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GTU Accessible Youth Festival Held

 

May 16, 2024-GTU Office of Press and Public Relations
 

The Accessible GTU Division has held the 7th GTU Accessible Youth Festival as part of Disability Week to bring together different disability groups with the social environment and the university. Held under the motto "Hand in Hand for an Accessible Life from Cocoon to Butterfly" on May 15, 2024, at the GTU Festival Area, the festival featured dance and music performances by special education centers, a mini concert by the university music group, instrumental performances, sports and entertainment activities, ceramics and painting workshops, and awareness stands. During the festival, many university students engaged in various workshops, performances, artistic, and scientific activities with guests with disabilities and their families.

 

The festival was attended by Gebze District Governor Mehmet Ali Özyiğit, Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Hasan Soba, Gebze Mayor Zinnur Büyükgöz, GTU Rector Prof. Dr. Hacı Ali Mantar, Vic- Rector and Head of the GTU Accessible Division Prof. Dr. Mahmut Durmuş, Vice-Rectors Prof. Dr. Elif Damla Arısan, Prof. Dr. Hasari Çelebi, Rector's Adviser and Head of the Organization Committee Prof. Dr. Meral Elçi, Secretary-General Nadir Yıldırım, Gebze National Education Director Şener Doğan, members of various social institutions and organizations, representatives of special education institutions, association members, GTU academic and administrative staff, and university students.

 

A thank you message from AK Party Erzincan Member of Parliament Serkan Bayram, who could not attend the festival due to a previously scheduled event, was read. In his message, Bayram thanked everyone involved in organizing such a meaningful event, GTU, and its Accessibility Division.

 

In his opening speech, Gebze District Governor Mehmet Ali Özyiğit described children with disabilities as symbols of purity, goodness, and beauty who do not harbor ill intentions. Saluting the devoted families of the children with disabilities, Governor Özyiğit expressed his gratitude for their compassion and sense of humanity. He concluded by thanking the GTU Rector and its Accessibility Division for organizing the event and the municipalities and public institutions that contributed.

 

Rector Prof. Dr. Hacı Ali Mantar emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities during Disability Week. He provided statistics on the number of individuals with disabilities in Türkiye and highlighted the difficulties they encounter in education, social life, and employment. Rector Mantar stated that the event's aim is to demonstrate the need for more support and opportunities for individuals with disabilities and to increase social awareness on this issue. He stressed that Gebze Technical University values the active participation of all disability groups in life and is working to remove barriers in society with this awareness.

 

Rector Mantar continued by highlighting that GTU stands out as an institution that recognizes no barriers. He stated, "Nine buildings on our campus have received the Orange Flag under the Accessibility in Space initiative, and efforts to improve the physical infrastructure for people with disabilities are ongoing. We maintain close contact with students and staff from various disability groups through support and direct communication and provide visual and auditory materials for students with disabilities. Additionally, our university has organized various educational activities and events with many association presidents and athletes. These include awareness training and social responsibility projects. Since 2016, the university has been organizing the 'From Cocoon to Butterfly Accessible Youth Festival,' featuring performances by special education centers and various awareness activities."

 

Rector Mantar concluded his speech by expressing the university's commitment to continuing its efforts for individuals with disabilities and leading more initiatives in the future.

 

Hasan Soba emphasized that Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality and district municipalities would continue to support similar organizations in cooperation with the university, special children, and non-governmental organizations. He also stressed the importance of removing mental barriers and thanked everyone who supported the event.

 

Gebze Mayor Zinnur Büyükgöz highlighted the importance of remembering and raising awareness about special children. He stated that special children are entrusted to us by God and that we should take very good care of them.  Büyükgöz called for local governments, central government, academic communities, and institutions to work for special children, particularly noting the increasing incidence of Down syndrome and the need for academic and medical studies on its causes.

 

Organization Committee Chair Prof. Dr. Meral Elçi discussed the significance of the "From Cocoon to Butterfly Accessible Youth Festival," which has become a tradition over the past seven years. She emphasized that understanding the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities requires not just empathy, but also action. Elçi stated that Gebze Technical University gathered to find ways to overcome barriers and raise social awareness and that efforts must be made for a more inclusive society by recognizing the determination of individuals.with disabilities.

 

The festival featured dance and music performances by special education centers, instrumental performances, sports activities, awareness stands, a chemistry workshop with Dr. Aişe Ünlü, a probiotics workshop, a poetry recital by Ayla Çağlar, a concert by the GTÜ Ijaz Community, and performances by the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Band.

 

An academic actvity was also conducted during the festival, where Dr. Fatma Karaoğlu Ceyhan gave a lecture on "Safe E-Commerce with Mathematics," and participants received achievement certificates.

 

Prof. Dr. Mahmut Durmuş, Head of the Accessible GTU Division, expressed his belief that the festival would contribute to fostering social responsibility and awareness across all sectors of the society and help eliminate barriers.