Heart-touching project ‘Worth a Smile’ in the earthquake region

Üsküdar University Department of Health, Culture and Sports (SKS) Young Doctors of the World Club, operating within, and Come Hold My Hand Association, in cooperation, organized a social responsibility project titled “Worth a Smile: Kahramanmaraş/Elbistan”. The details of the organized project were shared with Üsküdar University President Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan. Within the scope of the project, psychosocial support, education, and awareness activities were carried out for children, youth, and families affected by the earthquake. Reaching a wide audience from parents to earthquake-affected families, seminars on exam anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and communication skills were organized.

Üsküdar University President Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Department of Health, Culture and Sports (SKS) Head Sadık Paksoy, and association and club members attended the program held in the Üsküdar University Main Campus Senate Hall. 

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “There is a spirit of volunteerism in this project”

The opening speech of the program was delivered by Üsküdar University President Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan. Tarhan said; “It is not possible to learn some things in life only theoretically. Just as we learn to swim by getting into the water, not by reading a book, we learn life by experiencing it. Projects are also very important areas where knowledge gained at university is put into practice. Students find the opportunity to apply the knowledge and experience they gain in the university environment in the field. In this process, human relations are learned, social skills develop, and emotional competencies strengthen. At the same time, everyone finds the opportunity to share their experiences. When we look at what has been experienced here, we see that all of these have yielded very beautiful results. There is a spirit of volunteerism and dedication in this project. The strong and positive interaction we see in you has reflected on everyone in the field. This interaction is already a mutually developing process. As you touch the people there, they also touch you, and a very valuable experience emerges together.”

“When a person does good to others, they also do good to themselves”

Defining helping as a person transcending themselves, Tarhan said; “The saying ‘Goodness heals’ truly gains meaning here. You do good, but in fact, without realizing it, you also do good to yourself. There is a recent study by Harvard on this topic. In the research, students are divided into two groups. One group is given money and told, ‘Spend this however you want for yourself throughout the day.’ The other group is told, ‘Spend this money by doing good to others, by helping someone.’ In the morning, all students’ stress hormones and happiness hormones like oxytocin are measured, and the same measurements are taken again at the end of the day. Looking at the results, it is seen that happiness hormones are higher and stress hormones are lower in students who do good to others. For those who spend money only on themselves, a more pleasure-oriented process takes place. However, the situation is different for those who help. Because helping has a deeper meaning that transcends oneself, the happiness that arises is much more lasting. For this reason, our ancestors’ saying ‘It is not the receiver, but the giver who gains’ actually expresses a very important truth. Because here, the real winner is the person who helps. A person, while doing good to others, unknowingly also does good to themselves.”

Sadık Paksoy: “We attach great importance to paving the way for our students”    

Department of Health, Culture and Sports (SKS) Head Sadık Paksoy used the following expressions in his speech:

“We carried out a total of 742 events in this academic year. Within the scope of these events, our clubs carried out studies in many important areas. In particular, there is a very special project that was carried out in Elbistan district of Kahramanmaraş in April. Our club implemented this project in cooperation with the Haydi Tut Ellerimi Association. It was an extremely meaningful event that truly pleased, moved, and proud us. As the Department of Health, Culture and Sports, we attach great importance to paving the way for our students. We support our students to take an active role in social, cultural, and volunteer activities by transforming their individual efforts into an institutional structure through clubs. In this direction, we continue to provide intense support to our students through our clubs.” he said.

Asst. Prof. Ayhan Özşahin: “We find the sense of responsibility very valuable”

Asst. Prof. Ayhan Özşahin, Head of the Family Medicine Department at Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine, made evaluations about the project. “We find the effort, sense of responsibility, and spirit of volunteerism shown by our students in this process very valuable. Every study conducted in the field is actually not just a project for students, but also a very strong learning experience. Our students find the opportunity to turn their theoretical knowledge into practice here. They learn human relations, teamwork, and social responsibility directly by experiencing them. At the same time, such projects make significant contributions to our students’ personal development. Their empathy skills develop, their emotional resilience increases, and they become more sensitive individuals towards society. In this sense, every work done is not just an activity, but also a process of producing lasting value.” she said.

Fatıma Hafızoğlu: “We made our project planning considering the needs”

Young Doctors of the World Club President Fatıma Hafızoğlu delivered her speech within the scope of the program. Hafızoğlu said; “After our field studies and planning in the region, we identified the existing problems and prepared our project file accordingly. Throughout the project process, we were in constant communication with local administrations and received their support. In Elbistan, which was the second epicenter of the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, the wounds of the earthquake are still being healed. In our observations and evaluations in the region, we saw that symptoms of post-traumatic stress, exam anxiety, depression, and anxiety were quite common after the earthquake. Furthermore, the unfortunate event that occurred in Kahramanmaraş on April 15, 2026, caused serious panic and anxiety among children and parents. All these processes showed us that the region still has a serious need for psychosocial support. We acted very sensitively in this regard and made our project planning considering these needs. During the project, we did not neglect to receive support from associations and psychologists working in this field. In light of all this information, we started our work by preparing a detailed field plan, a needs list, and a sponsorship file.”

The project titled “Worth a Smile: Kahramanmaraş/Elbistan” aimed to contribute to social recovery by providing educational and psychosocial support for children, youth, and families after the earthquake. 

Within the scope of the project;

On the first day, activities were organized for YKS students. Within this scope, a mock exam was held with YKS students. Motivation and peer support were provided with the seminar “In the Footsteps of Dreams: Elbistan”. Training on exam stress, success, and career planning was given. Psychosocial support workshops were organized. The event was completed with the presentation of resource books and gifts.

On the second day, a gathering was held at Akbayır Şehit Yusuf Kaya Primary and Secondary School. Within this scope, the school library, whose needs were determined after the earthquake, was reorganized and reopened for students. Age-appropriate psychosocial support training and workshops were held in the classrooms. A seminar titled “Being a Parent and Healthy Communication with Children” was organized for parents. Festival and game activities were held with the children. Clothing support was provided to the students. At the end of the day, home visits were made to children who lost their families in the earthquake, and psychosocial support activities were carried out.

On the third day, a gathering was held with children from orphaned and needy families at the Elbistan Municipality Family Coordination Center. Within this scope, educational skill workshops were organized for children aged 1-17. A seminar titled “Being a Parent and Healthy Communication with Children” was held for parents. Game and festival activities were organized simultaneously with the children. Improvement works were carried out in the central library, and its opening was held with the participation of the Mayor of Elbistan. At the end of the event, clothing and stationery support was provided to the children.

On the fourth day, students were gathered at Taşburun TOKİ Primary and Secondary School located in the TOKİ Earthquake Residences area, and age-appropriate psychosocial support training and workshops were held. Within this scope, a seminar titled “Being a Parent and Healthy Communication with Children” was organized for parents, and First Aid Training was organized for teachers. Game and social activities were held with children in the schoolyard. Needy families and families who lost their loved ones in the earthquake were identified, and home visits and support activities were carried out.

On the last day, a seminar titled “Giving Without Burning Out: Motherhood, Partnership, and Making Space for Oneself” was held by psychologists for women at the Public Education Center and parents at Fatih Primary School. At the end of the seminar, gifts were presented to the women. 

The project presentation was met with great interest by the participants.

The meeting concluded with a group photo session.