Vodafone Turkey Foundation Thanks Our Teachers

VILLAGE SCHOOL TEACHERS JOINED THE CODING TOMORROW PROJECT'S FIRST MEETING

As part of the "Coding Tomorrow" project implemented in collaboration with Vodafone Turkey Foundation and Habitat Association, the first village teachers' meeting was held on the occasion of 24 November Teachers' Day with the participation of 50 village teachers. The teachers who joined the online meeting shared their field experiences and observations about the children.

As part of the "Coding Tomorrow" project implemented in collaboration with Vodafone Turkey Foundation and Habitat Association to prepare our children for the digital future, the first village teachers' meeting was held on24 November Teachers' Day with the participation of 50 teachers who teach in technology classes opened in 30 rural schools. During the online meeting joined byHasan Süel, the Chair of Vodafone Turkey Foundation,Sezai Hazır, the Board Chair of Habitat Association, and Prof.Dr. Selçuk Özdemir, the Founder of Bilişim Garajı, the teachers shared their field experiences and observations about the children. After the teachers' speech, Prof. Dr. Selçuk Özdemir also highlighted the significance of coding for children and how to close the digital divide in education.

While giving the opening speech, Mr. Hasan Süel, the Chair of Vodafone Turkey Foundation, stated:

"As Vodafone Turkey Foundation and Habitat Association, we are happy to grow the scope of our 'Coding Tomorrow' project, which we launched five years ago. So far, we have provided coding training to over 210,000 children in 81 provinces. Today, we better understand how accurate and significant step we have taken by implementing this project. The pandemic has once again reminded us of digitalization's importance. On the other hand, it also made it clear how the inequality of opportunity in education is evident for our children in disadvantaged areas. Thus, we took action to meet this social need and help our children in rural schools benefit from various equipment and education. Today, we support our children by helping them continue their education without interruption in the technology classes we have established in 30 rural schools. We create an opportunity for our students who need digitalization but do not have access. We believe that we can transform our dreams for our children's future into reality with the contribution and support of our teachers. With our valuable teachers, we are taking firm steps on the road of knowledge and wisdom led by our headmaster, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. We want to thank all our teachers, particularly our village teachers, who share our vision and devotedly give their support."

Mr. Sezai Hazır, the Board Chair of Habitat Association , also stated:

"We are proud to witness the impact of the 'Coding Tomorrow' project, which we implemented in collaboration with Vodafone Turkey Foundation and constantly expand its scope, continues to increase in the field. As part of the project, we opened fully equipped technology classes in 30 rural schools across our country. Particularly with the pandemic, access to education and technology for our children in disadvantaged areas has become even more challenging. With these classes, we believe that our children will access information readily and increase their opportunities of learning with technology and acquiring the competencies required by the 21st century. That is because we know that the 21st century will be a period of competent individuals who will transform societies. I wholeheartedly want to thank our teachers, the most significant companions of our project. We always feel proud to conduct our project with our dedicated teachers, who are among the architects of our Republic's achievements and to whom our Headmaster Mustafa Kemal Atatürk attaches great importance by saying 'The new generation will be your devotion.' With this valuable project, whose contents we enrich and aim is to reach more children, we will continue to support the raising individuals who transform and lead nations."

The project has reached over 210,000 children

Within the "Coding Tomorrow" project, children between 7-14 across Turkey receive theoretical and practical training by volunteer trainers on various subjects, including the introduction to programming, algorithm logic, application development, storytelling, and game development. Our training helps our children understand programming, work to bring out their creativity, create their imaginary worlds, and produce their games. So far, the project has reached over 210,000 children in 81 provinces.

Technology classes were opened in 30 rural schools

As part of our project, we have lastly opened well-equipped technology classes in 30 rural schools to expand the accessibility of technology for students in rural areas. Students receive training on various technology topics, primarily coding, in the classrooms equipped with projectors, 3D pens, computers, 3D printers, education, and STEM kits, and communication & event tools for Zoom. Training held in technology classes aims to reach 6,000 children and 2,500 parents, including the surrounding villages, in one year.