How Was Mini-Talks Born?

A story that began with LEGO, play, and the power of feeling safe enough to speak. Discover the personal experience that inspired Mini-Talks.

I can describe myself as a LEGO enthusiast and collector.

Over the years, I have spent countless hours building with LEGO. When I think about the 10,000-hour idea popularized by Malcolm Gladwell, I sometimes wonder whether I might be getting close.

But for me, it has never been about the number.

Through all that time, I learned patience, experimentation, persistence, and self-expression.

My passion for LEGO changed my life.

With that passion, I wanted to use the power of play to make a difference in other people’s lives.

Through these projects, I traveled across Türkiye—from the west to the north and all the way to the east—conducting workshops with different communities.

I witnessed a visually impaired child smile as they explored a LEGO-built birthday cake with their hands—because they were hesitant to touch a real one.

I witnessed a person with Alzheimer’s see a red LEGO roof piece, recall the house from their childhood, and pause in silent reflection.

I saw a child undergoing long-term leukemia treatment forget their struggles for a while as they stacked LEGO bricks.

I saw complex mathematical formulas begin to make sense when they were represented with LEGO bricks.

I saw a LEGO stop-motion video tell a story without using a single word—and children become part of that story.

I heard a child who held LEGO bricks for the first time say that they wanted to become an engineer after learning how gears work.

But the experience that affected me most was much closer to home.

I saw my sister struggle to speak even when she wanted to.

I witnessed moments when she wanted to speak but could not get her voice out. I saw how hard it was for her to hold in what she wanted to say—and how much more relaxed she became while playing.