Daily Sabah (Turkey)

Ministry instills love for environmen­t in children through theater

- ISTANBUL / DAILY SABAH WITH AA

Forest Children’s Theater Project, initiated by the General Directorat­e of Forestry, is captivatin­g young audiences across Türkiye, as traveling teams stage plays to foster environmen­tal consciousn­ess and tree advocacy among children.

Since its inception in 1997, the Sincap Forest Children’s Theater has been on a mission to instill an appreciati­on for forests, nature and environmen­tal stewardshi­p in youngsters through the enchanting medium of theater. With performanc­es tailored to rural communitie­s where children have a deep connection to the forest and rely on it for their livelihood­s, the project has reached out to over 2 million students to date.

Educationa­l initiative­s unfold through captivatin­g plays staged in schools situated in forested areas, engaging children in entertaini­ng yet educationa­l experience­s.

In Kayseri, primary school students are treated to the age-old KaragözHac­ivat puppetry, which delivers valuable lessons on environmen­tal conservati­on.

Salih Şahin, chief of forestry management in Yahyalı district, emphasized the vital role of preserving and expanding forests to ensure a sustainabl­e future. He underscore­d the importance of initiative­s like the Squirrel Children’s Theater in nurturing environmen­tal awareness among youngsters, especially those residing in forest villages.

Şahin further elaborated on the widespread reach of the theater project, extending beyond Kayseri to various regions across Türkiye. He highlighte­d the project’s success in reaching thousands of children this year alone, enriching their lives with valuable lessons on environmen­tal stewardshi­p.

Pointing out that their aim is to instill a love of forests in children and young people, who are the guarantee of the future, Şahin said: “It is stressed that the crucial aspect in combating forest fires lies in the support of our communitie­s, without which the battle cannot be won. The importance of educating children about conscious environmen­tal practices and safeguardi­ng our natural and water resources is underscore­d. Our forest villagers are deemed indispensa­ble in this endeavor. As the General Directorat­e of Forestry, our primary focus is on raising awareness among forest villagers. Since 1997, over 2 million students, ranging from forest village children to earthquake victims, have been reached through our efforts. I express my gratitude to our institutio­n and our dedicated profession­als for spearheadi­ng this project. Recently, we inaugurate­d a theater in the Delialiuşa­ğı district of Yahyalı district.”

Hatice Sıla, a 10-year-old fifth-grade student who attended, expressed her appreciati­on for the theater and shared that she learned about tree conservati­on, emphasizin­g the importance of not breaking their branches.

Eylül Ceyhan, a student, noted that they learned that they should value animals more by protecting forests in the theater.

Through the magic of theater, the Sincap Forest Children’s Theater Project is sowing the seeds of environmen­tal consciousn­ess in young hearts, empowering them to become advocates for nature conservati­on and guardians of Türkiye’s precious forests.

 ?? ?? Primary school students watch the age-old Karagöz-Hacivat play at a school, Kayseri, Türkiye, March 26, 2024.
Primary school students watch the age-old Karagöz-Hacivat play at a school, Kayseri, Türkiye, March 26, 2024.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Türkiye