A Struggle to Hold On to Life in the Shadow of Captivity: Nargin Gureba School

One of the fronts where the Ottoman Empire fought in World War I was the Caucasus Front. One of the places where prisoners captured by the Russians were taken was Nargin Island in the Caspian Sea. On this island, which offered inhumane living conditions, a school called Nargin Gureba Mektebi (Nargin Poor School) was opened for over 120 prisoner children through the efforts of the prisoners themselves. So, what was the motivation behind the desire to open a school on an island where such difficult conditions prevailed? The study showed that the main goal of this school was to educate children, preserve their culture, and help them to hold on to life. The study utilized document analysis methodology.