Many Bilkent students are familiar with the work of TDP (Toplumsal Duyarlılık Projeleri
/ Community Projects), which is carried out by Bilkent student volunteers and supported by
other organizations such as Toplum Gönüllüleri Vakfı (TOG) and Uygar Görme Engelliler
Derneği. These organizations allow students to volunteer in several activities, such as
tutoring elementary school students in underprivileged areas, teaching sports, art, and
computer classes, or visiting elderly people in retirement homes.
TDP is ready for the new semester. In addition to ongoing projects, TDP's latest project
is the International Project Group, which was created to help TDP volunteers actively
participate in the European Union Youth Project that started April 1, 2004 in Turkey.
Turkey's being a participating country provides TDP with the opportunity of both hosting
projects in Turkey and taking part in projects abroad. Among the subjects handled in these
international projects are matters of global concern such as racism, xenophobia and human
rights. One of TDP's upcoming projects is the Action-1 Project of Youth Program in
Slovenia in May 2007.
TDP is planning to focus on the education of its volunteers this semester by organizing
seminars, conferences, and workshops in order to increase the quality of its social
services. "We believe that we will be one step closer in our projects with the help
of these forums. To increase the attendance we will be certifying the volunteers who
complete these programs," says Ceren Çerçi (ECON/III) a TDP correspondent.
TDP is also planning to organize a seminar and workshop series open to all Bilkent
students on volunteering to increase social awareness throughout Bilkent. "We believe
we need to increase all kinds of volunteering activities to increase public awareness. To
see children smiling with a happy eye means more than anything else does. The most
important part of volunteering is to have a chance to be involved in the different worlds
of people, which you cannot learn from any book. You have to experience it. Those who want
to be a volunteer should note that TDP volunteers need energy and be able to take
responsibilities but that they can also change someone's world." says Nurşah Sak
(AMER/III).
Aslıhan Yilmaz (IR/III): “Another interesting project is the Project for the Education
of Visually Impaired Students and is supported by Bilkent University and two NGOs: the
Modern Association for the Visually Impaired and the Modern Women Association. The
objective of this project is to help visually impaired students with the university
entrance examination by providing them with certain educational services. It also
encourages the students to play a part in social activities.
TDP's coordinator Vehbi Çelme (IE/III) said that the organization was ready to welcome
new volunteers, and added, "TDP's mission is to help individuals and the community,
and to solve problems and make a difference through the efforts and ideas of its
volunteers. TDP invites all students to contribute their time and suggestions."
Be a part of the volunteer activities at Bilkent instead of watching it. Doing so will be
beneficial both to yourself and others," says Aslı Kırbaş (CTIS/I). For more
information, you can call ext.1550 or email: tdp@bilkent.edu.tr or click on:
http://tdp.bilkent.edu.tr
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