WE ARE ON THE ROAD - The Mobile Cultural Center started its journey in Azaz on June 17, 2022, and continues in the Syrian Safe Zone after its programs in Kilis, Mardin, Hatay, and Gaziantep.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Turkey, the "WE ARE ON THE ROAD- Traveling Cultural Center" project is carried out under the leadership of the Educational Mothers Association (EVADER) in cooperation with the General Directorate of Relations with Civil Society, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and Yunus Emre Institute.

"I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE WILL TOUCH THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE"

The inauguration ceremony, which was held on June 17, 2022, at Azaz Yunus Emre Square with the participation of public officials and the public, started with the reading of the congratulatory message of the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In his message, Mr. President made the following statements:

“Thank you very much for your invitation to the ‘WE ARE ON THE ROAD - Mobile Cultural Center’ promotion program. I hope this meaningful journey you have embarked on to carry out cultural communication activities in the regions you have secured in northern Syria will be beneficial. I strongly believe that we will touch the lives of thousands of people with activities that will appeal to all age groups. With these thoughts, I greet all participants with the most heartfelt feelings and congratulate those who contributed to the project."

The program was attended by İsmail Çataklı, Deputy Minister of Interior of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Soytürk, Governor of Kilis, Muhammed Hamdan Yusuf, President of Azaz Local Council, Nalan Aydın, Head of AFAD Training Department, Hatice Çakmak, President of EVADER and Fikret Çıtak, Yunus Emre Institute Syria Safe Zone Coordinator.

WE ARE ON THE ROAD - The Mobile Cultural Center is equipped with all kinds of games, books, stationery, and materials that will attract children's attention and educate them while entertaining them. Consisting of a 14-meter-long education truck, the Mobile Cultural Center was prepared in such a way that at least 20 different workshops could be held. The workshops planned to be organized within the scope of the Mobile Cultural Center are listed as follows:

* Mind and Intelligence Games Workshop

* Painting Workshop

* Environment, Awareness and Recycling Workshop

* Children's Theater Workshop, Traffic Education Workshop

* Values Education Workshop

* Language and Culture Workshop, Toy Making Workshop

* Literature Workshop, Disaster Education Workshop

* Science Workshop, Kite Making Workshop

* Traditional Games Workshop

* Shadow Play Workshop

* Imagination Workshop

* Cartoon/Painting/Drawing Workshop

* Fairy Tale Workshop

* Origami Workshop

* History Workshop

* Basic First Aid Training Workshop

TARGET 10 THOUSAND PEOPLE IN 12 MONTHS

Through the project, it is aimed to reach 10 thousand people in 12 months. The primary target group is disadvantaged and war victim children between the ages of 5-15. In this way, it is aimed to include family members, war victims, and orphaned children in a new life together with students attending formal and non-formal education, to contribute to the transfer of Turkey's scientific and cultural accumulation by making the state visible even in the remotest point, to mediate cultural interaction between the two countries and to observe the needs of the region more closely.

2 THOUSAND 24 CHILDREN REACHED IN KİLİS

The Mobile Cultural Center, which continues its activities with the support of Süleyman Soylu, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Turkey, continued its activities in Kilis between June 27-July 22, 2022.

It was on June 27 at Kilis Cumhuriyet Square, on August 28-30 and July 1 at Kilis Elbeyli Temporary Accommodation Center, on July 4-6 at Umut Primary School, and on July 19-22 at Yunus Emre Primary School. A total of 2 thousand 24 children were reached with mask design, handicrafts, emotions, creative drama, story completion, storytelling, traditional Turkish games, film screenings, jewelry-accessory design, painting, basic Turkish with games, keychain making, and jenga workshops.

2,295 CHILDREN VISITED THE MOBILE CULTURE CENTER IN MARDIN

The Mobile Cultural Center, which was active in Mardin between August 1-12, touched hearts with the happiness of being with 2,295 children and added hundreds of memories to their memories.

On the Mardin route, workshops such as storytelling, creative drama, mangala, chess, origami, face painting, and disaster awareness training were held at Kızıltepe Turgut Özal Primary and Secondary School, Kızıltepe Borsa İstanbul Primary and Secondary School, Ortaköy Cumhuriyet Primary and Secondary School and Gökçe Kindergarten.

17 WORKSHOPS IN HATAY 

The Mobile Cultural Center, which visited Yayladağı Temporary Accommodation Center on August 15-18, Boynuyoğun Temporary Accommodation Center on August 19-24, and Antakya EXPO 2021 on August 25-28, organized 17 workshops (painting, handicraft-bookmark making, creative drama, emotions, model making with bamboo sticks, attention development, mosaic, face painting, jigsaw puzzles, mind games, mangala, origami, stories, ceramics, traditional Turkish games, disaster awareness training, letter writing) in Hatay with 869 children.

VISITS TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IN GAZIANTEP

Mobile Cultural Center was a guest at different schools in Gaziantep. Visiting Merveşehir Secondary School on September 1-2, Edebali Primary School on September 5-6, and Hüseyin Çelik Primary School on September 7-8, the Mobile Cultural Center hosted 1,333 little guests. We shared happiness with workshops such as creative drama, handicraft-bookmark making, attention development, traditional Turkish games, story completion, and traffic education.

MOBILE CULTURE CENTER MADE CHILDREN FROM AZEZ HAPPY

WE ARE ON THE ROAD-The Mobile Cultural Center has resumed its activities in the Syria Safe Zone as of October 3, 2022.

On October 3-6, language-culture, painting, history workshops, as well as different game workshops, were held with our children, who are the future of New Syria, at Azaz Yazıbağ Primary and Secondary School.

MOBILE CULTURE CENTER VISITED CHILDREN FROM AFRIN

On October 9, the first stop of the Mobile Cultural Center, which started its activities in Afrin, decorated with olive trees, was Martyr Abdülkadir Salih Primary School.

"WE ARE ON THE ROAD TO WRITE A NEW STORY"

WE ARE ON THE ROAD - For information about the activities of the Mobile Cultural Center in Turkey and the Syrian Safe Zone, please visit www.yollardayiz.org. In addition, @yollardayizgkm posts about workshops and activities on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on a daily basis.

The Traveling Culture Center, a determined traveler on the path of brotherhood, inspired by poet Sezai Karakoç's these verses:

"In Murcia, in Tunisia, in Egypt

In Jerusalem, in Mecca, in Konya

We are in Malatya, in Damascus

We are all like Muhyiddin

who rapped the roads around his feet like ropes.’’

WE ARE ON THE ROAD - Mobile Cultural Center will continue to be ON THE ROAD with COMPANIONS who are always on the ROAD, only changing in semblance.