Press Centre 2008/05/08 (2): Early Childhood Education
The telethon call centre was flooded with donations during the course of Sezen Aksu’s interview. Photograph by Sema Hosta © UNICEF Turkey 2008
We’re Adding Lots of Pre–schools!
The nation–wide telethon broadcast on the 23rd of April raised more than one million new Turkish lira to fund the construction of more pre–school classrooms in the most needy areas of Turkey. Running under the We’re Adding Pre–schools! slogan, the telethon campaign is another remarkable result of the successful partnership between the Turkish National Committee for UNICEF and the national broadcaster NTV. Thanks to the support of NTV, the sixteen–hour telethon managed to promote UNICEF’s message about the importance of early childhood education for all children into millions of Turkish homes on the most appropriate day of the year — National Children’s Day. The telethon was heavily promoted in advance with extensive advertising support provided by NTV affiliate channels and radio stations including CNBC–E, E2 and NTV Sport.
The full day of broadcasting warmed–up with a lively discussion of early childhood education hosted by Oğuz Haksever from breakfast until noon. Viewers were invited to contribute to the campaign via SMS or phone–in as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Ayşe Kulin, Ministry of National Education (MONE) General Director of Pre–school Education, Remzi İnanlı and UNICEF Communications Officer, Sema Hosta discussed the reciprocal benefits of pre–school and early childhood education for children, their families, their community and the nation’s economy.
The telethon continued with the Junior Cup tournament between Turkey’s four most popular football teams. All of the players from Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor wore UNICEF armbands while viewers were continually exhorted by commentators to support the Pre–schools campaign via SMS or to phone–in their donations live.
Talipoğlu’s easy manner with the general public proved to be a tremendous benefit to the campaign. Photograph by Şehnaz Tanılkan © UNICEF Turkey 2008
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Tayfun Talipoğlu began his live broadcast from Şanlıurfa at 16:00. During a series of interviews with young children, school–aged children and teachers underlining the importance of pre–school education, Talipoğlu was able to introduce viewers and prospective donors to a working example of a pre–school similar to the type UNICEF is supporting with the campaign. The single–storey pre–schools will be constructed on plots of between 1,000 and 1,200m2 with half of the land reserved for outdoor play space while the building itself will have five classrooms to accommodate twenty children in each. A double shift system will ensure that as many as two hundred infants will be able to attend the school on a daily basis.
Donations via SMS increased to roughly one every two seconds during the broadcast as Talipoğlu’s dedication and commitment to promoting respect for children’s rights proved to be a tremendous benefit to the campaign. Drawing out the stories and opinions of adults and children alike in the most straightforward and honest way, the interviews repeatedly demonstrated that there is no substitute for the real thoughts and feelings of the beneficiaries themselves in generating public support.
Donations increased further still during Can Dündar’s exclusive interview with the renowned singer/songwriter, Sezen Aksu. Over the course of her extraordinarily successful career, Aksu has repeatedly demonstrated how children’s issues are close to her heart both in her own right as one of Turkey’s most famous performers and also with the generous donation of her talent as a volunteer for UNICEF. Both Ms Aksu and Mr Dündar wore UNICEF armbands and throughout the interview the singer repeatedly invited the live audience and viewers at home to support the building of more pre–schools.
The call centre was flooded with donations as Ms Aksu’s interview progressed and the phenomenal public response was repeated later the following weekend when NTV aired this section of the telethon again as a broadcasting highlight of the week.
Presenters Gani Müjde and Sinem Kobal rounded off the day’s viewing with a spectacular gala the highlight of which was a talent contest for children. The celebrity jury, featuring actors Gülben Ergen and Demet Akbağ and singers Erol Evgin and Emre Altuğ, were regaled with stunning examples of the children’s talents including singing, dancing and musical skills — and one example of near genius solving mathematical problems!
Photograph by Nedim Atilla © UNICEF Turkey 2008
As with last year’s telethon, the We’re Adding Pre–schools! campaign proved how private sector support coupled with the good will of the public is an unbeatable formula when the message is clear and in favour of a good cause. It is hoped that donations will increase further still but one thing is assured — yet again the people of Turkey have proved how the well–being and development of children remains close to the heart.
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OTHER PRESS RELEASES ON EDUCATION ISSUES
- This year on April 23rd NTV and the Turkish National Committee for UNICEF will add a new stage to the campaign with full–day telethon supported by a host of surprise guests. The aim is raise funds to set up new preschools in 13 provinces.
- 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.
- Turkey is in urgent need of new school buildings. UNICEF believes that prefabricated classes would be the quickest and cheapest way and the NTV broadcast channel supports this plan.
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