NEWS

The event titled "Individuals with Special Needs and Social Cooperativism," organized by Istanbul Nişantaşı University as part of a social responsibility project, was held with a comprehensive program aimed at supporting the active participation of individuals with special needs in social life and raising awareness on social cooperativism.

The first part of the event featured the panel "Tomurcuk Cooperative and Social Cooperativism," attended by Assist. Prof. Dr. Bengü Kurtege Sefer from Istanbul Nişantaşı University's Department of Sociology, Gülser Özkan, Chair of the Board of Directors of Tomurcuk Cooperative, and Yasemin Güler, a cooperative partner and also Director of Tomurcuk Special Education and Rehabilitation Center. In the panel, impressive insights were shared on the importance of social cooperativism, the founding process of Tomurcuk Cooperative, and the contribution of individuals with special needs to production processes.

In the second part of the event, following a short video screening introducing the project activities, the "Transformative Experiences: Student Experiences Panel" was held. In this session, Tomurcuk Cooperative youth and Istanbul Nişantaşı University students shared their experiences with the project. Our students Ayşen Tezcan Elmacıoğlu, Gül Vatansever, Merve Betül Aysal, Sinem Çalışkan, Sıla Çatal, and Şevval Karaçam sincerely conveyed the experiences they gained during the project process and its contributions to their personal development.

The program concluded with a musical performance by the Tomurcuk Choir and the Tomurcuk Youth Exhibition. As Istanbul Nişantaşı University, we thank al our speakers, students, and participants who contributed to this meaningful social responsibility project.