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Sarikoy School Project

Imagine a school, which is closed on rainy days because the roof leaks...

Imagine a school where the classrooms are so small and packed that kids can hardly breathe...

We were first contacted by the teachers of Sarikoy, during Demet Yezgi's trip to Southeast Turkey for the execution of Dibekduzu school project. Following a brief consideration and research, we have decided to take this school as a project.

The Village

Sarikoy is a small village eight miles away from the town of Midyat at South Eastern Turkey. It is located within the jurisdiction of Mardin, one of the poorest provinces in Turkey. The average annual income is around $800 per household in the village, which means less than $80 per capita.

The School

Built in 1967, Sarikoy Elementary has been required to answer the needs of a growing population and the introduction of 8-years mandatory education. Due to financial constraints, teachers’ headquarters were converted into classrooms and instruction has been done in combined grades.

Some of the classrooms are so small and packed that kids can hardly breathe. There is not enough space to put a teacher's desk or to set a heater in winters. Moreover, teachers have to cancel classes on rainy days since the roof leaks badly.

Students’ desks and chairs are broken because of overuse. They have bookshelves without books, and a kindergarten without toys. There are only two sinks in the whole school.

Education

The education in the school used to be for the first five grades until recently. The 6th, 7th, and 8th grades have started last year, which makes the school work over capacity. Last year there were 262 students, next year there will be 334 attending Sarikoy Elementary, including the kindergarten.

There are five teachers assigned by the Ministry of Education. Five substitute teachers are also attending classes, however, it is still short of the minimum need of 16 teachers.

The number of educational materials is not enough, either. It is very common for the teachers to chip in some money to buy pencils and textbooks for the kids.

Consequently, the students are not optimistic about their education and future. They are aware of the disadvantages they have compared to the other students in larger cities.

The Project

Friends of Anatolia is committed to renovate Sarikoy Elementary before the Fall semester starts. With the support of our donors like you, we will: