Meet the schools series

Meet the schools: İncilipınar Şehit Burhan Acar İmam Hatip Secondary School

Ocean & Waters Ambassador #3 of the year 2026 (Open Call #3)

Our 1^st winner of the Ocean & Waters Ambassador award is the İncilipınar Şehit Burhan Acar İmam Hatip Secondary School.

Based in Türkiye, İncilipınar Şehit Burhan Acar İmam Hatip Secondary School ran the “Blue Guards” project. With 360 students and 52 disadvantaged students involved, as well as 18 dedicated teachers, the school has demonstrated that meaningful environmental action can start right at the school gate.

children involved

disadvantaged students involved

teachers involved

Activities implemented:

Muğla Technology College delivered a rich and diverse programme combining interdisciplinary workshops, field visits, and hands-on water literacy activities. Students had the chance to learn from experts on climate change, ocean pollution, marine ecosystems, and sustainability, enriching their understanding of their environment. Yet it was the project’s deep integration into the local ecosystem that truly set it apart. Through extensive collaboration with local authorities, research institutions, and community organisations, students gained a concrete and meaningful understanding of the environment in which they live and grow, seeing firsthand that the people and institutions around them are actively committed to building a more sustainable future.

One of the most visible outcomes of the project was the physical transformation of the school itself. A cycling campaign was organised to reduce carbon emissions, and a bike parking area was built to encourage sustainable transport over the long term. A 5,000-litre rainwater storage tank was installed in the school garden to store rainwater and use it in the greenhouse, and trees were planted in collaboration with the local Forest Directorate. Together, these initiatives turned the school grounds into a genuinely green landscape.

A particular strength of this project was its commitment to inclusion. 52 disadvantaged students took part in nearly all activities, from tree planting to seminars, conferences, and the creation of videos on ocean literacy, ensuring that no student was left on the sidelines.

The project’s cross-disciplinary approach encouraged students to be creative while deepening their understanding of ocean-related issues. Ocean literacy topics were woven into science, geography, and arts classes. Students produced posters, videos, and presentations on water cycles, pollution, and biodiversity. Seminars, conferences, and documentary screenings ensured that ocean literacy became a visible and continuous thread throughout school culture. Students also designed a t-shirt for the project, a meaningful symbol of collective identity.

Recycling workshops and waste collection activities were carried out as part of the project’s zero waste initiatives. Students learned how reducing waste and plastic use can prevent pollution in rivers and oceans.

The school also extended its engagement beyond its own walls by conducting a water awareness activity in collaboration with a local stakeholder, Bereketli Kindergarten, further spreading the project’s message within the community.

Twinning activities

International collaboration was at the heart of the Blue Guards project, taking shape through a transnational mobility with Romania, which proved to be one of the project’s standout achievements. The experience gave students the chance to connect with international peers and take part in joint activities, including a visit to Valahia University, a Climate Fresco workshop, and a tour of a water treatment plant. Mixed groups of Turkish and Romanian students engaged in discussions and creative drama activities centred on responsible water use.

Network of European Blue Schools

While carrying out the Blue Guards project, İncilipınar Şehit Burhan Acar İmam Hatip Secondary School applied for recognition as a Blue School by the Network of European Blue Schools and successfully earned the certification.