUR
Our eternal gratefullness + A mail to thank you + The explication of our short animation video if you didn't understand our art.. + A romantic dinner for two, with candles and everything + A place to sleep for 3 nights in one of our house, for your next visit of Istanbul + An original receipe from one of our internationally famous cook
0 claimed

a culinary trip in Istanbul

Currency Conversion $104 USD
€100 EUR
The previous rewards + A full afternoon of cooking class for 2 with one of our internationally famous cook.
2 claimed

For big appetite

Currency Conversion $187 USD
€180 EUR
The previous rewards + A full week of free breakfast in Komşu (Komşa) Kafe for 2 + A short video made just for you + A kiss of all the team, every morning for the breakfast!
0 claimed

For a free week in Istanbul

Currency Conversion $374 USD
€360 EUR
Previous rewards + 1 week hosted by us in Istanbul + Free diner all week long in Komşu (komşa) Kafe for 2 + A komşu (komşa) Kafe apron
0 claimed

free romantic week in Istanbul

Currency Conversion $572 USD
€550 EUR
The previous rewards BUT instead of one week to stay in one of our house, we host you in an independant studio for 2 persons, for a week (reservation in advance) in our neighbourhood + some Komşu (Komşa) Kafe special underpants + A song just for you
0 claimed

A complete FREE week for 6

Currency Conversion $1,040 USD
€1,000 EUR
All the previous rewards BUT instead of a studio, we offer you a full independant flat for 6 persons (with the sea view!) in our lovely neighbourhood, in Istanbul + A special dinner just for the 6 of you and we all dance around you wearing aprons. (yes, you got tempted now..)
0 claimed
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