10th Anniversary
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Ten Years of Education in the Village

IT STARTS WITH A TEACHER

KODA 10th Anniversary Manifesto

We have been working since 2016 to improve the education of children in villages. We conduct training activities for teachers and parents, who are the most influential people in children's lives, prepare prospective teachers for teaching in villages before graduation, and develop educational content tailored to local conditions.

We know that;
If a teacher changes in the village, a school changes.
If a school changes, an entire future changes.

So far;

9.000

Teacher and Teacher Candidate

1.500

Parent

2.500

Village Headman

107.000

Child

More than 9.000 teachers and teacher candidates,

Thanks to our work with over 1.500 parents, we have been able to support those living in villages.

More than 107.000 children,

They had access to a quality education.

We have been learning alongside teachers in villages for 10 years.

We have been producing together for 10 years.
For 10 years, we have been exploring together the curiosity of children, the dedication of teachers, and the power of learning in villages.

We have seen that;
Solutions cannot be found without understanding local needs.
You can't create lasting impact without working together.
Education cannot be strengthened without empowering teachers.

The teachers were not alone on this journey.
Those who joined KODA not only benefited, they were transformed.
The participating teachers became mentors, trainers, and producers.
A community was born. And this community continues to grow.

We've been in the field for 10 years.
In the most remote villages, at the most unexpected moments, alongside the teachers.
Sometimes invisible, but always there.

Looking back today, there is so much we have accomplished together.
But we know we have a long way to go.

More teachers will become stronger,
There are many more children whose curiosity will grow.

We are here.
Together with teachers, we continue to strengthen education in villages.

Because everything,
It starts with a teacher.

TEACHER STORIES

Learning Side by Side: One Mentor, Two Mentes, A Common Path – Part 1

It all started when I met KODA in May. In September, when I was paired with Özlem (mentee teacher) and Elif (mentee teacher), our theoretical knowledge turned into practice, that is, into real solidarity.
Özlem and Elif's belief in their profession and their eagerness to learn impressed me greatly. They were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I thought to myself, "Our energies really clicked." Their excitement about "what we can do" gave me the first signs that my responsibility as mentors would become a pleasure.
During one of our get-togethers, when they shared a small difficulty they experienced in class, we discovered together just how much the solution lay within ourselves. That moment of relief when they said, "Okay, now it's done," and the sparkle in their eyes, was incredibly precious to me.
-Vasfiye Özak (Mentor Teacher)

Learning Side by Side: One Mentor, Two Mentes, A Common Path – Part 2

When I first met Ms. Vasfiye, I immediately felt a warmth towards her. As I got to know her over time, I realized she was a very versatile person and that she would be a valuable asset to me in every way, and that's exactly what happened. Now, whenever I encounter a problem at school or in daily life, my hand immediately reaches for my phone and I call Ms. Vasfiye. Every time I speak with Ms. Vasfiye, I think, "I'm so glad this match happened." So every moment is the right moment for me.
- Elif Tekin (Menti Teacher)

Learning Side by Side: One Mentor, Two Mentes, A Common Path – Part 3

Professor Vasfiye is a very cheerful and helpful person, and also very humble. She was so warm and welcoming to me from the moment we met. She first talked about KODA and said she would support me in every situation, which she did. She always supported me, every day, no matter the issue. From the first day, we felt a familiarity as if we had known each other for years.
Vasfiye Hoca also works in Diyarbakır, and I work in Çınar, Diyarbakır. Vasfiye Hoca talked about the difficulties she faced when she first started her job, and I realized that she actually experienced the same problems as us, but somehow she overcame them and improved herself. Moreover, she always supported me throughout this process. One of the most important things I'm glad about is that I take her as an example. Because she really is a very good teacher.
-Özlem Aygün (Menti Teacher)

Becoming Stronger Together: Growing Through Solidarity

KODA has been a space that has changed, improved, and transformed me. It has always given me the opportunity to share, create, and do things. That's why being in KODA has always empowered me; it has increased my belief in what I can do.

Looking back after 10 years, I see a very strong network of solidarity. Despite everything, we continue to stay together, to create together for education and for children. Because we know that everything is much better when we are together.

- Bahar Onur

Change Beginning with a Circle

Most of the children in my class were hindered by the Turkish language barrier, struggling to express themselves. Shyness, on the other hand, made communication even more difficult. I used to think of my students as "unable to speak, unable to express themselves."

But after I started forming circles and doing social-emotional learning activities in the classroom, I noticed that even my students who never spoke began to express themselves. In fact, the children started asking every day, "When are we going to do a circle?" Seeing this change made me very happy. I already feel a big transformation in the classroom.

-Tuğba Ünlü

A Space Open to Emotions

With KODA, I now have students who are not afraid to express their feelings, and seeing this is very valuable to me. I feel like I've gotten to know both myself and my students better through this process.

Seeing children support each other, work together to find solutions, and learn side-by-side shows me once again how valuable both teaching and KODA are.

-Gökçe Değer