Projects
The Outdoor School Istanbul Kindergarten
As announced in spring 2025, I stepped down from my position as head of Early Birds Istanbul Kindergarten (EBİ) and embarked on a new path: consulting and coaching.
It was the right time to pass on the experience I had gained over the past 30 years. The Early Birds Istanbul team and the kindergarten were ready for a change in leadership, and so in July 2025, EBİ became the Outdoor School Istanbul Kindergarten.
New employees who were not yet experienced in project-based learning were added to the existing kindergarten building, the outdoor concept, and a very experienced team. The aim was to integrate them as quickly as possible into the educational concept, which was unfamiliar to them. However, it is not only new team members who need support and advice, but also old team members who have taken on new positions. Clear communication and open exchange are necessary to form a well-balanced team for the outdoor concept.
The consultation with the OSİ kindergarten will be an ongoing process in which not only the children and parents, but also the entire team will be engaged in project-based learning.
City of God Guardian Angel – Day Care Center | Accra, Ghana
The Micro-Farming Project continues to thrive.
The corn and sunflowers are growing rapidly, as weather conditions in Accra remain ideal: humid and warm. All the children check on their plants every day, monitor their growth, and record the results in the growth chart. So far, no snails or other plant-eating insects have been spotted. Hopefully, it stays that way.
Today is my last day for this first phase of the micro-farming project, and I brought the children some pineapple seedlings. Compared to the sunflower and corn seeds, the pineapple seedlings will grow very slowly and won’t bear fruit for about two years. Now it’s time to wait, be patient, and take good care of the seedlings—especially during the hot, dry season.
A small mango tree has also been entrusted to the care of Father Subash, the director of the facility. The nameplate was painted by one of the students and supports the still very delicate sapling.
The corn plants the children made out of recycled cardboard were finished just in time. But isn’t something missing from the display? The children noticed it, too: the roots! The teachers will glue them on with the children.