Social Responsibility Project (2025): “One Step to Water, a Door to Life”

Our social responsibility project titled “ONE STEP TO WATER, A DOOR TO LIFE”, carried out jointly by the Marine and Aquatic Sciences Application and Research Center (DENAM) and the Ankara Branch of the Foundation for the Education and Protection of Children with Intellectual Disabilities (ZİÇEV), was approved on 5 May 2025 and has officially started.

Project Title: One Step to Water, a Door to Life

Project Duration: 6 months

Project Budget: 20,000 TL

Project Team

Prof. Dr. Asu İnan; Prof. Dr. A. Gamze Yücel Işıldar; Dr. Pelin Fidanoğlu Yıldırım; Prof. Dr. Can E. Balas; teachers from ZİÇEV Ankara Branch; 2 master’s-level learners; 10 undergraduate students

Project Advisor: Prof. Dr. Lale Balas

Purpose and Scope of the Project

This project aims to help children and young people with intellectual disabilities become familiar with marine and aquatic ecosystems, increase their interaction with nature, and contribute to their social development through educational activities. While raising awareness on marine and aquatic sciences, the project also seeks to improve participants’ motor skills, communication abilities, and environmental awareness.

Project Target Group

(Provide information about the student(s) or student group with whom you will implement the project, such as grade level, disadvantaged status, academic achievement, etc.)

The project includes children and young people aged 7–25 with intellectual disabilities who are educated at the ZİÇEV Ankara Branch. Participants have varying levels of intellectual disability, and activities will be adapted to meet each individual’s needs. Students will participate with the support of instructors and volunteer university students.

Work Plan and Task Distribution

Month 1

• Project introduction; selection of instructors and volunteers
• Detailed program planning with ZİÇEV Ankara Branch
• Introductory activities for participating students

Months 2–5

• Let’s Get to Know Marine Creatures (aquarium visit and visual education)
• Water Cycle and Ecosystems (simple experiments and interactive learning)
• Marine Pollution and Recycling (recycling workshop)
• Art Activities (marine-themed painting and handicrafts)
• Story of Those Who Live in the Sea (storytelling and theatre activity)
• We Touch Water (sensory experiences related to water)
• Fishing and Sustainability (educational video screening and group activities)

Month 6

• Evaluation and presentation of project outputs
• Certificate ceremony for participants
• Feedback meeting with parents/guardians and educators

Methodology

(Describe the implementation process and the steps you will follow.)

• Specially prepared educational materials will be used for participants.
• Trainings will be supported through interactive workshops, activities, visuals, and hands-on experiments.
• The program will be designed in modular form in line with participants’ cognitive levels.
• Individual and group activities will be conducted under the guidance of ZİÇEV Ankara Branch teachers and Gazi University academics.
• Participant development will be observed throughout the process, and feedback will be collected.