Zafer Koleji Students Foster Belonging Through Creative Team Activities

As part of the United Voices initiative by WorldEd Foundation—a global youth movement empowering students to promote inclusion and belonging—Zafer Koleji in Ankara, Türkiye demonstrated how student-led activities can transform school culture.

United Voices is a yearly global youth project that invites students worldwide to advocate for inclusion and tolerance through activities and social media campaigns. The 2025 theme, “Beyond Inclusion: Building Everyday Belonging,” challenged students to answer:“How might we create a school where everyone feels like they belong—every day?” Participants worked on milestones combining storytelling, digital advocacy, and hands-on activities to make inclusion visible and actionable.

🥇 Team Zafer For All – First Place Winner

Zafer For All hosted an Inclusion Coffee Break Workshop, transforming a simple gathering into a powerful experience of connection. Students led discussions, guided activities, and shared clear information about inclusion.

At first, participants were reserved, but as the workshop unfolded, genuine conversations emerged. People stayed afterward to continue talking—a sign of real impact. For the student organizers, the event was a lesson in leadership, collaboration, and the power of intentional actions to create belonging. Winning first place was a testament to their creativity and ability to make inclusion tangible.

🥉 Team Pathfinders – Third Place Winner

The Pathfinders designed an Engineered Orienteering Challenge for 9th graders, blending physical activity with teamwork and problem-solving. Students navigated campus checkpoints using maps, answered questions, and solved puzzles about inclusion and belonging.

From the start, excitement and collaboration filled the air. Students who barely knew each other began strategizing, encouraging one another, and sharing laughter. The final puzzle brought everyone together—heads bent in concentration, voices heard equally.

This activity went beyond competition; it created trust, strengthened bonds, and helped students see themselves as part of a supportive school community. Securing third place highlighted the impact of their innovative approach.

Both activities show that belonging is built through shared experiences and student leadership. Through United Voices, Zafer Koleji students proved that inclusion is not just an idea—it’s something you can feel.