Primary Schools Project - Turkey

Matching Grant #65224, Primary Schools Project,Turkey

Our club became aware of the needs of school children in Turkey when we hosted three visiting Rotarian couples from Turkey in 2007. Our discussions about the educational needs of the children and our mutual goals led to this opportunity for service.

In partnership with the Rotary Club of Ankara-Baskent, we were awarded a Matching Grant of $28,625.00 to provide five primary schools with libraries and upgrade the sanitation facility in one of these schools. The Matching Grant included contributions  from Lake Stevens/Granite Falls Rotary Club, Ankara-Baskent Rotary Club, Rotary Districts 2430 and 5050, The Rotary Foundation, and Microsoft Matching Gifts Program. Matching Grant funds were disbursed by The Rotary Foundation in April 2008; the project was completed in October 2008.

The primary schools, located in small villages in the Territory of Temelli, Polatli/Ankara, are populated by farmers challenged by chronic water shortages in the region. 200 to 400 students ranging in age from 5 to 14 years old attend each school. Lack of school libraries and necessary materials prevented the students from being able to complete their homework assignments or receive assistance with the daily subjects they are taught.

The Rotarians of the Ankara-Baskent Club painted the walls of the library rooms and carefully selected and purchased books and library materials intended to improve language, social and technical knowledge, inspire imaginations and the desire to learn. English dictionaries and a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction books appropriate for the ages of the children were catalogued and organized on new shelves. Training was provided to implement an effective lending library system at each school. The sanitation facility at the BeyobasiPrimary School was completely redone to provide privacy and hygiene. The children can now drink water from the tap without risk of becoming sick. The books, library system and sanitation facility has changed the lives of hundreds of children this year and will continue to benefit the children of these village communities far into the future.

Click here to see photos of the completed bathroom building.