Turkey's Changemakers: The teacher who does not limit education to classroom

Fatma Ayan became the 13th Changemaker of the seventh season of the Sabancı Foundation Turkey’s Changemakers Program.

Turkey’s first open-air library has been opened in Alanya thanks to the efforts of Ayan, a teacher with 20 years of experience. Apart from the library, Ayan has also worked to improve the physical conditions of the school and to diversify the curriculum. 

After remediation efforts under the leadership of Ayan, there are now around 8,000 books in the library, which was opened with the support of the local district governor and district director of education. In addition to courses in the regular curriculum, Ayan attempted to integrate the Waldorf education system, which is accepted as an important education theory in Europe and relatively unknown in Turkey. This system aims to increase children’s creativity and learning ability. For example, in the Kılıçarslan Elementary School, students gain training in nomad rug workshop. In free activity times, they learn the basics of husbandry and agriculture. 

With the new state of the school, the number of students has increased to 47. After the arrival of two more teachers, the school is continuing education with three teachers. New arrangements and improvements in the school have markedly increased children’s success. It’s not only Turkish students – students from other nations also receive an education there. For example, although there is a Private Russian School in Alanya, there are around 20 Russian students at the Kılıçarslan Elementary School.

Ayan ensured that an idle school was brought into the system again. She held lessons outside of classrooms.

She made an effort to develop different skills in children. She made her school into the district‘s favorite.

Through her projects and applied training methods, she has made a huge difference in the lives of students.