TDP: Contributing to Community Improvement Since 1999
BY GONCA ARAZ (MAN/II)
Last week on September 18, the Social Awareness Projects (TDP/Toplumsal Duyarlılık Projeleri) student organization held its first meeting of the semester, welcoming new members and introducing them to the group's ongoing volunteer projects.
In line with its motto "What about being part of the solution, not the problem?", TDP is continuing to conduct community service activities, as it has for over a decade. After the Marmara earthquake in 1999, TDP was founded to provide a framework for providing help to victims of the quake. Later, TDP started its first ongoing project, the "Voluntary Teaching Project" (Gönüllü Eğitim Projesi), in order to help educate children from less fortunate parts of Ankara. The 2012-2013 academic year marks the 14th year in which TDP has been contributing to community improvement. Continue reading
TDP currently has fifteen projects and three organizational resource groups in which new volunteers, too, can participate this semester. These are: the Voluntary Teaching Project (Gönüllü Eğitim Projesi); the Children's Protective Institution Project (Yarınları Yetiştirme Projesi); the Nursing Homes Project (Manevi Evlat Projesi); the Sun Rises From the Village Project (Güneş Köyden Doğuyor); the Education for the Blind Project (Görme Engelliler Eğitim Projesi); the Railway Line Support Project (Demiryolu Hattı Destek Projesi); Hearts: 1, Leukemia: 0 (Kalpler: 1 Lösemi: 0); the International Project Group (Uluslararası Proje Grubu); the Young Vision Project (Genç Bakış Projesi); the Citizens of Hope Project (Umudun Yurttaşları Projesi); Friendships Without Disabilities Project (Engelsiz Dostluklar Projesi); the University Personnel Support Project (Üniversite Personeline Destek Projesi); the Street Lamp Project (Sokak Lambası Projesi); the Computer Training Project (Bilgisayar Eğitim Projesi); the Youth Band (Gençlik Kumpanyası); the Education Group (Eğitim Grubu); the Communication and Organization Group (İletişim Organizasyon Grubu); and the Media and Archives Group (Basın-Yayın-Arşiv Grubu).
In addition to these projects, TDP also conducts an initiative called "ATAK." The difference between it and the organization's other projects is that ATAK was established for emergency situations. For example, after the Van earthquake, it brought people together to help the victims. ATAK is essentially a "side" project within the TDP framework, available to organize assistance in case of an unexpected disaster.
Who can join TDP? "There aren't any restrictions," says Nilsu Atılgan, one of the organization's general coordinators. "Everyone, regardless of what faculty they are studying in or even what university they attend, can join TDP. In fact, you don't have to be a student. As you know, TDP is volunteer-based, so the more people join, the better."
If you want to be part of the solution, you can contact the TDP coordinators to learn more: tdp@bilkent.edu.tr
http://tdp.bilkent.edu.tr