One of the biggest problems of the Z generation is the lack of socialization due to low reading habits and excessive internet use.

Generation Z is more creative than past generations with the influence of their technological and social opportunities, but may have difficulties in expressing this creativity. Consequently, traditional methods of education are inadequate for the development of new generations and Generation Z is more prone to self-education. Therefore, non-formal education techniques produce more tangible results on them. This means that young people need more collective educational activities.

After analyzing this need, Validebag Anatolian High School Literature Teacher Nezahat Akbaba launched the non-formal education project “One Book Thousand Activities” in 2016.

This activity is a project that aims to give basic high school youth the habit of reading books through active production. Students are not only gaining reading habits, but also they involve in the project contribution part by making productions such as stories, plays, drama performances and photography installations based on the books they read. After reading their books, the students work together to find creative ideas in collaboration with each other and try to produce products or projects through the ideas they find. Teachers, on the other hand, provide the appropriate environment and opportunities for students to realize their                                                                                        creativity.

In addition, youth workers who are experts in their fields help students to reveal their dreams and ideas.  Through this project, students learn, collaborate, develop creative thinking skills and enjoy the pleasure of producing. This makes the students capable and social individuals in their future lives, prone to teamwork, who love to produce and who can express themselves more easily in the community.

As KANGO, we had the invitation of Mrs. Nezahat within the scope of One Book Thousand Events project and helped her students in their dream project. Our volunteer working group gathered in the organization of Melih Cem Kılıç, one of the administrators of the association, and went to Validebağ Anatolian High School with the necessary equipment. Here, we gave students some information about short film, stop motion and photography by organizing various activities using non-formal education methods. In the light of this information, we guided our little friends who wanted to shoot the commercials of their events and helped them prepare the video below. Many works, such as text writing, shooting videos and editing, were prepared by our young friends and volunteer team. As a result of this good cooperation, we have proudly presented the video titled “Every Child Has a Book Inside”

We would like to thank Validebag Anatolian High School and Nezahat Akbaba for inviting us to this beautiful project.