The "Youth of the Republic" project organized by Istinye University International Sustainability Application and Research Center yielded 15 separate projects addressing education, equality, the environment and health.
Led by 4th-year students from the Faculty of Communication, Department of Public Relations and Advertising, the first phase of the project included activities surrounding environmental responsibility intended to raise environmental awareness. The Youth of the Republic: Environmental Responsibility Garbage Collection Event and Protect Istanbul were two such projects.
Projects relating to equality included My Space, My Boundaries; Equality for Us All; Say No to Stereotypes, Yes to Equality; and 2+2=100 Years. These projects drew attention to children's rights, women's visibility, sexist attitudes and behaviors, and gender equality.
Projects relating to education included Equal Education, Equal Beginnings; Reading and Writing Awareness in Children; and One Book, One Start. These underscored the importance of reading in relation to equality of education, book collecting and outreach to students in disadvantaged regions.
Projects relating to health and safety included Support for Pawed Street Animals; Hygiene is Every Child's Right; Dental Health Education for Children; Clean Breath, Clean Tomorrows; Safe Steps in Traffic; and Tree of Life. With these projects students raised awareness surrounding animal rights, the importance of personal hygiene and dental health, the dangers of smoking and electronic cigarettes, traffic safety issues and the importance of outreach to elderly individuals.
The projects started in December 2023 and ended in June 2024. Students who successfully completed their projects presented their work to ISU academics and students on May 30. Rector Erkan İbiş recognized these students by presenting them with certificates and awards.
Events were organized to expand the new generation’s awareness of these issues and instill in them a sense of social responsibility. These events emphasized the power of small steps taken for a sustainable future. They conveyed Istinye University students’ sensitivity to issues and their involvement in activism.
The complete list of projects and student authors inludes:
“My Space, My Boundaries” , Sevgi Başar
“Equality for All of Us” by Rabia Çakmakçı
“No to Stereotypes, Yes to Equality”, Ezgi Tanrıverdi
“2+2=100th Year” bbyy Hüda Zeynep Ilgın
“Equal Education, Equal Beginnings”, Ahmet Botan Avcı
“Reading and Writing Awareness in Children”, Nur Selin Balcı
“One Book, One Start”, İrem Doğan
“Streets Are Not Garbage, They Are Our Homes”, Melisa Toroğlu
“Support for Pawed Street Animals'”, İbrahim Ömürlüoğlu
“Dental Health Education for Children”, Dilara Görmez
“Hygiene is Every Child's Right”, Besim Aksoy
“Clean Breath Clean Tomorrows”, İlker Batuhan Güler
“Safe Steps in Traffic”, Mithatcan Kızılbayır
“Tree of Life”, Kadircan Odabaşı
“Protect Istanbul”, Savaş Aytekin
