SDSN Türkiye Hosts a Panel on the Role of Education and Art in Making the World a Better Place
SDSN Turkish network supports the 10th Educational Technology Summit held in Istanbul
The EdTech Summit (ETZ) brought together educators, technology companies, entrepreneurs, managers and the media experts under one roof. The event included local and international ICT experts, interactive workshops and panel discussions with the aim of exploring the latest trends in this field and sharing best practice in an age increasingly shaped by the widespread use of new technologies in education.
The 10th edition of the Summit was held on March 4 in Istanbul, with the collaboration of SDSN Türkiye. In the aftermath of the recent catastrophic twin earthquakes, the network aimed to motivate the education community with hope, courage and beliefs sharing examples from the world and highlighting how we can use the power of education and art to heal our societies.
With this purpose, SDSN Türkiye organized the panel “How we can improve our world with education and art?” where Professor Patrick Paul Walsh, director of The SDG Academy, will discuss this topic with the renown producer Varol Yaşaroğlu (film King Şakir), and with Bahar Ozay, coordinator of SDSN Türkiye. The panel was moderated by Ozlem Bilge, teacher and Global Schools Advocate. In addition, SDSN Türkiye's activities around education were presented before an audience of teachers and education community members, as well as policy makers from all Türkiye.
About the summit Watch the event
ETZ summary
Istanbul, March, 2023
Prof. Dr. Patrick Paul Walsh expressed his condolences and showed solidarity with Türkiye after the strong earthquake hit the region. Prof. Walsh explained the mission of SDSN, SDG Academy and Global Schools to provide free open education resources to millions of users on the topic of sustainability from the early childhood to the different layers of the society in the life long learning spectrum. He recommended that “Schooling does not have to be disturbed. Teachers, parents and children can be supported via positive thinking especially by nurturing children's creativity and imagination with art and education. STEM vs non-STEM skills, empathy for people and nature, expression of hopes and dreams, education through play, art and digital media can be extremely tools to heal the grief and give hope for a sustainable future. He mentioned that no single person or institution can tackle global challenges single-handedly.
The Producer of Kral Şakir (King Shakir) Varol Yaşaroğlu underlined his motto and said “if a child changes, the world changes”. He narrated his experience after the Izmir earthquake and said the parents thanking him while via his comics the children learnt what to do in the earthquake moment and save their lives. Mr. Yaşaroğlu emphasized that the art can help children define their hidden difficulties they experience with family and relationship issues, personal trauma, grief and loss. He gave some information on his new movie King Shakir: Germ Hunters Cumburlop that will be launched on March 31, 2023 and he promised to make the premier of the movie at Osmaniye, one of the earthquake cities and organize an open air cinema in all 11 earthquake cities in Türkiye.
Bahar Özay, Coordinator of SDSN Türkiye said that as SDSN family they are deeply saddened by the twin earthquakes that struck the southeastern region of Türkiye and shared the profound condolences and most sincere sympathies to the whole region. During her presentation she described SDSN Türkiye’s education programs for k12 schools’ teachers, students and parents and their collaboration with the Ministry of National Education of Türkiye. She mentioned that she believes in the healing power of art and the transforming power of education for a sustainable life. She said that education and art are the biggest obstacles to a country falling into slavery and misery. The healing power of education and art will always be a guiding compass for Türkiye and the world.
The session was moderated by Global Schools Türkiye’s Advocate, primary school teacher and administrator Mrs. Özlem Bilge.