YYP: Befriending Children in Need
YYP (Yarınları Yetiştirme Projesi - the Children's Protective Institution Project) is one of the longest-standing projects of Toplumsal Duyarlılık Projeleri (TDP - Social Awareness Projects). Basically, YYP was founded to help children living in Ankara orphanages. On Sunday mornings between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., project volunteers devote their time to these children.
Currently, members of the group visit the "Sevgi Evleri" orphanage in Pursaklar. There, the government places children who are subject to abuse or violence, have been taken away from their families because of domestic disputes, or have no parents. The children live in groups of eight in large houses, each of which has a resident "mother."
As one might easily guess, going through childhood without parents is very difficult, and considering the environments these children come from, they have many problems that need to be taken care of. At this point, YYP's purpose comes into play. YYP volunteers go to the group homes and try to help the children in various ways. First, the volunteers establish communication through games and activities. Secondly, they try to be positive role models for these children, who are in a closed environment and do not have many people in their lives who can serve as good examples. Finally, the volunteers try to improve the children's social skills and make them feel involved in society.
In order for YYP to do its work effectively, volunteers are required to participate in preparing the activities for the visits. Another important aspect of YYP is ongoing commitment. As mentioned, these children do not have many people to look up to and communicate with, so they value the volunteers' friendship very much.
If you want to join YYP and help kids by spending four hours a week with them, you can contact YYP coordinator Elif Yüksel via e-mail: eyuxel@gmail.com