BLUE ELEPHANT PROJECT – Turkey-Northern Cyprus (MSANC)

Name of the activity: BLUE ELEPHANT PROJECT

Country/NMO: Turkey-Northern Cyprus (MSANC)

Program: Children Health & Rights

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Third Party Activities

General description:

Blue Elephant Project aims to break small children’s fear from doctors and build trust and confidence within the relationship in between.
To achieve this aim, a pilot kindergarden was selected to be visited by future doctors. To build better trust and show support, the relevant needs of the school were determined to be provided. The event plan was made to initiate with the introduction of doctors and continue with the presentation of basic human health care, getting verbal feedback afterwards making sure that they got over their fears.To conclude the event, predetermined needs of the school and presents were given. Seeing the smile on their faces, warm atmosphere was created.

Focus area:

Children & healthy habits (physical activity, healthy eating, hygiene, etc)

Problem statement:

With the Blue Elephant Project, we would like to address the fear from doctors in kindergarden children that is known for many years in many different cultures.

Target groups and beneficiaries:

Kindergarden teachers and students are the target groups. Children, the future elderly patients will benefit from overcoming the fear of doctors if they were to encounter with a health problem.

Objectives and indicators of success:

1- Help children become familiar with doctors. SI: verbal consent
2- Make children understand that doctors do not do harm but good. SI: Verbal consent
3- Give information on basic health and healthy lifestyle. SI: Q&A after the presentation

Methodology:

1- Contact the administrative board of the school in order to address their needs in terms of educational toys and other items.
2- Find sponsors for the funding of the items and presents.
3- Set a date for a visit.
4- Prepare an interactive presentation on the basic healthcare habits for the students.
5- Visit the school.
6- Introduce the future doctors to the future adults.
7- Explain how doctors work and how they help the people in need.
8- Use the presentation to inform the children about basic human health.
9- Introduce the presents and create a warm atmosphere, making bonds and building up trust between the doctors, future doctors and children.

Plans for evaluation:

1- Verbal questions to be used since the childrens age range is low, before and after the presentation.
2- Checklist of needed items in the school to be provided