Press Centre 2007/05/08: Girls’ Education

The More Schools! campaign exceeds expectations with 121 schools

Ankara, 08 May 2007 The joint UNICEF–NTV More Schools! campaign has already surpassed the target of 100 new classrooms. The total of contributions raised through SMS and direct donations so far is enough to build 121 new prefabricated classrooms.

One of the main barriers to girls’ education in Turkey is the shortage of classrooms. In focusing on solving classroom shortage, the joint UNICEF–NTV campaign exceeded expectations well beyond the original target.

The campaign had originally targeted 100 new classrooms but the combination of a day long broadcasting marathon by NTV on April 23rd and the goodwill of viewers successfully raised enough funds to build 121 new prefabricated classrooms.

Prefabricated classrooms are a fast and relatively inexpensive solution to the problem. The classrooms are fast and efficient to set up and are earthquake resistant as well as portable. Capable of accommodating roughly 100 children in a double shift, each classroom is fully equipped with desks, blackboard and toilets.

Tayfun Talipoğlu and Bamteli

During the course of a live broadcast, Tayfun Talipoğlu took viewers to Eskin Primary School in a remote village near the south eastern city of Mardin. During this very special hour of the programme, Bamteli, viewers were able to see a completed prefabricated classroom and to hear and share the feelings of the the girls benefitting from the new classroom. The sincerity of the girls inspired many viewers to contribute to the campaign and donations increased significantly during the course of the broadcast.

Quiz – Celebrities to the Board

Many celebrities took part in a quiz that was specially prepared from the primary education curricullum. Contestants included Burcu Kara, Kadir Çöpdemir, Ziya Kürküt and Sinemis Candemir. The contestant who had raised the highest number of prefabricated classrooms by the end of the show was declared the winner.

Splendid Support by Sezen Aksu

The celebrated artist and a big supporter of UNICEF, Sezen Aksu, was one of the leading supporters of the campaign. In a special TV show hosted by Halit Kıvanç, Aksu stressed the importance of the campaign, drawing attention to the issue of girls’ schooling and education. Viewer support for the campaign also increased significantly during Aksu’s one hour special programme — enough funds for 15 prefabricated classrooms, accommodating as many as 1,500 children were raised.

Aksu also had a surprise for the audience. It was the first time in this show that Aksu personally sang her recent hit Kaçak which she had composed and wrote the lyrics for and also a new song Beşik.

We Need to Sing a Song for Children

The highlight of NTV’s special programming schedule was the final contest We need to Sing a Song for Children. In this version of the popular contest adapted for children, celebrities individually coached children to perform a song for viewers. Hosted by Şahan Gökbakar from NTV, a jury including Müjdat Gezen, Gülben Ergen, Yılmaz Erdoğan and Anıl Kırkyıldız judged the est performance.

Contributions flowed as the contest proceeded and the comedian Cem Yılmaz was among the leading supporters of the campaign.

The original target of 100 prefabricated classrooms was exceeded towards the end of the contest, reaching enough to build 121 new prefabricated classrooms as donations continued after the marathon had finished.

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