Niyazi Selçuk

Niyazi Selçuk is an artist and educator who supports children leading environmental change through the creative power of art. As the founder of the Dönüşüm Association and the Green Ants School model, he develops work that takes environmental education from school to home, from family to neighbourhood. The “Reverse Education” approach lets children share what they learn with adults, so they play an active role in changing their families’ consumption and waste habits. Through work that brings together art, play and experiential learning, he has reached over 30,000 children and over 60,000 parents.

Selçuk brings together his book Yeşil Karıncalar (Green Ants) with a board game, educational videos, theatre and hands-on workshops, creating room for children to explore environmental problems and come up with solutions. His work, which is part of the Sabancı Foundation’s Fark Yaratanlar (Changemakers) Programme, has spread through partnerships with schools, municipalities and civil society organisations. He sees art as a practice of taking care of the world. At the centre of his work is the idea of “dünyadaşlık” (fellow-worldliness), which expresses a sense of belonging to a world shared with other living beings. This idea helps children recognise their place in shared life and supports them in having a say in shaping its future.