Hopes will sprout in the school greenhouse

Students of the Public Relations and Promotion Program of the School of Social Sciences at Akdeniz University initiated a meaningful project to instill love for nature and environmental awareness in children, as well as raise awareness about sustainability. As part of the project named ‘Blossoming Hopes’, students collaborated with Antalya Science and Art Center (BILSEM) students. University students planted vegetables in the greenhouses and carob trees in the garden located on the BILSEM campus. Coordinated by Assistant Professor Özlem Mansuroğlu Reyhan, with the participation of officials from the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, the event focused on explaining the characteristics of the planted products and the care needed during cultivation to the students.
Raising awareness through production, the significance of carob for Antalya due to its structure and climate requirements was emphasized. After the information session, children who planted the crops named the seedlings, combining fun with education. Assistant Professor Özlem Mansuroğlu Reyhan pointed out the serious harm caused by the constant encouragement of consumption in today’s world, stating that through this project, they aimed to foster awareness of love for nature and environmental sensitivity through ‘production’.
Expressing the desire to instill love for nature, Reyhan highlighted that one of the ways to preserve nature is through correct agricultural practices. Reyhan stated, ‘Being able to make a difference, even with a small touch, to the children who are our future is gratifying for us.’ Teslime Vural, speaking on behalf of the team that implemented the project, mentioned that their goal was to create awareness about love for nature among children and to do it in a different way. Vural expressed great joy in participating in this project with her friends, noting that the curiosity and excitement of the children during the event also excited them.