Hande Memorial at KISC

Hande Alpalaba - a member of the KISC Ex-Staff family sadly lost her fight with cancer in October 2020.

Hande was a remarkably happy and cheerful person, bringing smiles and laughter with her everywhere she went. Whether cleaning toilets on the campsite or having a beer with friends she was always bright and so full of life. Unusually, Hande did two short-term seasons at KISC - Summer 2002 and Summer 2003 - plus returning to help at other times like the 2007 Centenary.
Following KISC she lived and worked in Germany before settling in Stockholm, working for Swedish Scouting amongst other things.

While her life was much shorter than it should have been, she truly lived it in the spirit of Scouting, helping others, taking care of those around her and encouraging growth and friendship. In this way, she touched the lives, hearts and minds of so many people and everyone that knew her can recall nothing but fond memories.

Like so many of us who worked at KISC, it became our second home and somewhere we could always return to. This was also true for Hande who returned many times over the years as a guest or to help out and I believe it would be a fitting memory for her to have a place there where those who knew her could sit and remember the times spent together.

The plan is to commission a bench similar to the one below, to be placed on the campsite at KISC. I think that Hande would love the idea that people could sit on 'her' bench and enjoy KISC, talk, laugh or quietly take in the atmosphere of the permanent mini-jamboree.

The cost of the bench is CHF1600 and the target for fundraising is CHF1700 to make sure that there is enough to cover any other costs with installation.
Subject to the money being available, the construction will be started in Spring 2021, with labour being donated free-of-charge by Janus, another member of our Ex-Staff family. The plan would be to have an official installation and memorial for Hande later in Summer 2021, Covid permitting.

All funds raised will go to KISC where the project will be managed. Extra funds will go towards improving the front of the campsite shop where the bench will be placed - allowing the replacement of some rotten wood on the railings and the purchase of flower pots to brighten up the area.