Working with copper for 43 years in Gaziantep’s Bakircilar Bazaar, Mesut Keklik stated that the craft is facing the risk of extinction due to advanced technology and the difficulty in finding new employees to work. Mesut Keklik, a 53-year-old artisan who has been producing handcrafted items in Gaziantep’s historic Bakircilar Bazaar for 43 years, expressed concerns about the future of the craft due to the advancing technology and the challenge of finding new employees. Highlighting the lack of interest in traditional crafts among young people, Keklik emphasized, “There are no new apprentices, we cannot find employees. We are forced to turn to mass production.” Having taken up this craft at a young age after watching his brother work, Keklik never lost his love for coppersmithing. Keklik pointed out that nowadays apprentices are not emerging, and this situation could lead to the complete disappearance of handcrafts in the future. He mentioned that the future of the copper craft, an important part of the historical and cultural heritage, could be secured by guiding young people towards this field. Expressing his fear of the craft disappearing, Keklik said, “I started going to work with my brother when I was a child. I saw him working and said, ‘I want to go too, I want to work too’, and that’s how I started this craft. I love my craft, and I do it with passion. But I feel sad because there are no new apprentices, the youth are not showing interest in this craft. Due to the lack of employees, we are forced to turn to mass production. Handcrafting was much more prevalent in the past, now it is sold mixed with mass-produced items.” Resisting towards handcrafting is increasingly challenging, according to Keklik. He stated, “Eventually, it is sad to see that our craft is ending. When someone sees that the craft they have dedicated their life to is slowly disappearing, it is certainly upsetting. I raised my son in this craft, he knows the job. My older son has learned all the subtleties of the craft, and if he wants, he can come and work. But it takes time for an outsider to learn this job. They need to receive education from scratch, starting from the fundamental lines, and it takes at least one to one and a half years to be fully trained.” Mentioning the lack of interest in the craft among young people, Keklik added, “I currently have an apprentice, who is continuing his education while gradually learning the trade here. However, the indifference of the youth toward this craft is concerning. Watching something you nurtured and put effort into melt away before your eyes is painful. In fact, vocational schools should open courses for such handicrafts. Just like how electricians and electronics technicians are trained, support should be provided for trades like lathe operators. Young people should be encouraged through practical training, thus ensuring the continuity of the craft.”