Prof. Dr. Daria Suprun from Kyiv National Pedagogical Dragomanov University participated as a speaker at the 4th International Congress of Positive Psychology, organized this year by Üsküdar Üniversitesi. Prof. Dr. Daria Suprun, who continues her academic work despite the war that started in Ukraine, delivered her speech by participating online from a war zone, from a bunker. Despite all the negative circumstances she was in, Prof. Dr. Daria Suprun tried to convey positive messages to the participants, receiving a standing ovation from all participants, including Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, after her presentation. At the congress, where emotional moments were experienced, Prof. Dr. Daria Suprun could not hold back her tears.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi's 4th International Congress of Positive Psychology had an online guest from Ukraine. Prof. Dr. Daria Suprun from Kyiv National Pedagogical Dragomanov University made her presentation at the congress, participating online from a bunker.
Received a long standing ovation…
Suprun, who presented her paper titled 'Professional Motivation, Social Support in the Context of Social Cohesion' at the congress from a safe zone in Ukraine, from a bunker, received a long standing ovation from congress participants for her successful presentation despite difficult circumstances. At the congress, where emotional moments were experienced, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stated that the war should be ended and conveyed his gratitude to Suprun for her dedication to academic work despite all the negativities.
Tarhan: “At the end of the congress, we decided to issue an anti-war statement”
Thanking Suprun for her beautiful and effective presentation, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “I commend Ms. Suprun for her dedication to scientific work despite the war environment.
We decided to issue an anti-war statement in the congress's concluding declaration because; you are defending the future of the world, not just your country. You are defending democracy against autocracy. Because you are right. As Gandhi said, those who have gods are the majority.” he said.
Prof. Dr. Daria Suprun: “Our lives have been divided into two”
Prof. Dr. Daria Suprun, expressing the situation and events in Ukraine with astonishment, said; “Our lives suddenly deviated from their normal course. Until the war started, we thought war was impossible in this age. I would like to thank Üsküdar Üniversitesi, and the congress general secretary, Dr. Lecturer Fatma Turan, for your support. As a mother and an academician, I don't know what to say about what I am experiencing and my feelings right now. For me, life has been divided into ‘before the war’ and ‘during the war’. Time seems to have stopped, and even though it is March, there is no sign of spring in our lives. I used to think war was impossible and unreal in the 21st century. I still can't believe what we're going through is real, and I'm in a complete state of chaos.”
Prof. Dr. Daria Suprun: “I have hopes for a bright and peaceful future”
Prof. Dr. Daria Suprun, stating that she has not lost hope despite everything and continues her work, said, “I have a 4-year-old daughter and a 3-month-old baby boy. As a mother, I can see how striking the contrast is between their childish joy and the war they are experiencing. Although I have concerns about my children's safety, I have hopes for a bright and peaceful future for them. We are strong, and we will endure.”
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı; “When we invited her to this congress, the war had not yet started”
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, Head of the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Üsküdar Üniversitesi, said the following:
“Prof. Dr. Daria Suprun also carries out important work at the Pedagogical University. When we invited her to this congress, the war had not yet started. In fact, war was not even an issue. After the war began, she worked under very difficult conditions. She has a 3-month-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. To keep her children safe, she had to evacuate with her two children from Kyiv to a different location, about 200 km away. She prepared her presentation under these difficult circumstances and came here. In fact, when we spoke, she had said, ‘Maybe I won't be able to attend, anything can happen at any moment because bombs are being dropped on us.’ We constantly tried to motivate her. We expressed our support for her and our hope that this war would end as soon as possible. Thankfully, she was able to participate in our congress in good health. Despite everything, she prepared a comprehensive presentation. Despite all the negative circumstances, she tried to convey positive messages to the participants.”