As part of the 5 Taş Social and Financial Leadership Program, which we carry out in collaboration with Garanti BBVA, we held the Solution Camp in Istanbul between January 17–19. Students from Çankırı, Denizli, Isparta, and Hatay worked alongside teachers, parents, and mentor educators to develop creative solutions to real-life challenges, with a focus on financial literacy and social entrepreneurship over the course of three days. Teamwork, problem-solving, and responsibility-taking skills came to the forefront, while Garanti BBVA Volunteers supported the young participants during the project development process.
At the end of the camp, the following teams were recognized for their outstanding projects:
The “H2O-roz” team from Denizli received the award for Best-Designed Solution.
The “Güneş” team from Çankırı received the award for Most Sustainable Solution.
The “Finans Gülleri” team from Isparta received the award for Most Sensitive and Inclusive Solution.
The “Nefes Olan Tohumlar” team from Hatay received the award for Most Collaborative Solution.
The “Maskeli Beşler” team from Isparta received the award for Solution Best Addressing Community Needs.
One of the most enjoyable stops of the camp was the Kartal Fairy Tale Museum, where students embarked on a group discovery experience guided by clues provided before getting off the bus. As they followed the clues inside the museum, students explored how storytelling is constructed by making connections between fairy tale settings and characters. This activity created space for them to actively practice observation and storytelling skills.
The Solution Camp represented many “firsts” for the children: their first airplane journey, first hotel stay, and first presentation. They experienced the power of sharing ideas with peers and adults they had never met before, discovering the confidence that comes from collaboration and self-expression.
