Lumi and Mia were two little swallows who loved to fly together in the sky.

They were two very good friends. Every morning they would wake up together, flap their wings, and fly together into the sky. If one stopped, the other would stop too; if one laughed, the other would immediately laugh as well.

Lumi had blue-black feathers and a pure white chest. She was very curious; she would ask about everything she saw.

Mia had brown-black feathers and loved to glide in the air. She was talkative, affectionate, and a little protective. Every spring they would fly together over the lakes, singing songs while looking at the blue waters.

But this spring…

This spring was a little different.

Istanbul – A Solution-Focused Chat with a Turtle

They landed by a lake in Istanbul. There, an old turtle was sunbathing.

“Why has the lake shrunk?” Lumi asked.

The turtle spoke slowly: “The sun is hotter than before. It rains less.”

“But we didn’t purify the water well either,” Mia asked curiously. “So what can we do?”

The turtle smiled: “Let’s not waste water. Don’t pollute the lakes. Plant trees.”

Lumi flapped her wings: “Let’s tell everyone!” Mia nodded: “Small steps make a big difference.”

The turtle whispered: “Nature is listening to you.”

Sakine Rüzgar's student Ayşe 

 Lumi and Mia landed on the edge of a lake in Kahramanmaraş after a long flight. The sun was very hot. The ground was cracked, and the lake's water had receded considerably. A small goat stood on the shore, looking at the lake. 

Lumi gently asked: “Hello, why is the lake so dry?”

The goat sighed and said: “Summers are very hot now. It rains very little.

That’s why the water runs out so quickly.”

Mia thought, looked at the lake, and asked curiously:“So, what can we do about it?”

This time the goat smiled hopefully: “Let’s use the water carefully.

Let’s plant trees. Let’s protect nature.”

Lumi and Mia flapped their wings with joy: “Then we’ll tell everyone about it!”

And the two little birds, feeling the lake’s silent gratitude,flighted back up into the sky.

Yasemin Demirkaynak student

Lumi and Mia landed by a small lake in Albania. The lake was silent, its water level low. Dry grasses on the shore tried to hide the parched earth. A small snail was slowly crawling along a rock. Mia leaned down and called out:

“Why is the lake like this?” Mia asked.The snail spoke slowly: “The sun is too hot. The rain comes late.” 

Lumi thought: 

“So, the heat changes everything here too.” “What can we do?” Mia asked.

“Let’s protect nature, let’s not waste water,” said the snail.

The two friends looked at the lake. Lumi and Mia said together, “We must not forget this, because lakes are our friends.” Two little swallows waved to the lake and, with hopeful wings, rose back into the sky.

Lumi and Mia flew to Cappadocia with the wind.
The fairy chimneys were standing tall, looking up at the sky.The ground was hot, and a small pond was almost dry. As Lumi and Mia glided through the sky, they heard soft whispers.The fairy chimneys were speaking.

One fairy chimney said slowly: “Long ago, the wind was cool and the soil was wet.” Another one added: “Now the sun is very hot.
The water is less, and the land is tired.”Mia asked with surprise:
“How can we help you?” The fairy chimneys answered together:
“Protect nature. Do not waste water.Love the Earth.”

Lumi opened her wings and said: “We promise.”

The two little swallows waved goodbye to the fairy chimneys
and flew away with hope…

Aylin Akyüz's student Uygar 

Student Anna R. class 3 Poland

Lumi and Mia, two little swallows, flew to Poland after a journey through Albania and Turkey. Instead of a clear sky, they saw a gray layer of smog hanging over the city.

— This doesn’t look like a cloud… — Mia worried.
— And it’s very hard to breathe — added Lumi.

They perched near a school and overheard a teacher explaining to the children that smog comes from smoke from stoves and harms both health and the climate. Fortunately, some children said their parents had replaced old stoves, saved electricity, and installed solar panels.

Student Anna T. class 3 Poland

The swallows flew further and saw new trees, bike paths, and quiet electric buses. Although smoke still rose from some chimneys, it was clear that many people were trying to make a change.

— Maybe the air will get cleaner year by year — Mia said hopefully.
— If people keep caring for their world, it surely will — Lumi replied.

High above the city, they flew on, believing that the blue sky would return.

Drawn by student Sare

Ordu -  Lumi and Mia are on a branch of a hazelnut tree in Ordu

They had settled on a hazelnut branch by the lake in Ordu. Mia said she loved hazelnuts. Lumi searched the branches for hazelnuts. There were hardly any hazelnuts left. Mia said, “The world's most delicious hazelnuts grow here, but due to climate change, there are fewer hazelnuts every year.” A tiny hazelnut mouse appeared from among the branches. Smiling, it said, “That's right, the climate is deteriorating day by day because of factory waste and inconsiderate people.”

Lumi and Mia were saddened, saying that nothing was as it should be anymore. Believing that environmentally conscious children could improve the situation, they continued their conversation.

Fatma Başdağ's student Sare

After the rain, Lumi and Mia set off again.This time, their destination was Istanbul.As they flew over the city, the Bosphorus was shining.In the middle of the sea, the Maiden's Tower stood gracefully.Mia said excitedly,“How beautiful!”

But Lumi looked carefully.“Yes… but the sea looks a little tired.”

Just then, a child on the shore picked up a piece of trash and put it in the bin.Mia smiled.“There is hope here!”

Lumi flapped her wings.
“Then let’s sing our song here too.”

And the two little birds whispered over the skies of Istanbul:“Protect nature, and the city will protect you.” 

Kübra Kahramanoğlu's students 

ROMANIA