Mustafa Ruhi Şirin

Mustafa Ruhi Şirin

(1955 – )

Children’s rights advocate, writer, academic, and intellectual

Life

Mustafa Ruhi Şirin was born in 1955 in the village of Uğurlu, district of Of, Trabzon. He completed his primary education in his village and later in Maçka and Ahlat, followed by middle and high school in Of. He earned his higher education at Ankara University’s Faculty of Communication, specializing in Radio and Television Program Management. In 1977, he began his career at TRT, where he developed expertise particularly in radio broadcasting.

He taught courses at Istanbul University and Marmara University on topics such as Children’s Literature, Children’s Rights, and Children and Media. He also led numerous projects focused on childhood. Devoting his life to advocating for children’s development and rights, Şirin founded the Children’s Foundation in 1990, through which he implemented many social, cultural, and educational initiatives for children.

Children’s Foundation Archive

Literary Identity and Works

In addition to writing poetry, fairy tales, and stories for children, Mustafa Ruhi Şirin has authored research books for adults on children’s literature, children’s culture, and children’s rights. In his works, children are not merely passive listeners or readers but thinking, feeling individuals who interpret the world around them.

His approach to children’s literature is shaped by a philosophy grounded in the dignity and rights of the child. Storytelling, imagination, and poetic language are central elements in his children’s books.

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He has also made significant contributions to the field through reference works such as Child, Childhood and Children’s Literature (2016), A Critical Look at Children’s Literature (2007), and The Culture of Children’s Literature (2007).

Social and Academic Contributions

Mustafa Ruhi Şirin is not only a writer but also a leading intellectual in the field of children’s rights and child policy.

• Since 1979, he has actively contributed to raising awareness of children’s rights in Türkiye in alignment with UNICEF’s initiatives.
• He closely monitored Türkiye’s preparatory process for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and led numerous national congresses and assemblies.
• He organized congresses directly gathering children’s opinions to support their participation in decision-making processes.
• Within the framework of the Children’s Foundation, institutions such as the School of Children’s Literature, the School of Children’s Rights, the Center for Gifted Children, and the World Children’s Diplomacy were established.

Children’s Foundation Archive

Awards and International Recognition

• UNESCO Asia Culture Centre awarded his fairy tale book Kuş Ağacı (1993).
• His book Masal Mektuplar was selected as Book of the Year by the Turkish Writers’ Union (1982).
• He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Kırklareli University (2012).
• His poems and fairy tales have been translated into more than fifteen languages, including English, Arabic, Russian, Korean, and Hungarian.

References

• Şirin, Mustafa Ruhi. Child, Childhood and Children’s Literature. Istanbul: Children’s Foundation Publications, 2016.
• Şirin, Mustafa Ruhi. The Culture of Children’s Literature. Istanbul: Children’s Foundation Publications, 2007.
• Şirin, Mustafa Ruhi. A Critical Look at Children’s Literature. Istanbul: Children’s Foundation Publications, 2007.
• “Who is Mustafa Ruhi Şirin?” Edebiyat Kulisi. https://edebiyatkulisi.com.tr/mustafa-kutlu-hayati-hikayeciligi-ve-eserleri/
• Turkish Writers’ Union. “Mustafa Ruhi Şirin.” https://www.tyb.org.tr
• Ministry of Culture and Tourism. “Mustafa Ruhi Şirin.” Culture Portal. https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr