The “Women and Future” event was organized in collaboration with Üsküdar Üniversitesi and the Confederation of All Civil Society Organizations (TSTK) as part of March 8 International Women's Day. Many prominent figures attended the event, which was held under the leadership of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör with the motto ‘When Women Dream, the Future Comes to Life’. In this context, it was emphasized that women need to become visible in all areas of life.
The event, held at the Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall of the Central Campus, was attended by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, TSTK President Hakan Gültekin, TSTK Women's Commission Head Ayşe Çebi, Merkez Üst. Birliği President Bahar Kastan, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Project Development Coordinator Dr. Lecturer Nebiye Yaşar, Writer and Artist Sakine Eruz, Marmara University Faculty Member Assoc. Dr. Meral Özomay, TUÇEM Environment Association Board Chairman Aynur Acar, ÜNSPED Culture and Sports Club Coordinator Semra Demirel, KASDERFED President Fatma Kıranoğlu, Businesswoman Oya Salman, İŞKAGİD President Arzu Özkaya, and TV100 Midday News Program Host Oya Çebi.
The event, organized with the slogan “When Women Dream, the Future Comes to Life,” emphasized the transformative power of women in society.
In this context, Prof. Dr. Sakine Eruz's exhibition “Multiculturalism and Translators in the Ottoman Empire” was first met with great interest, and the video screening “Working Women of Turkey” was shared with the participants.
The moderation of the event was carried out by Prof. Dr. Aynur Aydın.
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör: “Women become the subject of violence”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör delivered the opening speech of the event. Güngör said; “You all watch historical films. There is always violence against women somewhere. Not only violence against women, but also violence against men. Mostly, women become the instrumentalized segment of violence. Women become the subject of violence. Victimization is always experienced. I look at this issue not from a feminist perspective, but entirely from a humanist perspective. I do not differentiate between women and men. Since the very beginning of history, humanity has not been able to solve its fundamental problems, let alone the problems between genders…”
Hakan Gültekin: “This world is beautiful with you women”
TSTK President Hakan Gültekin, stating that he cannot imagine a world without women, said; “I want to express that I am extremely happy to be with you. Humankind is the most honorable of all creations. This world is beautiful with you, women. If you are present from the beginning to the end of every stage in society, this life is beautiful, the future is beautiful. The beautification of this world with you is special. I cannot imagine a world without women.”
Ayşe Çebi: “March 8 is the day to be the sun for those in the shadows”
TSTK Women's Commission Head Ayşe Çebi, emphasizing the importance of Women's Day, said; “Today we are gathered here not just to celebrate a day, but to salute a struggle, a belief, a change. March 8 is the voice of silence, the presence of the unseen, the day to be the sun for those in the shadows. We are here today thanks to the women who raised their voices for their rights years ago, who struggled in factories, on streets, in parliaments, in universities, in their homes, and the millions of women whose names we don't even know today.”
Bahar Kastan: “We established the hemp weaving workshop with 76 women”
Merkez Üst. Birliği President Bahar Kastan delivered her speech at the event. Kastan emphasized the importance of women in the workforce by saying; “We established the hemp weaving workshop with 76 women, which started with Maçka Municipality in Trabzon and was set up by the Ministry of Interior's General Directorate of Relations with Civil Society.”
Prof. Dr. Sakine Eruz: “One of the main reasons for winning the War of Independence was the women of Kastamonu”
Writer and Artist Prof. Dr. Sakine Eruz, speaking at the event, said; “I am from Kastamonu. First of all, I celebrate the Women's Day of the women of Kastamonu. The reason for this is that during the War of Independence, they carried ammunition in the Küre Mountains. One of the main reasons for winning the War of Independence was the women of Kastamonu.”
Assoc. Dr. Meral Özomay: “I want to touch their lives”
Marmara University Faculty Member Assoc. Dr. Meral Özomay, speaking at the event, said; “I am working on local weavings. I am working with our participants who do local weaving in villages, helping them to make their products more marketable by producing value-added items. I want to conduct my laboratory studies by teaching women in these regions. I want to touch their lives.”
Aynur Acar: “We aim to spread public awareness”
TUÇEM Environment Association Board Chairman Aynur Acar delivered her speech at the event. Acar said; “Those blue recycling bins, textile bins, glass bins you see on the streets today are the result of our 20 years of effort. While doing these, we also aim to spread public awareness by going to places where we are invited with 27 female volunteers.”
Semra Demirer: “We must take responsibility and raise leaders”
ÜNSPED Culture and Sports Club Coordinator Semra Demirer spoke within the scope of the program. Demirer said; “We, the women of the Republic, the daughters of Atatürk, owe a great deal to this Republic and Atatürk. That is why we must take responsibility and raise leaders.”
Fatma Kıranoğlu: “A great gain not only for women but for society”
KASDERFED President Fatma Kıranoğlu, speaking at the event, said; “There are areas where our women need to be represented more. Having a greater say for women in decision-making bodies, on boards of directors, and in politics is a great gain not only for women but also for society.”
Oya Salman: “Despite those who say, 'You can't do it!' 'You won't make it!'”
Businesswoman Salman, speaking at the event, addressed the importance of women in business life by saying; “Despite those who say 'You can't do it!' 'You won't make it!', we made it into the top 29 firms out of 2,400.”
Arzu Özkaya: “Brave and strong women are a strong future”
İŞKAGİD President Arzu Özkaya, speaking at the event, said; “I say brave and strong women are a strong future. Woman is labor, woman is grace, woman is delicacy, woman is beauty. Everywhere a woman's hand touches is a rose garden.”
Oya Çebi: “Women are always in a struggle”
TV100 Midday News Program Host Oya Çebi, speaking at the event, said; “What is most lacking in a place is what is talked about. What is most lacking in a place is what is celebrated on that day. That is why women are always in a struggle.”
Women are the fundamental building blocks of society…
The event, organized in collaboration with Üsküdar Üniversitesi and TSTK, stood out as a social innovation model shaping the future of women with the combined power of science and art. It was also revealed that women need to be empowered not only as individuals but as the fundamental building blocks of a society.
Women are everywhere in life…
Within the scope of the event, the scientific and social aspects of societal contribution were thoroughly discussed. It was emphasized that women becoming more visible in social life, academia, business, and art is not just an individual achievement but an investment in the future of society. At the same time, carnations were distributed to all women attending the event by USKEF President Umut Elbir.
The event, organized in collaboration with Üsküdar Üniversitesi and TSTK, with Arif Ekşi serving as general coordinator, delivered a strong message that women's imagination is the most important element in building the future.
Music recital performed
Within the program, Ebru Germiyanoğlu performed a music recital by playing the violin.
The event concluded thereafter with the presentation of plaques to the participants and a group photo session.