Sevilay Refika Kadıoğlu was born and raised in Gölcük to a family from Rize. Since both her parents were working, she spent a lot of time during her childhood with her grandparents, whose native language was Laz (Lazuri). Their daily habits and use of language sparked Refika’s interest in Lazuri and Laz culture. Having graduated from the Tourism and Hotel Management Department at Anadolu University, Refika spent the majority of her life as a manager in various hotels in Istanbul, while also nurturing her interest in music. The Laz language, which she heard only at home and in the village, she visited in the summer breaks, along with the Kaçkar Mountains, where she spent just one month a year, became a significant part of her dreams.

She met a group of friends, also interested in the soon-to-be-extinct Laz language and culture, in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, and took her first steps toward planting the seeds for the Gola Association for Culture, Arts and Ecology. Before founding the Association in 2006, she had organized an annual event called the “Green Highlands Culture, Art, and Environment Festival,” each year focusing on a different theme related to Laz culture. The festival became a focal point for Laz people who had moved to urban areas and grew over time with the support of the local community. Following the festivals held in different villages in Rize and Artvin for 10 years with a world music concept, which ended in 2015, the Association continues its efforts to support and breathe life into ancient cultures through art. For the last two years, artists from diverse cultures and societies have come together at the “Iron Apple Festival” to promote local cultures in the Eastern Black Sea region.

The Association has recently been engaged in Laz workshops, ateliers, podcasts, and publications with individuals from diverse age groups. Its initiatives also include excursions, archival work, and oral history projects aimed at preserving Laz culture and language. The Association's goal is to safeguard all soon-to-be-extinct ancient cultures through a multicultural and inclusive approach grounded in a nature-focused philosophy.

Refika also founded Goluri with the aim of making her efforts more sustainable and enduring. Through cultural excursions and initiatives like Goat School and Horon School, Goluri continues its efforts as a social enterprise that supports the Gola Association for Culture, Arts and Ecology. While contributing to regional promotion through Goluri, she also pursues her goal of preserving and revitalizing the culture. Her aim is for local products and producers to reach a broader audience through Goladan, a business they consider a “shop of stories.”

Refika, leading the establishment of The Gola Association for Culture, Arts and Ecology, has been passionately supporting the initiative for years. With a nature-centered perspective, reviving the local economy by drawing attention to cultural values, and keeping the Laz culture and language alive, Refika continues to make a difference in the lives of Laz community members and those curious about the culture.