Istanbul Nişantaşı University Holds Social Responsibility Event on People with Special Needs and Social Cooperatives
The social responsibility project explored participation in society and production by people with special needs. Panels, student experiences, a choir performance and an exhibition supported awareness of inclusion and social cooperatives.
Social Participation and Social Cooperatives for People with Special Needs
Istanbul Nişantaşı University held “People with Special Needs and Social Cooperatives” as part of a social responsibility project. Its comprehensive program aimed to support the active participation of people with special needs in society and raise awareness of social cooperatives.
The first part featured the panel “Tomurcuk Cooperative and Social Cooperatives,” with Asst. Prof. Dr. Bengü Kurtege Sefer from our Sociology Department, Tomurcuk Cooperative Board Chair Gülser Özkan, and cooperative partner and Tomurcuk Special Education and Rehabilitation Centre Director Yasemin Güler. They shared compelling insights into the importance of social cooperatives, Tomurcuk’s establishment and the contributions of people with special needs to production processes.
Following a short video introducing project activities, the second part featured “Transformative Experiences: Student Experiences Panel.” Young people from Tomurcuk Cooperative and Istanbul Nişantaşı University students shared their project experiences. Our students Ayşen Tezcan Elmacıoğlu, Gül Vatansever, Merve Betül Aysal, Sinem Çalışkan, Sıla Çatal and Şevval Karaçam candidly described what they had gained and how the project contributed to their personal development.
The program concluded with a performance by the Tomurcuk Choir and the Tomurcuk Youth Exhibition. Istanbul Nişantaşı University thanks all speakers, students and participants who contributed to this meaningful social responsibility project.
