The Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) brought together 75 high school students from across Türkiye at its Heybeliada Youth Camp to raise awareness about climate change, sustainable living and social responsibility.
The “Climate Ambassadors”-themed camp, held from Aug. 10 to Aug. 16, hosted female students from Malatya and Elazığ in eastern Türkiye, and Tekirdağ and Edirne in northwestern Türkiye.
Throughout the week, students received training on climate change, sustainable living, ecosystems, recycling and waste management. They also took part in activities designed to help them apply what they learned to their daily lives.
For the first time, agricultural activities were included in the camp program. Students participated in planting, cultivation and harvesting, while produce grown at the camp was later used in the camp kitchen.
The program also featured drama, music, traditional folk dances, sports and adventure activities. Students performed regional dances, took part in creative drama sessions and developed teamwork and physical skills through an adventure course.
Ahmet Ergin, director of the Kızılay’s Heybeliada Youth Camp, said the program aims to help young people become more prepared for climate-related challenges and disasters.
He said climate change and drought are no longer theoretical issues, particularly amid recent forest fires.
Students also practiced waste separation and recycling, including managing waste generated in the camp cafeteria and from products consumed on site. They learned how to protect local wildlife and contribute to nature without damaging animal habitats.
Ergin said one of the camp’s key objectives is to ensure that students transfer what they learn into their homes and schools.
“Our expectation is that change begins at home,” he said, emphasizing that even simple actions such as separating household waste can have a wider impact when students share these habits with their peers.
The camp also seeks to build a culture of lifelong volunteering among young people. Ergin said bringing students from different parts of Türkiye together allows them to experience different cultures while interacting under equal conditions.
The Kızılay’s youth camps have a history stretching back nearly 90 years, while the Heybeliada facility has operated since 2008. The camps prioritize disadvantaged students and young people who have not previously had opportunities to travel or visit Istanbul.
Students said the camp helped them develop greater awareness of climate change and volunteering.
Eylül Aktaş, a 12th-grade student from Adıyaman, said climate change had become one of her biggest concerns, particularly as drought, forest fires, extreme rainfall and declining water resources are increasingly affecting daily life.
Hazal Demirtaş, a 12th-grade student from Elazığ, said the camp showed her that the Kızılayt’s work extends beyond disaster response and humanitarian aid.
Melek Deniz, another 12th-grade student from Elazığ, said the experience encouraged her to become more confident and open-minded, adding that young people should not underestimate the impact they can have on climate change.
The students developed individual climate pledges during the camp, reflecting their commitment to adopting more sustainable habits and encouraging others to take action.
