Environmental issues have become the most prominent challenge in the global agenda since the second half of the last century. Rapid population growth, urbanisation and industrialisation have led to a rise in pollution, and serious environmental and health problems have arisen due to global warming. Because of the dramatic increase in urbanisation in recent decades, wind corridors have decreased while people have been disconnected from nature.
As one of the central districts of Istanbul, Kadıköy is under the pressure of high urban density with a population of over 450 000 located on 25 km2 of land, whereas the per capita green area is about 3.15 m2. Due to the current intense urban transformation, green areas have been exposed to sharp decreases causing loose ties between people and the environment. To fight environmental pollution, global climate change, destruction of natural habitats and deterioration of ecological balance, it is essential to generate environmental consciousness, to strengthen ties with soil and to create natural environments for children at an early age.
In this regard, Kadıköy Municipality has developed its ecological living perspective for children and adopted the major goal of its environmental projects to raise children as nature-friendly ecological citizens. These will be the citizens who are not alienated from production processes, objecting to industrial consumption systems, having strong contact with the soil and using energy from renewable resources. Within three components of the initiative, (1) creating ecological public spaces, (2) encouraging ecological production and (3) raising awareness to develop ecological living perspective, many innovative projects have been initiated. These projects are Ecological Kindergarten, Ecological Living and the Compost Training Centre, fruit tree planting and permaculture activities, and Training of Trainers on ‘Earth in my School Garden’.
Put into service in the 2016–2017 academic year as the first in Turkey, the Ecological Kindergarten was designed to ensure healthy learning spaces, energy saving in all its aspects and to provide eco-friendly and practical education. Furthermore:
- its heating and lighting system is fully based on solar panels;
- rainwater is used in garden irrigation and toilets;
- natural products are preferred in educational tools;
- permaculture activities are organised in its garden.
Because of this, the Ecological Kindergarten has been the first educational institution in Turkey to hold a LEED Platinum Certificate.
The Ecological Living and Compost Training Centre was created by the re-projection of the existing playground area in line with the principles of permaculture, and by transforming the field into a social space. This includes an ecological training area where the balance of temperature and humidity is achieved by the straw bale technique, elevated vegetation beds, a coop and play elements produced by natural materials. Permaculture training is provided to different age groups, and the contribution of organic waste recycling to the environment and economy is shared through practices. The use of compost acquired by converting organic waste through worms is ensured in the vegetation beds, and various workshops are organised for making natural products that can be used to ensure a healthy life.
Within the framework of a sustainable environmental approach, the Kadıköy Municipality carries out with students and teachers in Kadıköy fruit tree planting and permaculture activities in parks, schools and kindergartens. In this context, firstly, a 1200 m2 area was allocated in Fenerbahçe Park, where students could work on permaculture and community gardening activities. Subsequently, fruit trees were planted in the school gardens in Kadıköy, and permaculture practice areas were established. The ‘Training of Trainers on Earth in my School Garden’ was implemented in the Integrated and Participatory Climate Action project led by Kadıköy Municipality in partnership with the Turkey-European Foundation. Teachers in kindergartens and preschools in Kadıköy were given theoretical training on climate change, soil, waste, water, air and practical training on rainwater harvesting, compost and seed ball production. This was used to develop an environmental consciousness of preschool children belonging to 3–6 age group.