Social responsibility courses moved to the field

Social responsibility courses conducted at Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services enabled students to connect their academic education with the needs of the community. In the courses led by Audiometry Program Instructor Ayşe Gül Elsharkawy, students identified social needs they observed in their surroundings, developed projects for these needs, and put their work into practice. 

In projects carried out within the scope of the MYO015 Social Responsibility Project course offered in the Radiotherapy and Physiotherapy Programs and the YBH 218 Social Responsibility course offered in the Elderly Care Program, various topics were addressed, from disaster awareness to first aid, from raising awareness for individuals with disabilities to animal welfare, from environmental sensitivity to the social and psychological support of elderly individuals.

The content of the MYO015 Social Responsibility Project course includes not only the concept of social responsibility but also stages such as determining the project topic and target audience, developing solution proposals, examining the community service activities of public institutions and civil society organizations, and field studies.

Awareness-raising activities for disaster and individuals with disabilities

Süleyman Berke Uğural, a Physiotherapy Program student, participated in earthquake and fire drills held in primary and secondary schools as part of his disaster awareness project. Uğural, who also benefited from the training he received within ESDAK, an organization active in nature search and rescue, provided information to students on how to act during a disaster.

Meryem Oruçgüney carried out an awareness-raising activity for children regarding individuals with disabilities. Oruçgüney shared information with children about the difficulties faced by individuals with disabilities and society's approach; she organized events such as Q&A sessions, animation screenings, and educational classroom boards.

Sedanur Kara also prepared pencil cases and bookmarks for students with special educational needs, using materials such as felt, googly eyes, and tongue depressors. The project aimed to contribute to the educational environment of children with special needs.

Animal welfare and environmental awareness met with children

Within the social responsibility projects, activities aimed at animal welfare and environmental sensitivity were also carried out. 

While Sükeyna Kadirhan provided food support for stray cats, Şeyda Ayata, Rumeysa Bayram, and Sude Öztel involved children in the process and conducted an awareness-raising activity for stray animals.

Rana Akgün, Tuana Kaya, and İlknur Çırak organized recycling-themed activities with children. The students prepared various materials from waste PET bottles and caps and organized hands-on activities for children on how to dispose of waste in the correct bins.

A movement of kindness with small messages on campus

Esmanur Bozkurt and Ebru Erdoğan prepared envelopes containing motivating sentences as part of the “Leave a Smile, Change the World” project. The envelopes were delivered to students, academic, and administrative staff at Üsküdar University Çarşı Campus.

Büşra Erkan organized a seminar at the high school she graduated from to raise awareness about blood donation among young people. Answering students' questions, Erkan provided information on blood donation.

Projects touching the social lives of elderly individuals

Within the scope of the YBH 218 Social Responsibility course, students from the Elderly Care Program carried out activities to support the social and psychological well-being of elderly individuals.

Elif Aydın, Şeyma Çatık, and Büşra Aldemir visited an elderly individual at home as part of the “A Day with the Elderly – A Day’s Visit, a Lifetime Memory” project. In addition to house cleaning and meal preparation, the conversations held aimed to contribute to the social life of the elderly individual and reduce feelings of loneliness.

Irmak Ece Karamuk conducted one-on-one interviews with elderly individuals as part of the “Psychosocial Support for Elderly Individuals Living Alone” project.

In addition to listening to daily life shares during the interviews, a glass painting activity was also organized.

Meral Sena Gürtekin met with individuals living in a nursing home through the “Intergenerational Bridge” project. In discussions where life experiences and memories were shared, intergenerational communication was supported through questions such as “What was the most beautiful holiday of your childhood?” and “If you were to give advice to your younger self, what would you say?” The advice, kind words, and memories obtained from the interviews were brought together in a memory project.

They raised awareness about first aid and blood donation

Esra Emir carried out a study aimed at increasing first aid awareness in society within the scope of the “One Breath, One Hope; One Intervention, One Life” project. Emir shared information about first aid with police officers working at the police station and also informed various individuals about basic interventions that can be applied in situations such as falls, bleeding, and burns.

Elif Sayğın, Havvanur Yıldız, and Şeymanur Güneş raised awareness about blood donation through their work carried out within the Red Crescent. In addition to supporting blood donors, a Mother's Day themed event was also organized.

They developed environmental projects

Muhammed Uzun and Samed Gümüş drew attention to the harm caused by cigarette butts to the environment with their “Zero Butt” project. Using boxes they prepared from PET bottles, they encouraged citizens to collect cigarette butts in designated areas instead of throwing them on the ground.

Sümeyra Taş developed the idea of a common community garden for individuals living in apartments and wishing to grow their own food with her “Common Garden; A Green Breath Amidst Concrete” project. Retirees who want to spend time with soil were also among the target audience in the project.

Students combined their vocational training with social responsibility

The projects carried out by Vocational School of Health Services students transformed social responsibility efforts into the practical application of knowledge and skills acquired during the courses. Within the scope of these activities, students had the opportunity to use their various skills such as identifying social needs, developing solutions, communicating, and teamwork in the field.

Instructor Ayşe Gül Elsharkawy, the coordinator of the courses and from Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services Audiometry Program, stated that they aimed for students not only to prepare projects but also to identify social needs and develop applicable solutions for these needs.

The studies carried out within the scope of MYO015 and YBH 218 aimed for students to integrate their education in the field of health with social sensitivity and a sense of responsibility, and to use their professional knowledge for the benefit of humanity and society.