The Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services organized an online "Mangala Championship" with the participation of children in Children's Houses, Children's Houses Sites and Child Support Centers within the framework of the project initiated to introduce children under state protection to traditional games.
The "Mangala Game in Children's Houses Project" initiated in cooperation with the Ministry and the Mangala Game Society and supported by the General Directorate of Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of Interior enabled children under state protection to get acquainted with this Turkish brain teaser dating back to 16th century.
Within the scope of the project initiated before the pandemic, 480 personnel working in 21 provinces were provided with "Mangala Game Certified Instructor" training and 1455 play sets were delivered to childcare institutions in 81 provinces.
Accompanied by their instructors, the children experienced the game known for its developmental benefits such as analytical thinking skills development, memory strengthening, future planning, flexibility, quick decision making, boosting the power to struggle and contributing to socialize. They also experienced the thrill of competition with their peers in different provinces with the Turkey Mangala Championship Across Children's Houses organized online within the framework of Covid-19 measures.
It is the First Organization As Such
The "Mangala Championship" held on 22-24 December with the participation of children from Children’s Houses, Children's Houses Site and Child Support Center in 21 provinces of the Ministry is the first organization as such.
In the final matches of the championship held on 24 December, Yunus Emre Çetin from Hatay ranked the first, Sevgi Birol from Manisa the second, and Rabia Gülse Köcen from İzmir the third.
The ranking children were awarded with bicycles, games, medals and cups by the Mangala Game Society.
The Project Will Continue Next Year
The Ministry will maintain the Mangala Game in Children's Houses Project in 2021 as well. In this context, with the contribution of the Mangala Game Society, the personnel working in 60 provinces will be provided with certified "Mangala Instructor Trainings".
In case the pandemic ends, the second Mangala Championship is planned to be held face-to-face with the participation of children from 1182 Children's Houses, 101 Children's House Sites and 72 Child Support Centers affiliated to the Ministry in 81 provinces.