Devoted father walks blind son to school every day in Turkey’s west

MANİSA – Anadolu Agency

Abdullah Sancak has been taking his 32-year-old son to school every day since he was blinded at the age of nine, Anadolu Agency reported on Dec. 6.

His son, Hakan Sancak, is a Turkish language teacher in the Aegean province of Manisa.

He was blinded after experiencing high eye pressure at an early age. He has had his father by his side every step of his education—all throughout his elementary, middle and high school years in the wester province of Denizli.

Since 2013, the father and son leave the house before sunrise and cover 40 kilometers from their home to the school, this time so his son can teach his expertise on the Turkish language to middle school students in Manisa.

“After he completes his classes, we come back home together. After Hakan became a teacher, he married and has two kids, yet he is still my son and I support him any way I can,”said Sancak.

“I wait for him in the teachers’ lounge when he is in class. I
help him out when he writes exams. I am there when he wants to drink tea or for his other needs during recess,” he said.

Sancak also said he reads during the day while his son teaches middle school.

“My father is my biggest supporter,” said Hakan, who sees
value in his father’s devotion.

“As there is no bus between the school and Buldan, we take
on the road together thanks to my father,” he added.

Hakan also noted that not having eyesight is not an obstacle in his teaching nor for him to form genuine relationships with his students, who also support him a great deal.

Sancak said his son’s education had not been interrupted since the health incident.

“I will keep looking out for my son as long as I am capable, for he has not fully seen the beauty of this world yet. I believe he will raise children who will,” added the father.