DOORLESS LIBRARIES, BOOKS ON THE STREETS PROJECT

The "Books on the Streets, Library Doorless" project, launched by the EGET Foundation on December 9, 2016, is the second social responsibility project of its kind.

Its aims include: encouraging primary and secondary school students to embrace reading in a country where reading levels are declining; encouraging students to write compositions about the books they borrow, thereby improving their writing skills; supporting students in developing visual arts skills by encouraging them to create illustrations related to the topics of the books they read; and evaluating the written compositions and illustrations through a committee, rewarding commendable works, thereby inspiring young people to emulate each other and increase their enthusiasm for reading.

As the pilot area for our project, we chose the region known as Old Muğla, where the EGET Foundation Headquarters is located. Developed by our Founding Board Member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Safai Özer, this project continues with the same enthusiasm as on day one, due to the great interest shown by the children and even adults in the neighborhood.

The aim of our project was to increase reading habits and make books more accessible to students. To this end, we first conducted a pilot program, placing a table at the entrance of our Headquarters for two hours every Friday, and lending books donated to our Foundation to children passing by.

Within the scope of this project, 2,982 books were read by children and some adults over 36 months.

We want to expand this project, which we are successfully continuing, and take it throughout the city to ensure that a wider audience reads books.

The photos you see were taken at the "Books on the Streets, Libraries Without Doors" award ceremony held at the EGET Foundation Headquarters building, attended by students and their families. Students' essays and drawings were awarded prizes, and each student received gifts from our Board of Trustees members. The board members, students, and their families had the opportunity to get to know both the EGET Foundation and its administrators better.