Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk inaugurated the "Anatolia Tales Eskişehir Fairy Tale Home" in Eskişehir Atatürk Vocation and Technical High School. Minister Selçuk stressed the importance of fairy tales in Turkish culture adding that fairy tales provide a tour of the horizon and create an environment that enriches children's dreams. He said that due to this reason, they had initiated the "Anatolian Fairy Tales Project" with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Turkey National Commission.

 

Expressing his wish to open hundreds of fairy tale homes like the one in Eskişehir, Selçuk stated, "We consider fairy tales as an element that transmits the voice, scent and words of this country through the veins of history. My late grandmother used to say that grass grows on its root. In other words, we need fairy tales to grow stronger."

 

Selçuk pointed out that approximately 300 thousand teachers received storyteller certificates as a part of the project adding that, "Different branches have no importance in storytelling. Regardless of their branches, teachers started to use fairy tale language in their lectures. They are transferring Turkish culture to children through fairy tales. Our ultimate goal is to give storyteller certificates to all parents and we wish that they will tell Anatolian fairy tales to their children. It is important to blend history and the history of the society with the present and the future. I would like to thank all who worked in this project."

 

Following the opening of Eskişehir Fairy Tale Home, Minister Selçuk watched the performance of children.