Yesterday saw well over 1,000 public spirited people, hit the streets of Kalkan, in the biggest clean up day the town has seen.

At least half of the volunteer street cleaners were children, accompanied by their teachers. 

You could see that they were happy to exchange a day in the classroom, for a day collecting litter, and ending up with a picnic on the town beach.

In addition to Kalkan First School, and High School, the children from Akbel School walked down to Kalkan, collecting litter en route.

KTLN has called it Make a Difference Day, because it provides everyone with an opportunity to do just that.  However, the Belediye called it the Temizlik ve Bahar Şenliği (Spring Cleaning Festival).

Whatever you choose to call it, the morning sun shone down, as these volunteers litter-picked their way through the sokaks and caddesis of Kalkan, heading for the area behind the town beach.

The Jadarma and Traffic Police were on hand to ensure pedestrian safety, and the Mayor was on hand to oversee operations.  Belediye staff were out in numbers to collect full bags of rubbish.

Meanwhile, the Ada Patisserie staff were up at the crack of dawn preparing 1,200 lunch packs for the volunteers.  They looked like McDonalds take-aways, but there were no burgers in these packages.

After all the hard work on the streets, groups of children gathered down on the beach, to have their al fresco picnics, whilst close to the Pinar Büfe there was a live band, plus a DJ playing Turkish dance music.

If you gave up some of your time to take part in this clean up, then we salute you.  Giving something back to the community you live in, makes you a real part of that community.

We hope and expect that this will become an annual event in Kalkan.

We leave you with some images from the day.

Below: Children at Kalkan First School wait for their plastic bags and gloves.

Below: Some of the organisers, leading by example.

Below: A litter hit squad returns from a successful mission in the town centre. 

Below: Another group tackles the streets of Kızıltaş.

Below: Children from Akbel school cross the D400 road, supervised by teachers, and the Jandarma.

Below: Volunteers meet at a pre-arranged point at the top of town, before walking to the beach.

Below: Onwards and downwards, past Utopia and Moonlight bars.

Below: Mayor Saim Karakurt makes sure that one of Kalkan's elder residents, Enişte, feels part of the day.

 Below: The throng makes its way past Doy Doy towards the beach.

 Below: The crowd gathers in size as everyone arrives at the spot next to the Pinar Büfe cafe.

Below: After the work, children take time to relax - skimming stones.

 Below: Looking out to sea, and Mouse & Snake islands.

Below: Count them - 1,200 pre-packed lunches.  Thanks to Ada Patisserie on Kalamar Road.

Below: Lunch on the beach, in a circle.

Below: Lunch on the beach, in a row.

Below: Some of the underwater rubbish recovered by the Kalkan Dive Centre.

Below: The Mayor and local children, with placards about the environment.

Below: Just some of the bags of rubbish filled on the day, waiting for the bin lorry to arrive.

Below: Oy! Mate!  You misheard us.  We said can you take this mess away!  (Little did they know that the Traffic Police were up at the traffic lights.  Oops!)

KTLN - your window on Kalkan Turkey.

Katie-Ellen
Love KTLN. Love Kalkan.