About a thousand Ukrainian war victim children had fun and participated in a Turkish language teaching activity in the program organized by Yunus Emre Institute in Kemer district of Antalya. 

On the initiative of Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, with the work carried out by the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Migration Administration, programs are held for children brought to Turkey from orphanages in Ukraine.

THE BOOK "BASIC TURKISH FOR UKRAINIAN CHILDREN" WAS INTRODUCED

The program organized by Yunus Emre Institute at a hotel in Beldibi started with the introduction of the book "Basic Turkish for Ukrainian Children" prepared to contribute to the Turkish language learning of Ukrainian children.

In addition to the activities where fairy tales were told interactively through drama, an art and entertainment workshop was organized, and children were taught silk cocoon design and jewelry design from seashells and cones. The children who painted their faces both had fun and practiced learning Turkish with the books distributed to them.

Emir Rustamov, Ukraine's Consul General in Antalya, told journalists that the children, most of whom came to Antalya 6 months ago from orphanages, were happy in Turkey.

"CHILDREN GLADLY LEARN TURKISH"

Emphasizing that some of the children returned when the situation improved in some parts of Ukraine, Rustamov said, "Our children staying in Antalya are very happy with their lives. They participate in different activities and have fun. Our Turkish partners help us a lot. A book was prepared in Ukrainian and Turkish. The children here are happy to learn Turkish."

Stating that the war continues in Ukraine, Rustamov said that their army and nation are fighting to liberate their country from occupation. Explaining the importance of the event, Rustamov said: "Just like the War of Independence in Turkey 100 years ago, now the Ukrainian War of Independence has to continue. After our victory, peace will return to the entire territory of Ukraine."

"BOTH UKRAINIAN AND TURKOLOGISTS TOOK PART IN THE PREPARATION OF THE BOOK"

Yunus Emre Institute Kyiv Coordinator İhsan Demirbaş said that since the arrival of Ukrainian children in the city, the institute has been organizing cultural and educational programs to support their Turkish language teaching and help them adapt to Turkey.

Stating that they also opened Turkish courses, Demirbaş said:

"We organized cultural activities with Ukrainian children on both April 23 and May 19 holidays. We also prepared a 'Basic Turkish book for Ukrainian children' for teaching Turkish to Ukrainian children. This is the first book in the world, prepared in Ukrainian and Turkish, about teaching Turkish to children. Both Ukrainian and Turkologists took part in the preparation of the book." 

Pointing out that the content of the book is mainly visual, Demirbaş said that the book contains words that they will use in the social environment, at home, in shopping, and at school, as well as rhymes, games, and different materials for learning Turkish.

Emphasizing that they are working to improve the educational opportunities for children to continue their education in Ukraine, Demirbaş added that Yunus Emre Institute contributed to the education of children by sending school desks.