Photos: Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University

On 30 April, we marked #NoElevatorsDay with events across Europe encouraging everyone to #UseTheStairs. One of the most active nations was Türkiye, which registered a grand total of 38 #NoElevatorsDay events.

Many of the activities took place at Türkiye's Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University (MSKU) on and around April 30. Under the slogan “There is Life on the Stairs,” events promoting stair use were held at the university’s Faculty of Health Sciences and the Şems Ana Girls’ Dormitory. 

Organised by Rojin Acar, Azize Devrim, and Rojin Bayhan, the initiative transformed a central staircase into a fun alternative route. Students were divided into small groups and asked to define goals such as “How many steps do you aim to climb this week?” These targets were then added to a “ladder board”, while colourful posters and motivational slogans highlighted the health and environmental benefits of stair climbing. Participants received small chocolate treats adorned with cheerful messages like “I'm a Staircase Friend!”, “Goodbye Elevator, Hello Health!” and “There is Life on the Stairs!”

A follow-up event at the Faculty of Health Sciences aimed to inform students and staff about the health benefits of stair climbing. A brochure and visual materials were used to support the event, and the message was shared on the university's social media platforms. Given the ubiquity of technology in the daily lives of young people, the event  also emphasised that physical activities like stair-climbing can offer a short but necessary break from screens and gadgets.

These activities did not simply encourage students and staff to forgo elevators for stairs - they also drove home the broader message that small steps can lead to significant changes. Well done to all the organisers in Türkiye for their  hard work.

No Elevators Day 2025 was part of ISCA’s NowWeMOVE campaign, which encourages people worldwide to embrace active lifestyles through simple daily choices. Currently, we are still counting events and participants. And while you wait for the final count, you can get moving during this years #MOVEWeek between 26 May to 1 June. Find more information at www.moveweek.eu.