Istanbul Gelisim University - The kids in forest fire region meet water sports

The kids in forest fire region meet water sports

An event named "There is Life in Water" was held as part of the social orientation project for children and youth living in the fire area in Muğla.

After the fires in Muğla last August, in cooperation with Ortaca and Köyceğiz District Governors and with the contribution of Ortaca Municipality, an event named "There is Life in Water" was held which aims to ensure the social orientation of children and young people who were adversely affected by the fires under the coordination of Dalyan Tourism Promotion, Social Development and Education Foundation and Dalyan Delta Water Sports Club.

50 students living in the rural neighbourhoods of Köyceğiz affected by the fire sailed in catamarans in Sarıgerme as a part of the program.
Afterwards, children were informed about the use of canoes and rowing at the Water Sports Center in Dalyan District. Children wearing life jackets got acquainted with water sports in Dalyan Canal accompanied by trainers. At the end of the day, the students planted saplings together with the participants.

TUSEV Chairman of the Board Başar Koşargelir stated that they are happy to carry out a social awareness project for children living in the fire area. Explaining that they want to raise awareness in terms of social activities and education, Koşargelir said "Our aim is to raise talented youngsters or those who are engaged in outdoor sports for the first time in a national sportsman culture with scholarships in the future. TUSEV is a non-governmental organization that we established in 2019. Its primary aim is to develop tourism activities, as well as to raise awareness in the region in terms of social activities and education. We are planning to hold the Dalyan Open Water Swimming Competition on October 16.”

Koşargelir stated that they are working on improving the conditions of schools as a foundation, and stated that they intend to ensure the conscious development of the region in terms of tourism with the tourism master plan within the scope of ecotourism.

"WE AIM TO INTRODUCE THE CHILDREN TO WATER SPORTS"

TUSEV Board Member and Dalyan Delta Water Sports Club manager Ertuğrul Ercan emphasized that they aim to bring the children living in mountain villages together with water sports by making the event traditional.
Ercan stated that they have undertaken an important activity for the children to get away from the negative period they live in and have a pleasant day; "We guide the children affected by the Köyceğiz fire with water sports. First, we had a sailing catamaran event in Sarıgerme. We witnessed that some of our children were introduced to the sea and sailing for the first time at the event. Now they are taking canoe training in Dalyan. By making the event traditional, we aim to introduce the children living in the mountain villages to water sports. At the same time, we want to give scholarships to talented children as the TUSEV foundation."

"WE PLAN TO ORGANIZE THE WORLD WATER SPORTS FESTIVAL"

Head of the Sports Management Department in Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) School of Physical Education and Sports, Assoc. Prof. Kubilay Çimen said that the event is important to improve the social motivation of the children. He continued his words as follows;

"Such activities have great effects on both the economy and the development of sports in the region as a culture and their spread in the society. In the long term, we aim to organize the World Water Sports Festival under the leadership of TUSEV and Dalyan Delta Water Sports Association. In order to do this, we must first increase the number of licensed athletes in this region and ensure that young people know and practice water sports. An infrastructure needs to be created. We want to organize this festival in the coming years, and these activities are shaped as its infrastructure."

Toprak Yaşar from Beyobası District, who stated that the fire reached 500 meters close to their house, said that they had a good time and that he was very excited about getting on a canoe for the first time.