Red-Headed Bunting
Forest Fire Awareness Art Workshops in Datça
December 2022 - November 2023
Datça/MUĞLA
The Datça Peninsula and its endemic structure are under the threat of fires. 88% of fires are caused by humans, but it is also in our hands to prevent forest fires and take precautions against possible ones.
The resources of the people of Datça, who make a living by producing honey and growing almonds, decrease with each fire and are on the verge of depletion. Datça residents, who earn the other half of their livelihood through tourism, have also been economically affected by the fires in recent years.
Medicinal herbs, which are thought to have led to the establishment of the Knidos Medical School (700 BC), which is the first medical school in the world according to historical data, are gradually decreasing and even facing the danger of extinction.
Basically, the Peninsula is divided into Datça and Betçe, where there are more villages. This project aimed to create awareness on forest fires and their destruction working with 40 children in the age group of 9-14 (4th-7th grade levels) living in both parts of the peninsula.
Spreading its wings through such dynamics and wearing its blue cloak, “Red –Headed Bunting: Forest Fire Awareness Art Workshops in Datça” held a total of 8 workshops, 4 in Datça and 4 in Betçe, a nature walk and a discussion event. On this occasion, the children worked with 6 workshop coordinators who are well-versed in Datça dynamics in workshops such as “Literature” by Ayşegül Çelik and Özgür Mutlu, “Recycling Art” by Deniz Kırmızısoy, (Q Performance) by Hakan Polacanlı, “Sound/Movement” by İlker Görgülü, and “Sound Workshops” by Yeşim Tezgören, which raised their awareness of forest fires and allowed them to be introduced to art.
Children established a closer relationship with the forest with the trekking experience to be held under the leadership of Datça Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Club, one of the project associates. As the last step of the project, the documentary film shot by İmre Özerim, Bahadır Cihangir Genç and Özge Çiğdem Denizci during the events was screened in the area determined by Datça Municipality. The children also met with the officials from Datça Forestry Administration Directorate and Datça Neighborhood Disaster Volunteers (MAG-AME/SAR Datça Branch), were able to ask them questions and have a discussion about forest fires and workshop experiences.
The participating 40 children shared the knowledge and experiences they gained from the workshops both with their families and in the club activities and/or classes in their schools in the following terms. This contributed to the traceability of the project.
