22 April 2025
“Haydi Tenise!” Project Launched Simultaneously in 11 Earthquake-Affected Provinces
The “Haydi Tenise!” project, which aims to introduce children in Türkiye to the sport of tennis and promote tennis culture, has been launched simultaneously in 11 earthquake-affected provinces through the collaboration of the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Tennis Federation, with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye.
The presentation of the “Haydi Tenise!” project, which aims to bring thousands of students together with tennis across all 81 provinces and was initially launched in 11 earthquake-affected provinces, was held on Tuesday, April 22 at Hatay Günyazı Middle School, with the participation of Deputy Minister of National Education Ömer Faruk Yelkenci, President of the Turkish Tennis Federation Şafak Müderrisgil, and Hatay Provincial Director of National Education Dr. Harun Tüysüz.
Within the scope of the “Haydi Tenise!” project, tennis equipment will be provided to participating schools by the Turkish Tennis Federation. Both theoretical and practical training sessions will be delivered to physical education teachers by the TTF Education Committee. Students attending middle schools will be introduced to the sport of tennis during their physical education classes, and tennis-themed educational games will be organized for them. As a social sports investment aimed at expanding the reach of tennis across all levels of society, the project’s social impact will be measured using the internationally recognized Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology, and all findings will undergo an independent assurance audit carried out in line with globally accepted standards.
“We aim to promote tennis nationwide.”
Deputy Minister of National Education Ömer Faruk Yelkenci, at the launch event held at Antakya Günyazı Middle School, stated that the project is aimed at expanding the presence of tennis across the country.
Yelkenci noted that the project prioritizes the provinces affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, and emphasized that the project aims to facilitate students’ access to the sport of tennis.
In his speech, Yelkenci stated that the project aims to instill a love for tennis and sport in students, adding: “Taking global developments into consideration, we have prepared this protocol to support the development of Turkish tennis in schools and to help promote the sport of tennis more widely.”
“A Racket for Every Child”
President of the Turkish Tennis Federation, Şafak Müderrisgil highlighted that the “Haydi Tenise!” project represents the first on-the-ground step of TTF’s “Tennis for All” vision and continued:
“Through the Haydi Tenise project, which will be implemented in schools across all 81 provinces, we aim to introduce students to the sport of tennis.” The project will not only teach the fundamentals of sport, but also support the development of healthier and more self-confident individuals by contributing to children’s physical, mental, and social growth. The Haydi Tenise project is not only a sports initiative, but also a strong step toward promoting social equity and supporting the holistic development of children. The core vision of the project is to ensure that every child, regardless of their location or circumstances, has the opportunity to be introduced to tennis and to remain actively engaged in the game. In the long term, we aim to raise healthy and self-confident generations who embrace sport as a part of their culture. The project, launched under the vision of “A Racket for Every Child,” is expected to expand the reach of tennis across the country and contribute to the development of a talent pool.
22 April 2025
