Little athletes’ and architects’ dreams came true at IUE
Children drew their dreams, and learned about life with differences. Children, who came together at Izmir University of Economics (IUE) for two separate events, celebrated the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day enthusiastically. While children established their own cities at the event organized by Association of Izmir Freelance Architects, 18 children with special education needs and their peers got involved in activities that develop their basic motor skills, an event co-organized by IUE Vocational School of Health Services and Special Olympics Turkey.
“Urban Designs by Little Architects”
Children got a chance to draw their dream homes, schools, hospitals, etc. at the “Child Architect” event, organized by Association of Izmir Freelance Architects, hosted by Izmir University of Economics, and co-sponsored by IQ Aluminum Systems and Vitra. IUE young architects have designed selected drawings digitally. Hüseyin Egeli, Lecturer at IUE Department of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, and President of the Association of Izmir Freelance Architects, stated that they organized the “Architect Child – The Future is Built Today” titled event in order raise awareness about urban and design among children, and to help them take part in the establishment of livable cities in the future. Egeli said, “We asked children to draw their dream homes, schools, hospitals, etc. The outcome was splendid. We were enthralled by their imagination. Students from the Department of Architecture designed the drawings digitally. Children got a chance to communicate with the designer generation of today. We shared their dreams”.
“Overcoming biases together”
18 children with and without intellectual disabilities, who engaged in educational activities to improve their basic motor skills such as speaking, balancing, jumping, bouncing, kicking a ball to a target, etc., received their medals at the event co-organized by IUE Vocational School of Health Services and Special Olympics Turkey. Ezgi Oral, Lecturer from IUE Vocational School of Health Services, said, “Based on the protocol we signed with Special Olympics Turkey, 9 children with autism and 9 typically developing children came together and engaged in educational and play based activities to improve their basic motor skills. At the end of the project, children were awarded medals, and they got a chance to enjoy themselves at the traditional children’s festival. Children had fun with the educational toys, books, costumes designed by students of Child Development Program of Vocational School of Health Services as part of their material design course. We wanted to instill social skills in children. The program ended with performances by Izmir Autism Orchestra and Choir (IZOT).”
