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• Activities for Children (Children’s Reading/Playing Rooms and GAP-Cheetos Child Development Centres)

In the context of education programmes and activities that respond to children’s expectations and which support their mental, emotional, sportive, personal and social development by providing opportunities to use their energy in positive ways, Children’s Playing Rooms are for children in the age group 4-6; Child Development Centres cover age groups 4-6 and 7-14, and Children’s Reading Rooms serve to children in the age group 7-14.

In both inner and outer designs of centres attention is paid to give place to rich stimuli supporting child development. The aim is to provide suitable spaces to children to engage in sports and cultural and artistic activities, to study, read and conduct researches.

Programmes Implemented at Centres:

i) Education activities: Children in the age group are supported in their regular school courses by additional courses in English, mathematics, Turkish, social studies, sciences and technology. There are also courses in preparing for SBS (level assessment test) and computer skills; library services; book reading; courses in music and handicrafts (ornament design, wood painting, embroidery, knitting, marbling, etc.). Preschool programmes for the age group 4-6 include activities designed to support social, mental, linguistic and psycho-motor development. Students attending to these programmes supported by provincial education directorates are awarded infant class certificate. 

ii) Social activities: Visits to museums, theatres and cinemas; entertainment days on which children play their skills in drama, musical instruments and folk dances; end-of-the-year exhibitions and activities; wall newspapers; contests in singing the national anthem; picnics, etc.

iii) Sports activities: For their physical and psychosocial development, children attending centres are given training in such branches as table tennis, football, basketball, badminton, swimming, chess and volleyball. Centres compete in these branches with their teams and participation to regional or national tournaments are encouraged.

iv) Activities for families: Mothers are also included in activities designed for children. Families of children attending centres are regularly visited and informed about the development of their children.

In the region, 18 Children’s Reading Rooms (study halls) and 47 Children’s Playing Rooms (for preschool children) are active under ÇATOMs (Multi-purpose Community Centres). Sponsored officially by the PepsiCO-Turkey there are 13 GAP-Cheetos Child Development Centres. Under the project, so far 248,280 children have been reached through education, arts and sports programmes between March 2003 -September 2020 (164,329 children with education, arts and sports programmes and 167,105 children with open door programmes).