A Social Innovation Model Projects Protocol Signing Ceremony was held between Üsküdar Üniversitesi and the Black Sea Confederation of Civil Society Organizations (KASTOB).
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, drawing attention to the fact that in the past, education always aimed at success, which he described as a trap of the capitalist system, leading to the upbringing of selfish individuals by promoting 'Success', said: “Someone achieves success, becomes a chemical engineer and goes on to produce synthetic drugs. Someone becomes successful, becomes a computer engineer and engages in hacking.” Tarhan, on the other hand, emphasized that women are one step ahead of men in terms of empathy and are more suitable for teamwork.
A Social Innovation Model Projects Protocol Signing Ceremony was held between Üsküdar Üniversitesi and the Black Sea Confederation of Civil Society Organizations (KASTOB).
Tarhan: “We should not expect everything from the state.”
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Central Campus Senate Meeting Hall, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, referred to a Chinese proverb that says, “If you want a one-year crop, plant wheat; if you want a ten-year crop, plant trees; if you want a 50-100-year crop, cultivate people,” and stated that this is more valuable than establishing a factory.
Pointing out the importance of NGOs in his speech, Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that one should not expect everything from the state, that NGOs play a significant role in all areas of life, and that applications to the UN also require joint applications with NGOs.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also stated that if civil society does not organize and express itself, lobbies start to direct the world, and that NGOs in the world are now like partners of governments.
Tarhan: “Everything that is not renewed gets old”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that NGO membership is supported in developed countries, and almost everyone in Denmark is a member of 2-3 NGOs, saying: “We lack that awareness. In our country, association work is always misunderstood. It was not trusted. Associations also need to be open, transparent, and accountable. Civil society organizations do very good work. They are organizations that, in a way, renew the fabric of society…”
Emphasizing that everything that is not renewed gets old, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “We need to consider whether everything we do is beneficial for Turkey. Instead of individual benefit, societal benefit should be prioritized. If we can achieve this, then NGOs become effective.”
Noting that he has written books on mental well-being, and that these have built trust in people regarding himself, Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that ideal medicine is described as medicine that works to prevent people from getting sick.
NGOs must work to protect peace in society
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that NGOs should also work to solve societal problems while they are small, to protect public health, peace in society, and well-being in society. He also explained that Mother Teresa emphasized the importance of 'doing good one-on-one, doing good unconditionally' for the world to be a better place.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also stated that doing good unconditionally could not be integrated into the education system in Turkey, and that the university carried out projects to achieve this, with their first project being the Crab Project, which could not be implemented, but all the work done was published as a book.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, stress and anger management, empathy, sharing, and conciliation should be taught to young people, and that if these are not learned, young people cannot understand life.
Success-oriented education raises selfish people
Recalling that Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin said an education system based on raising good people was being designed, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan explained that in the past, education always aimed at success, which he described as a trap of the capitalist system, leading to the upbringing of selfish individuals by promoting 'Success'.
“Someone achieves success, becomes a chemical engineer and goes on to produce synthetic drugs. Someone becomes successful, becomes a computer engineer and engages in hacking,” said Prof. Dr. Tarhan, drawing attention to the importance of raising good people. Prof. Dr. Tarhan reminded that Yale University introduced a positive psychology course during the pandemic and when it was opened to the public, 3.5 million people registered in a short time, and that in this course, Anatolian wisdom and Mevlana were taught as lessons.
Around 70% female faculty members and female students
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also noted that they rank high in university rankings in this area due to having around 70% female faculty members and female students, expressing that equal opportunities are provided in social roles.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan recounted that Hasan Basri, a 'friend of Allah', advised Caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz: ‘When choosing people around you, do not choose those with worldly ambition, do not choose those who chase wealth and money, they will mislead you; do not choose those who are religious but lazy, for they will be of no benefit as they have abandoned the world; choose those who are competent and honorable.’ He added that honorable people would not betray, and that ‘this region is the geography that produces the most hypocrites in the world,’ attributing this to dishonorable people.
Women are more suitable for teamwork
“What I observe while working with women now is; they are honorable people, they speak truthfully, and more open, transparent communication can be established,” said Prof. Dr. Tarhan, emphasizing that women are also one step ahead of men in terms of empathy and are more suitable for teamwork.
Referring to the Family Academy established in Gaziantep, Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that a Family Mediation system should be established, which would lighten the burden on courts and solve problems before they escalate.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that the Ministry of Justice also desired this, and emphasized the importance of rehabilitation efforts in combating addiction.
24 federations, 2024 associations, and 2 million 400 thousand people
KASTOB President Nevzat Duyar, in his speech, stated that they continue their work with 24 federations, 2024 associations, and 2 million 400 thousand people.
Duyar reminded that 176 prefabricated houses were built in the Samandağ district of Hatay for the earthquake victims affected by the February 6 earthquake.
‘Positive Youth Positive Future Project’ and ‘Z Youth Valley Project’…
Dr. Nebiye Yaşar, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Directorate of Project Development and Director of the Young Brains Academy, stated that important steps are aimed at bringing together Turkey's young brains and connecting them with innovative projects, and said:
“Our new generation youth projects, announced today here as the Social Innovation Projects Cooperation Protocol in the field of youth, are; the ‘I Am Young Turkey’ Project, which we will carry out with the sister city Antalya Governorship and Antalya GSB; this project is an ongoing youth project within the scope of the sustainability of our ‘Being a Good Person in Four Seasons’ project, which we successfully completed with Antalya Governorship; the ‘Positive Youth Positive Future Project’ to be carried out in cooperation with KASTOB Federation; and the ‘Z Youth Valley Project’ to be implemented in partnership with KASTOB-ZONDEF, through which we aim to contribute to the values of our youth.”
Protocol signed
Following the speeches, the Social Innovation Model Projects Protocol was signed by Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, KASTOB President Nevzat Duyar, and Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör. After the signatures, a group family photo was also taken.
The signing ceremony was attended by NGO presidents working in the Black Sea region: Halil Kütük, İshak Koçoğlu, Asuman Karaşabanoğlu, Ziya Öncan, Yüksel Arslan, Mehmet Yılmaz, Emirhan Güraslan, Dr. Mustafa Şanverdi, Gurbet Altay, Dursun Ünlü, Ali İhsan Gündoğdu, Atty. Gönül Gürsoy, Mahmut Ekşi, Emre Kaan Şanverdi, Beyza Nur Çal, Nisa Nur Koyuncu, İclal Elif Erdoğan, Melisa Gül, and Behiye Beyda Çal.