Once upon a time I was a headteacher. Five hundred halflings aged from 3 to 12. I remember the challenges. They were many.
Fortunately they did not include working in 35⁰ heat every day for two months of the year.
With modern inverter airconditioning, such as you find in local banks and supermarkets, it would be fine. But Kalkan First and Middle ( Ilkorta) School's units are A_N_C_I_E_N_T.
Installed in 2002 they are noisy, ineffective and expensive to run. Actually those rusty condenser units that scar the front of the building were the first thing I noticed when I visited. I had come to discuss with Deputy Head Zehra how we could help the school.
"Help us get new klima!" she answered straightaway. “We have 12 really old ones in the Junior High classes.”
"What about the education authority ( milli eğitim)?" I asked. I am not stupid. I knew that would be the first question I would get asked.
"We have been trying for years but they have so many other priorities."
My mind flashed back to 1984 and my first headship. The unheated, primitive outdoor lavs! How I had fought, campaigned and stood on toes to get those upgraded. Comfort and security matter.
So Kalkan Lovers, Friends, Residents, Citizens! Let us help our local families! Let's get this done!
My name is Chris Davies and this will be my Tenth Kalkan Charitable Swim. Together with a handful of swimmers - this year's crew will be Ilkay Utaş, Ruth Cornford, Vicky Kuşat, Rosie Özçelik, Solihin Thom, Felicity Davie, and Simon Keats - we have collected around 400,000 lira (at todays value) for many good causes.
Normally we swim from the Island (5.4k) and land on a crowded beach to cheers from a fantastic crowd of supporters.
Virus regulations and social distancing will not allow it this year. It is the Year of the Non Event. Hence Not the MouseIsland Swim
But we will slip in to the water from the town beach on 3rd October. Then we will swim the 2.7 km along the shoreline to FrenkBay and back and slip quietly out. The same distance as from the island. Same pain.
Please help us by contributing. Help us make this Non Event a successful Non Event :)
“ Teachers are the one and only people who save nations.”
― Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Founder of the TurkishRepublic
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