螢火蟲計劃照亮土耳其伊斯坦堡兒童心靈

Project Firefly lights up minds of children in Istanbul, Turkey

當土耳其伊斯坦堡扶輪社197位社員決定辦理一項規模足以讓全社參與的計劃時，他們鎖定以教育為焦點。該社認為，許多當地學校在科技與創意表達兩方面無法滿足學生的需求。為了盡可能接觸到更多的學生，該社社員同意興建螢火蟲—這是一間配備電腦的機動教室，還大至足以容納學生上一堂戲劇課

When the 197 members of the Rotary Club of Istanbul, Turkey, decided to tackle a project large enough to involve the entire club, they focused on education. The club identified technology and creative expression as two areas in which many local schools were unable to meet the needs of students. To reach as many students as possible, the Rotarians agreed to build the Firefly — a mobile classroom equipped with computers and large enough to accommodate drama classes.

該社原先只規盡興建其中一間教室，連同經營兩年的成本為12萬5千美元。但社員們實在太熱中於這項計劃，於是決定興建兩隻螢火蟲。

The club's original plan projected that one of these units could be built and operated for two years at a cost of US$125,000. But members were so enthusiastic about the project that they decided to build two Fireflies.

這項計劃除了少不了該社提供資金，也需要有人提供技術專業和義工人力。

While the club's financial commitment to the project was essential, contributions of vocational expertise and volunteer time also proved critical.

2001-02年度2420地區總監埃塔克(Enver V. Aytac)表示：「隨著規模的成長，這項計劃更依賴更多社員個人的才華、企業和網絡一同投入。一位社員自願負責某教室的地板，另一位負責電腦，另一位負責輪胎，另一位負責對設計提供建設等。」

"As the project has grown, it has called more fully on the individual talents, businesses, and networks of more and more members," reported Enver V. Aytaç, 2001-02 governor of District 2420. "One member volunteered to take responsibility for a unit's floor, another for its computers, another for its tires, another consulted on its design, and so forth."

如今第一隻螢火蟲已經完工，在興建第二間教室的同時，伊斯坦堡扶輪社正與土耳其教育義工基金會攜手合作，該基金會將協助為螢火蟲走訪的社區提供長期的教育支援。此夥伴關係將確保學習之光會不斷照亮伊斯坦堡最貧苦的地區。

The first Firefly is finished. While completing the second unit, the Istanbul club is working with the Turkish Educational Volunteers Foundation, which will help provide long-term educational support in communities that are visited by one of the Fireflies. This partnership will ensure that the light of learning can continue to shine in Istanbul's neediest neighborhoods.