One Finger Left: Turning Disability into Love
    Serkan Bayram was born on April 1, 1974, in Refahiye, Turkey. He is a father of three and graduated from İstanbul University’s Faculty of Law, later earning a master’s degree from Marmara University’s Institute of Social Sciences. In 2023, he pursued a doctorate in commercial law at Marmara University. Currently, he serves as a key member of the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi) and was elected as a parliamentarian with the highest votes in three consecutive elections from 2015 to 2023. He previously served as the family lawyer for Turkey’s last Prime Minister, Binali Yıldırım.

    At birth, Bayram suffered permanent burns from an unexpected wheat field fire, leaving him with only one finger on his hands. Despite this, he faced life with optimism. His struggles, efforts, and breakthroughs demonstrate the resilience and brilliance of life. By selflessly sharing his journey, he inspires others to recognize the preciousness of life, encouraging self-expectation and perseverance to overcome obstacles.

    In 2022, renowned Turkish director Doğan Ümit Karaca produced the film Buğday Grain, inspired by Bayram’s story, which won “Best International Film” at the Nigeria International Film Festival and “Best Film” at the Nawada International Film Festival in India. In 2023, the acclaimed publisher Portakal Kitap released an inspirational book based on Bayram’s life, Buğday Tanesi (A Grain of Wheat).

    Drawing from his own experiences, Bayram advocates for the rights of people with disabilities. With support from domestic and international communities, he has been re-elected as a parliamentarian with the highest votes for three terms. After entering politics, he facilitated memoranda of understanding between the Turkish Confederation for the Disabled and governments, including the Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission in Turkey. He has promoted the friendly use of funds to establish disability centers in Ankara and Istanbul, providing electric hospital beds, wheelchairs, hearing aids, crutches, and prosthetics. 

    Additionally, in collaboration with local NGOs, he established the Buğday Tanesi Barrier-Free Social Life and Education Center Village, featuring a library, recreational area, group education courses, practice rooms, and individual classrooms, benefiting millions of people with disabilities.

    Thus, Bayram has overcome the shadows of disability, cherishing his one remaining finger and transforming challenges into love. He wholeheartedly uses his experiences to care for and encourage people with disabilities in Turkey and globally, continuously promoting progressive legislation. By fostering public-private partnerships with local NGOs and governments, he creates win-win solutions. Committed to lifelong public service, he advocates for the disadvantaged, legislates for their protection, and safeguards hope for millions of people with disabilities. His efforts exemplify the belief that “everyone has a purpose,” living out the limitless possibilities of a barrier-free world. As the “Turkish Barrier-Free Parliamentarian,” he stood out among 3,683 candidates recommended worldwide, earning the Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation’s “28th Global Love of Life Award in 2025.”

Search for Life Fighters from 233 Countries Worldwide

    Everyone can break the shackles of life; everyone’s life holds boundless possibilities.

    For 28 years, the Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation, with the support and encouragement of communities worldwide, has tirelessly promoted the “Global Love of Life Movement,” advocating: Be good to yourself—cherish your own life; be good to others—respect others’ lives; be good to the Earth—protect the Earth’s life.

    To date, we have honored 481 Global Love of Life Award recipients from 81 countries across seven continents, along with 16 Global Love of Life Literature Award winners, including the chivalrous poet Cheng Chou-yu and Chinese chef-poet Song Chengbao, and 41 Hope Award recipients, such as anti-drug hero Kao Chao-liang and reformed figure Wu Shih-hsuan. Additionally, we have cared for and supported over 350,000 of the world’s most vulnerable children with cancer, including Mary Donita Uy, a bone cancer angel from a Philippine slum, helping them fight cancer with love and live with hope.

We are deeply grateful for the recognition and resonance from global media outlets such as CNN, BBC, NHK, Yahoo, YouTube, Facebook, and Baidu, which have widely reported our efforts as the “Nobel Prize of Life.”

    We are profoundly thankful for accolades including the 3rd National Public Welfare Award in 2001, the Hong Kong Loving Heart Award in 2010, the Ministry of Education Social Education Contribution Award in 2018, Colombia’s Congress Resolution No. 61 in 2019 granting its highest congressional honor, the United Nations NGO World Harmony Outstanding Contribution Award in 2021, and the China Charity and Filial Piety Culture Award in 2022. These recognitions inspire us to continue sharing, encouraging, and striving alongside global communities.

    The foundation warmly welcomes nominations of life warriors who demonstrate effort, compassion, courage, and achievement from people worldwide. (Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation Global Love of Life Award Nomination Hotline: +886-2-29178770, Fax: +886-2-29178768, Address: 3F, No. 52, Mingde Road, Xindian District, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan, Website: http://www.ta.org.tw, Email: ta88ms17@gmail.com).

Born for Victory
    Serkan Bayram was born on April 1st, 1974, in Üçören, a rural village in Refahiye, Turkey, with a population of fewer than 100 people. His mother, Emine, and father, Mustafa, were field gardeners eagerly awaiting the addition of their newborn to the family. At the time, Bayram’s uncle, Güngör, was serving in the Turkish military and participating in the “Operation Attila” campaign. After the war ended, everyone was eager to learn what had happened, but Güngör hurriedly picked up his nephew and named him “Serkan.”

    Surprised, the family asked where the name came from. Güngör explained, “Serkan was our code word for the advance into Cyprus. It means ‘president,’ symbolizing our victory in Cyprus.”

    Reflecting on history: On July 20, 1974, during Operation Attila, the Turkish military invaded Cyprus under the pretext of protecting Turkish Cypriots, occupying 36% of the island’s territory. Following the war, many Greek Cypriots living in northern Cyprus fled to the south. Originally, Greek Cypriots made up 80% of the northern population, but after the conflict, their numbers in the north rapidly declined. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriots living in the south migrated to the Turkish-controlled north. In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was established in the Turkish-controlled region.

    Since then, Cyprus has remained divided: the southern territory controlled by the Republic of Cyprus and the northern region controlled by Turkish Cypriots. The Republic of Cyprus is widely recognized by the international community, while the Northern Cyprus regime is recognized only by the Republic of Turkey.

    Bayram’s birth became historically linked to Turkey’s Operation Attila, filling him with both pride and vigilance. He particularly urges everyone, “War has no winners; peace has no losers.”

A Divided Island Nation

    On July 20th, 1974, with the support of the Greek right-wing military junta, the Greek Cypriot armed group EOKA launched a military coup. Turkey, citing the protection of its compatriots, invaded and occupied 36% of the northern territory of Cyprus, dividing the island in two ever since.

    On August 14th of the same year, a second round of peace talks took place. Turkey demanded that the Cypriot government accept a federal solution and implement population transfers. Acting President of Cyprus, Glafcos Clerides, requested three to four days to consult with Athens, but Turkey rejected this and launched a second armed invasion, occupying 40% of the island’s territory.

    In 2024, Cyprus marks 50 years of division between the Turkish Cypriot north and the Greek Cypriot south. The conflict between the two communities led to armed clashes in 1974, resulting in the creation of the “ghost town” of Varosha. After Turkey occupied the north, Greek Cypriot residents fled, and the once-thriving eastern coastal resort town of Varosha fell into decline.

    Famagusta Mayor Ioannou noted, “The first generation, our parents, left with hopes of returning; the second generation is gradually fading away; the third generation will forget this place, with no connection to the city or its assets.”

    The sorrow expressed by Varosha’s residents echoes the sentiments of Cypriots as a whole. Both northern and southern residents hope for a unified nation, but years of failed negotiations have left them hesitant to hold onto hope.

    Yesilada, a 62-year-old Turkish Cypriot, said, “All we feel is sadness. We expected peace, but it hasn’t come. It’s been 50 years, and every day it gets worse.”

    Varanides, a 73-year-old Greek Cypriot, remarked, “It’s a sad day, a very sad day. We hope for a solution that allows refugees to return home.”

    The Republic of Cyprus, the only internationally recognized Cypriot government, imposes strict conditions on Northern Cypriots seeking citizenship in the south: unless both parents were citizens of the Republic of Cyprus before the division, Northern Cypriots cannot obtain a Cypriot passport and must apply for a visa like Turkish citizens to enter the Republic of Cyprus.

A sudden fire
    It was the busiest day of the summer in the village, with everyone working together to harvest the wheat fields, including the Bayram family. Mother Emine placed baby Serkan in a swing tied between two trees to sleep and then joined the work. As noon approached, the sun grew stronger and hotter. Father Mustafa’s clothes were soaked with sweat, and he wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. Everyone was in the same situation, yet they continued working, occasionally singing folk songs.

    Suddenly, a fire broke out! A voice shouted, and the sound grew louder. With the wind’s help, flames engulfed the vast wheat field. Villagers grabbed buckets of water to fight the fire, but it was unstoppable. Emine noticed the flames spreading toward the trees holding Serkan’s swing. In a panic, she screamed and roared, calling out to Mustafa to save their son.

    Hearing Emine’s heart-wrenching cries, Mustafa leaped into the ring of fire, determined to save Serkan. He tucked his son against his chest, shielding him as he rushed through the blazing flames, too afraid to look at his crying, burning child.

    Mustafa and Emine rode a mule across the fields to the village and then to the city. Serkan’s screams echoed through the mountains and hills.

    After hours, they reached the emergency room of the city hospital. Mustafa placed the screaming Serkan on a hospital bed, shouting, “Save my son!” Save my son!” Doctors and nurses rushed in, taking Serkan into the operating room for hours of surgery.

    “I’m Dr. Fahrettin,” the doctor said. “Your baby is in critical condition and still in danger. His hands are severely burned, with most of the nerves and muscle tissue destroyed. We’ve done all we can for now, and we’ll continue to monitor his condition.”

Survived 41 Days at the Gates of Life and Death
    Due to the strict protocols of the intensive care unit, only hospital doctors and nurses could enter to minimize infection risks. Emine pleaded with Nurse Fatma for just five minutes each time to see her son, Serkan. Deeply moved by Emine’s desperation, Nurse Fatma risked violating hospital regulations and allowed Emine to don a sterile gown, gloves, and cap. She guided Emine past cribs and beds to Serkan’s bedside.

    Seeing her son Serkan, wrapped in bandages and sleeping, Emine was overwhelmed by the sight and broke into tears. Nurse Fatma tried to comfort her with a hug.
Days passed, with Emine and Mustafa praying daily, beseeching God to let them hold Serkan again. Dr. Fahrettin approached them and said, “Thanks to God! Your son has survived a critical condition, holding onto life with his sheer willpower.”

    Dr. Fahrettin’s words soothed their hearts. Finally, on the morning of the 41st day, as the sun rose, their only child, Serkan, was alive!

I Still Have One Finger

    Due to the accidental fire, Serkan Bayram was left with only one finger on his left hand, a finger that barely functioned. He spent much of his infancy in the hospital. At the age of three, his parents decided to graft tissue from his leg onto his sole remaining finger, enabling it to function normally.

At six years old, Serkan noticed that his hand was different from others. While others had ten fingers, he had only one. When he asked his grandparents about it, they avoided the topic. His mother, Emine, chose to tell him about the fire.

    Upon hearing the story, Serkan angrily said, “I was burned because of you! If you hadn’t left me by the field and forgotten me there, I wouldn’t have been burned, and I wouldn’t have lost my fingers!”

    His grandmother comforted him, saying, “Dear, don’t resist like this. It was in God’s hands. How could we have known a fire would break out that day or that it would spread so fiercely? Perhaps your hand will heal with time. Don’t worry, my grandson.”

    When Serkan entered elementary school, he threw himself wholeheartedly into his studies. His teachers treated him like any other student. Despite having only one finger, he could hold a pencil to write. After class, he would go to the sandbox to practice writing and drawing.

The Family Relocates to Istanbul
    After completing first grade, Serkan Bayram’s life changed significantly. His father, Mustafa, announced that after the wheat harvest, the family would move to Istanbul. Serkan felt terrified about the unfamiliar city but was also excited to live with his parents.

    Mustafa patted Serkan’s head and said, “You are an angel sent by God. You will excel in middle school, high school, and university with top grades and become a great person. This village has no high school or university, and my job is in Istanbul. You’ll love the excellent schools and universities there.”

    In second grade, Serkan’s teacher, Ali Guney, acted unaware of his condition and seated him in the front row on the left from the first day to avoid affecting right-handed classmates. Ali Guney instilled important values in Serkan at school, which he internalized, laying the foundation for his later integration into society without exclusion and fueling his ambition to become a great person.

    Serkan was a highly intelligent and diligent student. In 1992, he scored 474 and 496 on his high school exams, earning admission to Istanbul University’s Faculty of Law.
    In the summer of 1993, watching a film about Malcolm Little (Malcolm X), an African-American Muslim minister and civil rights activist, profoundly impacted Serkan. Malcolm X, a Black leader, mobilized communities despite societal pressures, faced assassination attempts by the Nation of Islam, and collaborated with Martin Luther King Jr. to advocate nonviolent social reform. Their efforts led to significant victories, securing major rights for Black Americans, making Malcolm X one of the most influential African Americans in history.
Inspired, Serkan joined NGO organizations during university and began organizing conferences on disability issues, aspiring to fight for people with disabilities like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

Break Through Discrimination, Strive for Excellence

    Serkan Bayram graduated from Istanbul University’s Faculty of Law in 1996. His primary ambition was to become a judge to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, so he took the 1997 judicial qualification exam.

    On the exam day, Serkan sat among other young candidates. When an officer called his name, he excitedly entered the exam hall, where about seven panel members sat behind a long table, reviewing documents.

    As Serkan entered and attempted to close the door, he struggled with the round doorknob, requiring both hands. Turning around, he noticed the panel members staring at him and his hands. After a few seconds of silence, the panel chair said, “Please sit!”

    The chair’s gaze focused on Serkan’s hands, and the panel members exchanged looks. The chair then closed Serkan’s file.

    Leaving the hall, Serkan felt defeated. He walked through the waiting crowd, shoulders slumped, morale low. Leaning against the staircase outside, he looked at his hands with a bittersweet smile, took a deep breath, and began humming his favorite folk song.

    Despite being an outstanding student with a strong education, Serkan understood from the panel’s expressions and body language that he would be excluded from the judicial interview. Although he scored an impressive 84 on the written exam, the panel had discretionary power. The Judges and Prosecutors Law (HSK), Article 8, stipulated that a candidate’s “physical condition must not be perceived as unusual by society,” a discriminatory regulation.

    Though deeply hurt, Serkan did not give up. A few months later, he successfully passed the bar exam and became a lawyer. In court hearings, large and small, he paid special attention to cases involving people with disabilities, quickly earning a reputation for advocating their rights.

Voice for the People, Benefiting Humanity

    Turkey has a population of over 80 million, with more than 9 million people with disabilities. Serkan Bayram is dedicated to helping people with disabilities integrate into society and secure employment. In 2000, he earned a master’s degree from Marmara University’s Institute of Social Sciences, with his thesis exploring freedom of association in public sector organizations, political parties, and NGOs. He has served as a key member of various organizations, including the Rule of Law Platform, Erzincan Sports Club, Erzincan Culture and Education Foundation, Sevgiseli Disabled People’s Association, and the Orthopedically Handicapped Federation Board. He is also a columnist for several Turkish newspapers.

    Following the establishment of the Justice and Development Party in 2002, Bayram joined and participated in its Istanbul provincial and regional organizations. He was elected as a parliamentarian for Erzincan in the November 1, 2015, election and for Istanbul in the June 24, 2018, and May 14, 2023, elections.

    The people of Erzincan, Refahiye, and Üçören were overjoyed at Bayram’s election as a parliamentarian. His mother, Emine, and father, Mustafa, wept with pride, saying, “Serkan was reborn after 41 days in intensive care and became a parliamentarian at age 41.”

    Bayram expresses gratitude to God, as his life’s work has been closely tied to people with disabilities, including increasing their employment opportunities, defending their rights, enacting legislation, and creating an equitable and accessible environment.

    In collaboration with Turkish NGOs and various governments, Bayram has signed memoranda to benefit people with disabilities, establishing disability centers and barrier-free social life and education villages in towns and cities across Turkey, benefiting millions of individuals with disabilities.

    Bayram’s lifelong mission is to serve people with disabilities. A fire accident altered his life, but it also enabled him to extend his compassion, benefiting countless others.

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