On Mar 19, 2021, Turkey officially announced its withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, effective on July 1, triggering a nationwide protest. The Istanbul Convention was signed in 2011, passed by the Council of Europe, signed by 45 countries, to defend women’s rights against domestic and gender violence against women. The Convention has always been a political debate in Turkey. The conservative party believes it encourages homosexuality and divorce, eroding the core value of “family’ in Turkey. According to the UN (United Nations), in 2014, over one-third of married women in Turkey experienc ..read more

A few months into my solo travelling across Europe, I found myself in a rabbit hole. Meeting new people was quite a challenge on its own. You never know if you’ll meet someone you’re compatible with. It’s frustrating to keep meeting the wrong people. I was hitting a low where I just wanted to be by myself. Or I just had to learn to be alone to keep my sanity. After talking a complete stranger out of her wedding, it felt like it was time to recharge myself. On a wimp, I took the bus to Bratislava, Slovakia. I never expected to meet anyone there. It was supposed to be a soul-cleansing week befor ..read more

The pandemic has separated families geographically, many international couples are not able to reunite due to visa and financial issues. 7-year-old Elifane from Pamukkale, Turkey, has not seen her mother from Congo in over a year. Since I relocated, I have always wanted to explore this country more. Due to fear and restrictions, I literally stayed at home for 2 months without leaving. Then, as winter is ending, and news came that restrictions are about to ease, I decided to take a short trip for a much-needed mental break. A Lovely Village The reason I chose Pamukkale was that a girl I met i ..read more

Growing up, I have always wanted to have a dog. A fluffy, loyal companion that I can share all my adventures with. Throughout my travels, I have met friends that travel with pets and friends that have had to alter their plans for their beloved furry pal. It has been a dream of mine. Jan 22, 2021. It was a sunny day. The sky was clear blue and the sun was warm. My flatmates asked me if I wanted to go to the bazaar with them to pick up some fresh vegetables for dinner. In the middle of the bazaar, there was a tree with a huge tree hole. A street dog had given birth to seven puppies and people w ..read more

Music is a universal language. It can transcend language barriers and unite people from various cultural backgrounds. Singer-songwriter Amirah believes in inspiring unity through her songs. One of her recent singles “Tell Me” questions one’s true identity and how we are all connected as a people. Growing up in a biracial family and a multicultural country such as Malaysia, Amirah was exposed to various types of cultures from a young age. She was introduced to different types of music, food, and celebrations which she enjoyed. Amirah was heavily influenced by Malaysia’s rich variety of traditio ..read more

2020 has been a strange year. No human alive today has experienced a pandemic on such a massive scale. World movements are halted, many plans are delayed and families cannot reunite for Christmas. In a time like this, a lot of people are asking themselves “Should I relocate?” Some already have it planned out long before the pandemic, and some are considering the option as the pandemic exposes the worst and incompetence in some governments. Undoubtedly, the pandemic has posed a lot of challenges. My Journey When I first wanted to relocate in around March, I decided it was not a good time as it ..read more

Suits are the standard attire for businessmen to look intelligent and confident. In the heart of the bustling streets of Hollywood, there lies a store, dedicated to providing the best products to its customers at the most affordable prices so luxury does not have to cost an arm and a leg. The face behind it all is a woman who has always been passionate about men’s fashion. An Influence From Family In 1981, Natalie’s father founded Hollywood Suits, a men’s apparel company to provide the best and most personal products to its customers. Growing up, Natalie would attend different trade shows with ..read more

Two years ago, I was leaving my job in Sweden. The harsh winter was slowly going away. Three months before I quit my job, the office next door started to have paintings piling up. My boss told me an artist is moving into the building. It is probably not entirely correct to call it an office. The building I worked at had an interesting structure. It was literally a huge house divided into different spaces, so the so-called office-next-door was really just the room next door. My Escape Room The door to his art studio was always open. It was a spacious room with the typical Scandinavian wooden fl ..read more

Caveat: I’m not a therapist—I just like to pretend to be one. What I am is an ordinary human being with decades of life experience who’s currently separated from my husband and using this time to determine if my marriage is salvageable.  Under the category of “Things I Wish I’d Known Before I ______ (fill in the blank),” I’m going to share with you some of my own personal retrospection and dig-deep conclusions through a list of questions that you can ask yourself about your partner.  I hope the answers help you find validation for your current partnership….or realize that it’s best t ..read more

Globally, women get paid 23% less than men. Politically, women take up only 24% of parliament seats. Health-wise, 200 million women alive today have undergone genital mutilation. These jarring facts and statistics remind Roselle Munsayac of what she fights for every day. Selected as the top 70 Rising Personalities in LinkedIn Philippines 2020, Roselle is a passionate advocate for women empowerment. She makes it her mission to spread #girlpower in a world full of injustice. Gender inequality in workplaces Born and raised in the Philippines, Roselle has always been interested in women empowermen ..read more