Third Phase of the Cesur Kulaçlar Project Completed

The Abdi İbrahim Foundation, in cooperation with the Turkey Down Syndrome Association, held the third-term certificate ceremony for the "Brave Little Swimmers" social responsibility project. Within the scope of the project, which aims for children with Down syndrome aged 5-9 to acquire swimming skills and establish a safe relationship with water, certificates were presented to children who successfully completed the 16-week training programme.

The third-term programme, conducted between 27 September and 17 January, was attended by 20 children this year. Throughout the training process, conducted under the guidance of expert instructors, children acquired important gains that supported their physical development, strengthened their social skills and increased their self-confidence, in addition to learning to swim.

Targeting social and physical development through sport
The Abdi İbrahim Foundation, which carries out activities focused on social benefit across a wide range of areas from education to sport, continues to support children with Down syndrome becoming acquainted with sport at an early age through the "Brave Little Swimmers" project. Within the scope of the project, children showed development in areas such as social interaction, independent movement and resilience, in addition to swimming skills.

Evaluations conducted in previous periods demonstrated that children participating in the project made progress not only in physical but also in socio-behavioural and cognitive areas, while third-term outcomes once again showed that "Brave Little Swimmers" provides multidimensional contribution to children's lives.

"Every little swimmer, a step towards a more inclusive future"
Abdi İbrahim Foundation Board Chairman Dr. M. Oğuzcan Büblül made the following statement regarding the project: "Brave Little Swimmers is a multidimensional social impact project that aims not only for children to learn to swim, but also to build confidence in themselves, discover their potential and hold on to life more strongly. Witnessing the development shown by the children in this journey, which we have completed in its third term, is a great source of happiness and pride for us. Every step they take is a meaningful step towards our goal of a more inclusive and equal society. As Abdi İbrahim Foundation, we will continue with determination to support projects that create lasting value in the lives of children and young people."

Turkey Down Syndrome Association Board Chairman Gün Bilgin: "The programme conducted within the scope of Brave Little Swimmers clearly demonstrates how the relationship established by children with Down syndrome with water transforms over time. Throughout the programme, we observe that children show development in body awareness, instruction following and independent movement in daily life, in addition to swimming skills. With the completion of the third term, the multidimensional gains achieved throughout the process being noticed by families has brought with it a sense of pride and joy at witnessing their children's development. We hope that the cooperation we continue with Abdi İbrahim Foundation will continue by touching the lives of more children."

60 children reached in three terms
Within the scope of the "Brave Little Swimmers" project, a total of 60 children with Down syndrome have been reached across three terms to date. Evaluations conducted show that all children participating in the project made progress in at least one area of physical, social or cognitive development. The project continues as an example of an inclusive practice that supports children's development through sport. In the coming terms, the aim is to support more children with Down syndrome becoming acquainted with water in a safe manner through the "Brave Little Swimmers" project and to contribute to children's development through sport.