Politics · Turkey · 8 hrs ago
Istanbul project plans island visits for 20,000 students
Istanbul’s project will take 20,000 students to Democracy and Freedoms Island during the 2026-27 school year.
The visits are for ninth- and 10th-grade students and are intended to help them understand democracy and Turkey’s recent history.
The island, formerly known as Yassıada, is associated with the 1960 military coup and the executions of three government ministers after it.
Istanbul’s governorate is overseeing the project, with the provincial education directorate and several organizations and businesses involved.
Organizers say learning about the past can build awareness that helps prevent such events from happening again.
The new period’s agreement has been signed, and organizers say the project is expected to continue each year.
A new protocol was signed for a project that plans visits to Democracy and Freedoms Island for 20,000 students in the 2026–2027 school year.
The visits are intended for Istanbul students in grades 9 and 10, who will learn about a turning point in recent history.
The project is carried out under the auspices of the Istanbul Governor’s Office and coordinated by the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education.
Its partners are the İlim Yayma Foundation, VakıfBank, the Turkish Green Crescent Society and Birun Ada Hotel Management.
The signing ceremony was held at Sepetçiler Pavilion.
- Who
- 20,000 Istanbul students in grades 9 and 10 are expected to visit the island.
- What
- A new protocol was signed for a project arranging student visits to Democracy and Freedoms Island.
- When
- The visits are planned for the 2026–2027 school year.
- Where
- The visits will be to Democracy and Freedoms Island; the protocol signing ceremony was held at Sepetçiler Pavilion in Istanbul.
- Why
- Organisers say the visits will help students learn about history, democracy and national will.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Organisers conceived and launched the project toward the end of the school year.
Organisers began the project earlier than they had the previous year.
The project plans visits to Democracy and Freedoms Island for 20,000 students.
A ceremony was held at Sepetçiler Pavilion to sign the new-period protocol.
- Planned participants
- 20,000 students
- Student grades
- 9th and 10th
- Visit destination
- Democracy and Freedoms Island
- School year
- 2026–2027
- Signing ceremony venue
- Sepetçiler Pavilion
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What people are saying
I hope the friends who go will tell their friends who do not go, and perhaps the number of those who visit the island on their own will increase.
The legacy we want to leave them is a consciousness that seeks the truth, does not remain silent in the face of injustice, and holds the will of the nation sacred.
Finding funding alone does not solve the problem; to manage it, you also need to love it and take ownership of it.
The project is valuable for young people to gain historical awareness and understand the importance of freedom.