The kindness campaign of students

Students of Izmir University of Economics (IUE) carried the “Abla-Ağabey-Kardeş (The Sibling Project)”, which aims to support disadvantaged children for 13 years continuously, to online platform. Göztepe team football players did not stand idle by the exemplary behavior of students, who meet with children between the ages of 10 and 13 in digital environment, help them with their lessons, and do their best to meet the needs of these children. Göztepe team football players Serdar Gürler, Halil Akbunar, Berkan Emir, and Soner Aydoğdu did not reject the "short video shooting" offer made by IUE students to give children morale and delivered the 15-second images they prepared to the children. The children, who saw the videos of masters of the football, experienced great happiness and excitement. Assoc. Prof. Selin Türkel, Head of IUE Department of Public Relations and Advertising, the coordinator of the project, said “We aim to continue our project by further developing it in the coming period.”

30 volunteer students of Izmir University of Economics, who did not want the “Sibling Project”, initiated by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality in 2007, to be interrupted due to the coronavirus, took action to reach out to the children last month. Students, who rolled up their sleeves to continue the project, which is of great importance for the self-improvement of children living in disadvantaged areas and helping them during the education period, decided to meet the children on the online platform. The young people, who reach the children with their own means, regularly talk to the children every week, while giving them strength and morale during this time spent at home due to the coronavirus.

 “WE WILL PLAY IN THE SAME TEAM MAYBE”

IUE Students, who also planned a surprise for the children, took short videos to be delivered to the children from the 4 footballers of Göztepe with whom they communicated with their own efforts. The football players of Göztepe, in the short videos they prepared for the children, said, “We will get through tough days as soon as possible. You will rejoin your favorite school. Let's follow the rules and maintain social distance. Never lose your hope and motivation. Maybe we will play in the same team with you in the future or we will be on the field as a competitor.” The children, who saw the Göztepe footballers, were surprised and happy and thanked their brothers and sisters from IUE.

“ACADEMIC AS WELL AS SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT”

Assoc. Prof. Selin Türkel, Head of IUE Department of Public Relations and Advertising, said that they attach great importance not only to the academic but also the social development of the students and prepare projects in this direction. Assoc. Prof. Türkel said, “I congratulate our students who started a very useful and exemplary project for disadvantaged children. We encourage our students to take part in social projects and direct them in this course. Personal development does not mean being equipped with academic knowledge only. Our students should communicate with people of all ages, care about them, and realize the power and pleasure of doing things on their own. We also benefited from the technological infrastructure of our university in carrying out this project. Our students communicated very well with the children. We will continue the project in the coming period. Göztepe football players could not stand idle by our students’ wishes and shot short videos for children. It was an unforgettable moment for children. We would like to thank Göztepe football players for their support.”