Themed around soil and water, exposition for "Saving My Future" Project, conducted in collaboration with General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock and Directorate General for Basic Education of the Ministry of National Education and carried out by Central Research Institute for Soil, Fertilizer and Water Resources, was opened by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, First Lady Emine Erdoğan and Minister Faruk Çelik during the opening ceremony for International Horticultural Exposition of EXPO 2016. Director General Dr. Nevzat Birişik and representing Directorate General for Basic Education, Director General Dr. Cem Gençoğlu along with several other senior bureaucrats of both Ministries, project coordinators and guests participated in the event.
During their visits to the exposition, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and First Lady Emine Erdoğan inquired about experiments raising awareness on conservation of soil and water resources and planted seeds with kids. At the same time, kids presented their "Green Books" which educate children on soil and seed also encouraging them for nature activities and were gifted seven months ago during the Publicity Meeting of the Project under the auspices of First Lady Erdoğan. Using the seeds from the Green Books gifted, Kids also presented seedlings of tomatoes, chilli and lavender that they have grown for Mr. President Erdoğan and First Lady.
During the Project which also gets support from several organisations such as FAO and Soil Science Society of Turkey, education and event activities are carried out in MoNE affiliated schools, targeting 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders along with their teachers and parents as their indirect beneficiaries. The project, which is carried out only in pilot schools this year, is expected to be disseminated to 30 metropolitan cities next year. One of the main objectives of the Project is setting up ecology classes and experimental parcels in schools by reducing concrete areas in school yards and promoting the integration of kids with nature in order to raise a conscious generation.