Rabia from Turkey

Bringing Newroz to School Life in Denmark

Watch The Video https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWJJQHIiCPx/?igsh=dDVrYzk4a3A2aXIw

Hi:) It is Rabia Yalçın, I am 24 years old and from Türkiye. I am currently part of an 11-month ESC volunteering project in Denmark, where I work with 3rd grade students in a primary school, called Balleskolen in Silkeborg, and in the after-school activity group called SFO.

During my volunteering experience, I realized how cultural activities can bring people closer together and create a stronger sense of community. Because of this, I decided to organize a Newroz celebration during SFO time together with children, teachers, and parents.

Newroz is a very meaningful celebration in my culture. It symbolizes renewal, hope, togetherness, and the arrival of spring.

Process

Instead of organizing only a one-day celebration, I wanted to create a longer process where children could actively participate and feel connected to the project. For this reason, I planned the Newroz celebration as a two-week process during SFO time.

  • Clove Apples
    The children created traditional clove apples together during SFO hours over several days. In Newroz culture, these apples symbolize friendship, love, renewal, and sharing. Before decorating the apples, children learned about traditional Newroz symbols and created shapes such as suns, stars, or their own designs using cloves. Each apple also included a small note where children wrote short messages about Newroz, spring, and what they learned during the activities.
  • Symbolic Newroz Fire
    One of the most important symbols of Newroz is fire, representing hope, renewal, and new beginnings. Since we could not use a real fire, the children created symbolic flames using paper and cardboard. We then built a fire-themed activity area outside in the school yard. A red rope with adjustable height was added so children from different age groups could safely jump over it as part of the celebration.
  • Drawings and Coloring Activities
    The children also participated in Newroz-themed coloring and drawing activities. Through art and creativity, they explored the symbols and atmosphere of the celebration in their own way.
  • Informational and Cultural Learning
    I prepared informational materials about Newroz with visuals and short texts in Danish and English. Together with the pedagogues, we created a small outdoor exhibition area so children, parents, and staff could learn more about the meaning of the celebration while passing through the event area.
  • Cultural Food Experience
    We also prepared a traditional bread known as Amed çöreği from Amed/Diyarbakır. Together with a pedagogue, we prepared the dough, and outside the children baked the bread over the fire area using sticks as part of the cultural experience.
  • Outdoor Setup and Community Space
    The outdoor area was prepared together with pedagogues. The exhibition, symbolic fire, music, and activity spaces were placed around the main SFO area so children, parents, and staff could naturally join and experience the celebration together.

Result

The Newroz celebration created a warm and active community atmosphere during SFO time. Children participated in the activities with interest and curiosity by making clove apples, baking bread, jumping over the symbolic fire, and exploring the exhibition area. Parents, teachers, and school staff also stopped to look at the visuals and information while moving through the school area, which made the celebration more open and shared within the community.

Reflection

This project showed me how cultural activities can bring people together in a simple and natural way. I learned that children become more connected and interested when they can actively participate instead of only watching. Organizing the celebration also helped me improve my communication, planning, and collaboration skills while sharing an important part of my culture with others.