Atikehanım Secondary School Awarded NBS School Expertise

We are delighted to announce that Atikehanım Secondary School, located in Hendek / Sakarya, Türkiye, has been awarded the prestigious NBS School Expertise. This recognition highlights the school’s commitment to integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) into its learning culture, combining hands-on STEM education with environmental awareness.

Principal Ata Gündüz UYGUN shared the school’s message about their journey and achievements:

“Located in the Hendek district of Sakarya and carrying more than 50 years of historical and cultural heritage, Atikehanım Secondary School is working to make Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) a meaningful part of our learning culture. We aim for our students to explore nature, understand their environment, and think about real-life problems through hands-on experiences in order to develop solutions.

In this regard, numerous projects are carried out simultaneously at our school, with different teachers and students taking responsibility in each of them. Through our STEM activities, we encourage students to develop nature-based projects; through our eTwinning work, we draw inspiration from the solution approaches used in different countries while also sharing our own experiences. Erasmus projects also provide us with valuable opportunities to receive expert support, participate in training courses, and conduct on-site observations.

All of these projects strengthen our motivation to develop nature-based solutions for a sustainable future, while also giving us a holistic perspective and enhancing our interdisciplinary problem-solving skills. Being awarded the title of NBS School Expertise is a truly meaningful recognition of these efforts. Throughout this journey, we aimed to strengthen our students’ curiosity, sense of responsibility, and collaboration skills. Nature has been both our classroom and a strong source of inspiration. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this achievement. In particular, Ms. Zeynep Er played a key role through her dedicated work, careful documentation, and coordination of our NBS activities. I also extend my gratitude to all our teachers, our students, the families who supported us throughout this process, and all our stakeholders.

This is not an end for us, but a promising beginning. We will continue to develop our NBS practices and build a sustainable learning culture for our students.”

Through these interdisciplinary activities, the school encourages students to develop innovative, sustainable, and collaborative solutions. These efforts contribute to building a holistic learning environment where curiosity, responsibility, and problem-solving skills are nurtured, with nature serving both as a classroom and a source of inspiration.

Being awarded the NBS School Expertise reflects the dedication of the school’s educators, students, and families. This recognition celebrates the continuous work in sustainability, innovation, and environmental responsibility, reinforcing the school’s mission to cultivate a culture of nature-based learning for the future.

Join the Celebration
Follow us on Twitter @NBS_EduWORLD and @STEM_Label to celebrate this milestone. Use the hashtag #NBSSchoolExpertise to share your congratulations and celebrate this inspiring achievement!