Delegate: Psychologist Ebru Azak
Delegate Short Bio: I am a psychologist currently working at Doğa International School. I completed my Master’s degree in General Psychology at Eastern Mediterranean University, where I focused on infant sleep and preventive mental health.
My master’s thesis examined the effectiveness of a healthy sleep practices program for parents of infants aged 2–6 months using a single-case experimental design. This study was the first primary prevention research in Cyprus employing this methodology in the field of infant sleep.
I have previously participated in World Sleep Day as a speaker, delivering sessions on infant sleep health and evidence-based sleep hygiene strategies for university students. My professional work centers on infant and child development, parent guidance, and promoting healthy sleep as a foundation for lifelong well-being.
Scope of Activity: Individual activity
Activity: As part of World Sleep Day 2026 and aligned with the theme “Sleep Well, Live Better,” I organized an interactive sleep awareness activity for Grade 6 students at Doğa International School in Kyrenia.
The main goal of the activity was to help early adolescents understand the importance of healthy sleep for brain development, emotional balance, physical growth, and academic performance, while encouraging them to reflect on their own sleep habits and daily routines.
To create an engaging and memorable atmosphere, students were invited to bring a sleep-related object to school (such as a pillow, blanket, sleep mask, or stuffed toy). This simple activity helped create curiosity about the topic and provided a natural starting point for discussing bedtime routines and sleep environments.
The program began with an interactive educational session explaining what happens in the brain and body during sleep. Students learned how sleep supports memory consolidation, learning, emotional regulation, physical growth, and immune functioning. Scientific concepts were presented in an age-appropriate and accessible way so students could easily connect the information to their everyday experiences.
Following this, students participated in a whole-audience interactive discussion in the school’s conference hall. They were presented with short fictional scenarios describing different sleep habits, such as insufficient sleep, irregular bedtime routines, or consistent healthy sleep schedules. After each scenario, students reflected on guiding questions about how these habits might affect attention in class, learning, energy levels, and daily functioning. This format encouraged active participation and critical thinking while helping students recognize the direct connection between sleep behaviors and their wellbeing.
At the end of the session, students completed a reflection activity called “My Sleep Promise.” Each student wrote one realistic action they could take to improve their sleep habits by completing the sentence:
“To sleep well and live better, I will ______.”
These promises were shared on a “Sleep Well, Live Better” awareness board displayed at the school, allowing students’ reflections to become part of a visible community message promoting healthy sleep habits.
Through this activity, students not only gained knowledge about sleep science but also translated that knowledge into personal commitment and practical behavior change. The activity aimed to build early awareness about healthy sleep habits and to encourage students to recognize sleep as an essential part of their health, learning, and overall quality of life.
Location: Kyrenia
Date of Activity: 12.03.2026
