Nine-year-olds Sena and Didem live in Istanbul’s Sultanbeyli district. Energetic, curious, and passionate about learning, both girls thrive on creativity and discovery. They enjoy painting, music, dancing, and learning through play. For them, school is more than a place of education—it's a gateway to opportunity and a stepping stone toward their dreams. Didem aspires to become a doctor or a lawyer, believing in justice and service as pathways to a better world. Sena dreams of protecting both people and the environment, and one day hopes to become either a police officer or a pilot. For both girls, learning is the foundation for shaping their future.
This year, the “Climate And Emergency Resilience Day” Event held in Sultanbeyli helped bring those dreams into sharper focus. Organized by Save the Children Türkiye and the Refugees Association as part of the CARES (Climate Awareness and Resilience for Emergencies & Sustainability) project, the event aimed to raise awareness about disasters, climate change, and environmental responsibility among children, using age-appropriate, engaging, and playful learning methods.
Over the course of two days, the event offered children an interactive educational experience that blended classroom learning with outdoor activities. The first day focused on disaster preparedness through simple, hands-on lessons. Children learned how to respond calmly during emergencies like earthquakes and fires. Instructors demonstrated the "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" technique, and reinforced understanding through a gamified activity using correct and incorrect statements. Children actively participated, standing up for correct answers and sitting for incorrect ones—turning learning into a fun and memorable experience. The underlying message was clear: disasters are part of nature, and preparedness begins with calmness and informed action.
The second day brought a shift in energy as the activities moved outdoors. The children became "Climate Heroes" tasked with saving the planet from environmental threats. They were introduced to endangered ecosystems—glaciers, forests, and oceans—and used illustrated cards to match environmental problems with solutions, such as wind turbines, recycling, and tree planting. Each successful match "saved" a part of nature, fostering a spirit of cooperation, empathy, and environmental responsibility.
For Sena, the event deepened her passion for protecting nature. “I want to plant more saplings,” she shared. “We sometimes plant them in the village. It’s beautiful. We should leave food and water for animals in the summer.” Didem, meanwhile, retained key messages about disaster preparedness, saying, “In an earthquake, we should go under the desk and stay calm. We need to do the ‘drop, cover and hold on’ move.” For both girls, disasters are no longer a source of fear, but a challenge they know how to face.
The event’s impact extended beyond the children. Zeliha*, a 38-year-old mother of three, expressed her joy at seeing her daughter Didem apply what she learned at home. “You teach through play; the child thinks it's a game, but the learning stays,” she said. Since the event, her family has taken proactive steps—preparing earthquake kits, recycling, and even leaving food out for animals. Zeliha emphasized that the event raised awareness not only in children but also among parents. Ayşe Nur Gençalp / Save the Children Türkiye
