The project “Cities With Stories” received grant under the “Common Cultural Heritage: Conservation and Dialogue Between Turkey and the EU-II (CCH-II) Grant Program” implemented by the TR Ministry of Culture and Tourism with financial support from the European Union. The Contracting Authority for the Program is the Central Finance and Contracts Unit. “Common Cultural Heritage: Conservation and Dialogue between Turkey and the EU-II (CCH-II) Grant Programme” aims to promote and develop joint cultural heritage activities carried out jointly by Turkish and EU institutions. The general objective of this grant program is to develop a dialogue with civil society through culture, art and cultural heritage, to develop international cooperation in the field of cultural heritage and to promote cultural values ​​in Turkey.

The main purpose of this project is to consolidate dialog between Turkey and the EU through children’s stories on tangible and intangible cultural heritage and bring different cultures together with story-telling. This project aims to ensure children make up stories about cultural heritage of two different cultures and share them to encourage peer teaching and they develop their vision on cultural emphasis.

In addition, main output of this project is building up a permanent cultural understanding and dialog through cultural heritage stories made up by children with their own words, creativeness and knowledge and popularizing peer teaching. Thanks to the training of Historical Story-Telling, children from both countries will be able to understand and tell their cultural heritage with their own words and creativeness and will be encouraged to learn history from each other. It is aimed that children enhance their historical knowledge and act with the consciousness of preservation of history.

Turkey and Italy are famous for their magnificence across the world and popular tourism destinations. On the contrary, Eyüpsultan is a region that is known less as a historical region. However, Eyüpsultan has a precious cultural heritage such as historical buildings, grave stones, mosques, etc. Palermo is also a historical region of Italy that is underrecognized. This project aims to enhance familiarity of Eyüpsultan and Palermo.

 

THE PROJECT OF CITIES WITH STORIES BEGINS

 

The Project of Cities with Stories, has received a grant by T.R. Ministry of Culture and Tourism, within the scope of "Common Cultural Heritage: Protection and Dialogue -II (CCH-II) Grant Program" realized with financial support of European Union. The Program's Contract Authority is Central Finance and Tender Department. "Common Cultural Heritage: Protection and Dialogue -II (CCH-II) Grant Program" aims to promote and develop common cultural heritage activities practiced mutually between Turkish and EU institutions. General aim of this grant program is to develop international cooperation with regard to cultural heritage of civil society dialogue through culture, art and cultural heritage and to promote cultural values in Turkey.

 

The purpose of this project is to empower dialogue in between Turkey and EU through children stories related to tangible and intangible cultural heritage and to make different cultures meet with each other through story telling. This project aims to make that children create stories regarding cultural heritages belonging to two different cultures and to promote them sharing these for peer teaching and also to develop their cultural fiction visions.

 

The activities planned to be performed within the scope of the project begin with a short delay due to the pandemic conditions. Within the scope of historical story writing and tourism education which take place amongst the most essential activities of the project, there will an education package taking 50 hours in total for 100 children in this field. Within the scope of these educations, there will be theoretical and practical educations with regard to story writing, creativity, tales and historical, natural and cultural areas and tourism to 100 participants at the ages of 11-15 years old. Besides, there will be tourism trips to be organized to the finest points of İstanbul with our participations and applied field visits will be realized.

 

 

DO YOU ALSO WANT TO MAKE THAT YOUR STORIES MEET THE WORLD?

 

We prepared an amazing online platform within the scope of the project of Cities with Stories. Are you ready to be a part of an amazing network through the web page www.citieswithstories.com where you are on right now?

 

You can upload your amazing stories that you prepared in written, visual or sound recording (podcast) form through your profile that we created for yourself and you can obtain lots of likes and readings. Summaries of stories, sound recordings and videos that you upload on the system during the project, will be uploaded on the system in English and Italian. Thus, your beautiful stories will reach many readers in the world. In the same time, you will be able to read work of arts of many people who write beautiful stories like yours. You will be able to read and see stories of children living in Palermo city of Italy which is a project partner in the same phase together with you.

 

If you want to be a part of this amazing network, you can begin with creating your profile and uploading your stories.

 

 

ARE YOU ALSO READY FOR THE CONTEST OF WRITING HISTORICAL STORIES?

 

Educations taking place within the scope of the project of Cities with Stories, were completed and a magnificent online platform was prepared. Now it is time for taking splendid stories from your and giving you a reward. You can also write your story until April 10, 2022 or your can shoot or vocalize it.

 

After you create your profile on www.citieswithstories.com, upload your story or stories until the last application date. Let your story take its place among beautiful stories. You can reach contest conditions through social media accounts as well as contest details. Great rewards await you. We have chosen the most beautiful date for you to receive the awards and we are waiting for you to receive your award on April 23, 2023.

 

 

THE BIG DAY HAS ARRIVED

 

We came to the end of an effort provided for approximately 13 months within the scope of the project of Cities with Stories. It was a great pleasure for everyone to work for you precious children. Now, it is time to crown these efforts with a splendid day and to share this happiness together.

 

In April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day, we will gather in Eyüpsultan where is the heart of İstanbul for the final activity of the Project of Cities with Stories as the most beautiful bairam. The final activity of the project of Cities with Stories, will be realized with participation of you precious guests of ours in Osmanlı Park on April 23, 2022. A great day awaits for us where successful stories participated to the contest will be rewarded. We await for your to receive your rewards with participation of Ahmet Misbah Demircan, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism and Deniz Köken, Eyüpsultan Major and the protocol members. In the meantime, let's not go without saying that we have designed a magnificent festival area for you. All of science workshops, kite festival, game park, dance and music shows and magnificent treats are only for you. Dear friends, the day is yours and the festival is your festival but we also want to see your precious parents with us.

 

Why don't you begin  preparations?