TDP Volunteers Begin a New Semester of Community Service
We're only a few weeks into the new academic year, but the Social Awareness Projects (TDP/Toplumsal Duyarlılık Projeleri) student organization has plunged right in, with a full schedule of events to prepare its volunteers for community service work this semester. The numerous TDP projects, all intended to advance social awareness and provide help for those in need, serve various groups in the community. In its 12th year, the organization encourages all Bilkenters to join the TDP family and become part of its endeavor for a better society.
On September 27-28, TDP held its first meeting this semester, at which new members learned about TDP's ongoing community service projects. On October 2, TDP held a picnic at Mavi Göl Park to foster camaraderie among its members. A total of 150 volunteers who participate in various TDP projects came to enjoy a day outdoors, complete with a barbecue, matches and games, and live music. The fun lasted until six in the evening, and volunteers left the park energized and motivated for the work to come.
At the beginning of each semester, a workshop is held for new volunteers to help them learn how to become active and successful project participants. This year, TDP and TOG (Toplum Gönüllüleri Vakfı/Community Volunteers Foundation) cooperated in organizing the workshop and giving peer-to-peer training on subjects such as volunteerism, project management and efficient teamwork. TOG's experienced trainers ran the sessions, which took place on October 8 in the B Building and on October 9 in Mithat Çoruh Auditorium.
This semester, TDP has 14 projects and 3 groups in which new volunteers can participate: the Voluntary Teaching Project (Gönüllü Eğitim Projesi); the Child Care Centers Project (Yarınları Yetiştirme Projesi); the Adopt-a-Child Project (Manevi Evlat Projesi); the Education for the Blind Project (Görme Engelliler Eğitim Projesi); the Railway Workers Support Project (Demiryolu Hattı Destek Projesi); the International Project Group (Uluslararası Proje Grubu); The Sun Rises from the Village (Güneş Köyden Doğuyor); Hearts: 1 Leukemia: 0 (Kalpler: 1 Lösemi: 0); the Computer Training Project (Bilgisayar Eğitim Projesi); the Young Vision Project (Genç Bakış Projesi); the Street Lamp Project (Sokak Lambası Projesi); the University Personnel Support Project (Üniversite Personeline Destek Projesi); the Citizens of Hope Project (Umudun Yurttaşları Projesi); the Youth Band (Gençlik Kumpanyası); the Education Group (Eğitim Grubu); the Organization and Communication Group (İletişim Organizasyon Grubu); and the Media and Archives Group (Basın-Yayın-Arşiv Grubu).
TDP thanks its volunteers for their immense efforts, and also thanks you for your interest and hopes to see you soon on one of their projects.
TDP Coordinators:
Ceren Bahar Yılmaz
c_b_yilmaz@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
Sinem Meleknur Sertel
sertel@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
For more information on TDP and its activities, projects, affiliations and groups, visit
http://www.tdp.bilkent.edu.tr/