The fifth Support AFAD Volunteer training was conducted

The 'Support AFAD Volunteer Training' organized within the scope of cooperation between Üsküdar University and AFAD was successfully conducted for the fifth time. Students from various departments and programs of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Vocational School of Health Services, as well as academic staff, participated in the training program. In the training, which provided comprehensive information on topics such as disaster awareness, volunteering consciousness, pre-disaster preparedness, correct behavior during a disaster, and post-disaster support activities, students' knowledge and awareness of disaster management processes were strengthened not only with theoretical content but also with practical examples. With this training, a large number of students and faculty members have qualified to become Support AFAD Volunteers, and the program is aimed to be extended to a wider audience in the coming periods. 

Research Assistant Ender Sezen from the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Health Sciences, participated in the training program, as well as students from the Occupational Health and Safety, Emergency and Disaster Management, and Food Technology programs of the Vocational School of Health Services, and students from the Occupational Health and Safety and Social Services departments of the Faculty of Health Sciences also participated.

In the training program aiming to raise individuals who are prepared, conscious, and responsible for disasters; 

-    Disaster awareness, 

-    Volunteering consciousness, 

-    Pre-disaster preparedness activities, 

-    Correct behavior patterns during a disaster, and 

-    Comprehensive information on support activities to be carried out after a disaster was provided.

Students were supported with practical examples related to disaster management processes, in addition to theoretical training.

Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş: “Crisis management in a disaster is of great importance”

Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş, Deputy Director of SHMYO, who made evaluations within the scope of the program, stated that Turkey is facing many disaster and emergency risks such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, forest fires, and industrial accidents. Demirtaş emphasized that the most important factor in combating disasters is risk management and used the following expressions:

“Accurately analyzing risks, taking necessary precautions, and carrying out preparedness activities before an event occurs significantly reduces the negative impacts of disasters. Thanks to risk management, it is possible to prevent many disasters from causing loss of life and property or to mitigate their effects. However, once a disaster occurs, crisis management also takes on great importance. In this process, the presence of trained, conscious individuals with a spirit of volunteering is one of the most important elements of disaster management.”

Demirtaş stated that the Support AFAD Volunteering Program is of great importance for raising disaster awareness in society, noting that volunteers can play an active role not only during a disaster but also in pre-disaster preparedness activities and post-disaster recovery processes. Emphasizing that volunteering activities contribute to individuals' personal development, Demirtaş added that these activities also provide significant contributions to the development of teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

22 faculty members and 168 students qualified to become Support AFAD Volunteers

With the conducted training sessions, 22 faculty members and 168 students at Üsküdar University have qualified to become Support AFAD Volunteers to date. Demirtaş stated that as of the next period, the training sessions are aimed to be extended throughout the university.

The importance of volunteering culture was experienced once again

At the end of the training, students increased their knowledge and awareness of disasters and emergencies, while also having the opportunity to experience the importance of social solidarity and the culture of volunteering once again.