GATHERINGS WITH THE CHILDREN OF ASSOS
At Güneşane Foundation, we regularly come together with children from the villages surrounding our farm, organizing workshops to support their growth and development. In these areas, where opportunities for children to explore their emotional, social, physical, and intellectual potential outside of school are limited, we believe that every child should have access to art and culture. With this belief at heart, we design and implement projects focused on culture, art, and ecology, contributing to both individual growth and rural development.
In 2023, we collaborated with Boğaziçi Ayvalık Schools, an initiative from Boğaziçi University. This program trains university students, mostly studying education, in various areas such as volunteering, effective communication with children, and planning creative activities. After completing their training, these young volunteers work with children in locations like Ayvalık, Hatay, İzmir, and Güneşane, leading a wide range of workshops that inspire creativity and nurture talents across topics from art to science.
This project received support from CultureCIVIC: Arts and Culture Support Program, an initiative of the European Union. During the summer of 2023, we hosted a Summer Camp for all 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade students from Behramkale and Paşaköy. Over the course of the camp, children participated in dozens of workshops focused on music, theater, life skills, and photography. The camp concluded with a vibrant Children's Festival held in Behramkale’s village square, where the children showcased their creations, performed in choirs and theater productions, and shared their achievements with their families and the local community.
Our collaboration with Boğaziçi Ayvalık Schools continues during school holidays and breaks, and we are working to expand these efforts through partnerships with other civil society organizations. At Güneşane Foundation, we are committed to helping children in villages build meaningful connections with art, culture, and nature, enriching their lives and their communities.
