The ‘Biz Geleceğiz’ Project, carried out in cooperation with Üsküdar Üniversitesi, Istanbul Governorship, Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, and the Social Development Center Education and Social Solidarity Association (TOGEMDER), has been implemented. Within the scope of the project, which aims to equip children with basic psychosocial skills regarding child neglect and abuse, and to raise awareness among adults around the child and the family, parents were brought together.
Parent Training Program Organized!
In the project, which aims to equip children with skills to prevent, recognize, and appropriately address child sexual abuse, a parent training program was organized under the coordination of Prof. Dr. Gökben Hızlı Sayar, Faculty Member at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Psychology Department, and Forensic Science Expert Lale Pınar Çoraklı. The program, attended by 280 parents, was held online via the Zoom application.
Sexual Abuse Addressed in All Its Aspects
Forensic Science Expert Lale Pınar Çoraklı, who started the program by explaining the concept and types of sexual abuse, provided information on the characteristics of perpetrators of child sexual abuse, how sexual abuse occurs, and what precautions should be taken.
Prof. Dr. Gökben Hızlı Sayar, explaining why children cannot (or do not) talk about these situations and discussing how to react when they do, made evaluations regarding safety measures. Sayar, providing information on what to do when faced with a sexual abuse situation, also made book recommendations to parents.
Prof. Dr. Gökben Hızlı Sayar and Forensic Science Expert Lale Pınar Çoraklı, who made evaluations through sample scenarios where a child is vulnerable to sexual abuse, also shared contact resources and provided a roadmap for what parents can do in such situations.
The training program concluded with a Q&A session.
Within the scope of the ‘Biz Geleceğiz’ Project, sexual abuse awareness training in a protective and preventive framework will be provided to 400 students aged 6-12 from 5 pilot schools in Üsküdar, as well as to parents, teachers, school staff, neighborhood headmen (muhtars), and religious officials in the neighborhoods where the schools are located.