A awareness program was organized at Erzurum School for the Visually Impaired (Primary
and Secondary Levels) as part of the December 3–10 Disability Awareness Week, in
collaboration with Erzurum Technical University (ETU) Disabled Student Unit, ETU
Children’s Club, and ETU Visionary Youth Club.
The program, organized to raise awareness about individuals with special needs and to
strengthen a culture of solidarity, was attended by ETU Rector Prof. Dr. Bulent Çakmak, Vice
Rector Prof. Dr. Ceren Sultan Elmalı, Coordinator of the Disabled Student Unit Dr. Ceren
Davutoğlu, Advisor of the ETU Children’s Club Dr. Ayse Yıldız, Advisor of the ETU
Visionary Youth Club Dr. Ramazan Yıldız, and many university students.
Supported by the Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) and the Erzurum Red Crescent
Branch, the event included various activities such as hands-on cooking workshops where
university students and children prepared cookies and snacks together, sports activities, as
well as song and poetry performances. Participants both had fun and produced together.
In his speech, Rector Bülent Çakmak stated that ETU continues its efforts without
interruption to ensure that individuals with special needs become more visible in education,
social life, and cultural activities:
“We are very happy to be here with our children today. The excitement and joy in their eyes
give us strength. Such activities contribute both to raising social awareness and strengthening
the bonds we build with our children. As ETU, we want individuals with special needs to take
a more active role in all areas of life. Therefore, we aim to make these gatherings sustainable
rather than limiting them to just one day. In our next event, we would like to host our children
on campus, introduce them to the university environment, and come together again through
different workshops.”
Dr. Ceren Davutoğlu, Coordinator of the Disabled Student Unit, who closely engaged with the
children throughout the event, expressed her satisfaction in being together with children with
special needs:
“Being here with our children today and sharing in their energy and happiness is very
valuable for us. Such activities not only increase our students’ sense of social responsibility
but also help children with special needs feel stronger and more valued. We are stronger
together, and we should draw strength from one another.”
Directorate of Corporate Communications and Promotion – 11.12.2025