Our eyes are windows to our outer world. We don’t fully understand their importance unless we close them and try to live our lives without sight. There are so many children, and adults, who have lost their sight due to various causes. These people don’t need others to feel sorry for them; instead they want other people to spend quality time with them while they’re getting help with their studies.
To help visually disabled people in their studies, and to help them become part of society, volunteers of the Social Awareness Projects (TDP/Toplumsal Duyarlılık Projeleri) Education for the Blind Project (GÖREP) visit Altınokta Körler Derneği and Çankaya Belediyesi Görme Engelliler Eğitim ve Spor Kulübü every Saturday.
Visually disabled students in these associations are preparing for different exams, such as the open university exam, and require assistance in their studies. Since they can’t read their books by themselves,
GÖREP volunteers help them by reading and explaining the topics.
Volunteers feel that what motivates them the most is what their students tell them after their lessons: “Thank you very much, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be able to read my books and pass my exams.” This precious sentence makes volunteers feel that their work is meaningful and worthwhile.
The project not only focuses on helping visually disabled people in their studies; it also organizes activities such as audio-described movie nights and goalball matches for them. In short, GÖREP aims to improve both the academic and social lives of the visually disabled.
The project will continue helping visually disabled people in the coming semesters. All Bilkent University students are welcome to become part of GÖREP.