People First Project Continues Its Expansion
The "People First - We have been supporting works done from the heart for generations" project, which was implemented with a special launch program in 2019 with the exemplary cooperation of Yeşim Group, SosyalBen Academy and Şükrü Şankaya Anatolian High School, continued its spread in 2022 and 2023. The project, which aims to provide young people in high school with a sustainable awareness of responsibility throughout their lives, supports learning and strengthening between institutions and also enables peer-to-peer experience sharing.
In the journey to increase the volunteering rate in Türkiye, to create a more livable world and to raise awareness, 4 semesters have been left behind. The project gained momentum with the international support it received from the Lacoste Foundation in 2021 and had the chance to become even stronger with the inclusion of Bursa Anatolian High School and Bursa Boys' High School.
The new period of the project covering 2022-2023 started on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 with an orientation program held at Bursa Anatolian High School, Bursa Boys' High School and Şükrü Şankaya Anatolian High School.
After the earthquake disasters in February, the project added "Disaster Volunteering" to its program. A special event was held on February 28th and high school students were informed about volunteer activities that can be done before, during and after an earthquake and the work of non-governmental organizations.
In April, volunteer students participating in the project had an interview with Onur Can Mığırdağı, Vice President of Yeditepe University Education Research Club, about volunteering activities at universities. One of the activities organized in April was the "Volunteer Tourism" project. Within the scope of the study, 15 volunteer high school students who participated in the "Volunteer Tourism" program held in Ankara-Beypazarı had the chance to experience volunteer tourism and increase their awareness by conducting various workshops.
Another activity organized in May drew attention to youth rights. Volunteer high school students participated in the "Youth Rights" event hosted by Bursa Boys' High School. In another productive event organized in May, topics such as "What is volunteering and what is not volunteering, what are its benefits and gains?" were discussed.
The last activity of the semester within the scope of the project was planned as a field study on June 12. Volunteer high school students involved in the project came together with Şükrü Şankaya Primary School students and held a 2.5-hour workshop on morning sports, children's rights, volunteering and the dream of being a hero. The 2022-2023 period of the project ended on June 14 with a certificate ceremony organized at Şükrü Şankaya Anatolian High School.
