From 1996 our traditional fund-raising bazaar has taken place in the first week of August, in addition to this, local fund raising events take place supported by local business and community activities such as concerts, recreational activities, meals and day time and evening entertainment. These are well supported.
In 1996 we became a member of the World Energy Council, activities are sponsored by donations and since the 3rd December 1996 (Day for the Disabled) we have celebrated this event with events taking place over the course of a week.
In 1997 we embarked on the current education and office centre. With the help of Kusadasi Municipality the unit was finished and the official opening took place on 25th May 1998.
All our Education and Training facilities came together under one roof. Our Teachers who give their time and skills free of any charge include: Petra Koç - Stella Seko - Tsuaki Başkirt - Ina Demiroglu - Claudie Kartaloğlu - Canan Güler - Gülter Özkan - Sevgi Ünal - Melahat Madırga - Nazıfe Eskici and many more voluntary teachers and assistants. From the foundation date Vice President Dr Emel Dinçer has undertaken full medical examinations and treatment of the Disabled Children. The Kuşadası Press Association in conjunction with the Izmir Association of Dental Practioners continue to improve the oral heath of our students.
The initial number of students was 15, this has since risen to 45. All the Disabled are taught basic life skills and education commensurate with their abilities. This includes:- Reading , Writing, Mathematics, Music, Art, History and self help skills. All our students make great effort and achievements that not just benefit the student but also their families and the wider community, There is also training provided for the art and crafts manufacturing and the students take great pride in their work. The items produced by the students are sold in bazaars etc, and help fund their needs within our Society.
We have very close links with other education facilities. Kuşadası Vocational High School for Girls. Headmistress Behire Yıldız provides teachers and students involved in related courses. the opportunity to attend and assist at our school. We also receive help and assistance from Kegev Private Naci Akdoğan High School, Çakabey Primary School teacher. Also psychologist Çiçek Gökseven has taken part in the education from the first day.
Kuşadası and our twin town Marl have sponsored and arranged classical musical concerts at Ephesus Theatre, The Lions Club provided the disabled with the opportunity to watch these spectacular concerts. They also arranged for our Management to visit Marl in December of 2000 for a fact finding trip of 5 days, this has proved beneficial in our work with the disabled and improved training and education. Donated to one of our students was a battery operated vehicle and they are now able to live a much more independent life, the Deputy Mayor and his wife Heinrich and Helga Ahlert will always be in our thoughts for this generous gift.
In 1999 Erdoğan Öven, father of Serap Öven one of our students, donated a section of land for us to develop and expand our services to the Disabled, It was decided the name would be “Village for the Disabled” this is to include a School, Residential Unit and the possibility of a Hotel/Holiday area dedicated to the disabled. Mehmet Güler founding president and Civil Engineer undertook the project. With the help of Ümet Acar (Architect), Yusuf Güneş (Civil Engineer), Özer Kayalı (Mechanical Engineer) and other members of the team the project plans were drawn up. On the 20th October 2004 the construction started on the largest unit, this is to be the education facility and is 900m2. The unit is complete except for electrical and plumbing (completion summer 2008), also the fixtures and fittings we hope to have sponsors and donations for completion by 2009.
Promotion of our Society has taken place with help of Ada TV local and national Press Hurriyet, Milliyet and Yeni Asir Cumhuriyet newspapers, One of our most recent projects to grab the attention of the Press was a play performed by students (most of whom have a Cognıtıve disabılıty) the play was written and directed by our Drama teacher Betül Acar and fulfilled the dreams of students and teachers alike.
Although this is a Turkish charity we have sponsors and helpers from the many international communities in and around Kuşadasi, Japanese, Dutch, German, Irish and English to name a few. The Anglo Turkish Club have made such wonderful donations including educational equipment, safety and play equipment and several of their members are now valued members of our voluntary support staff.
Our Society has always maintained the aim of improving the lives of disabled children in the Kuşadası province, (Students attendıng our school have a range of disabilities from mild learning dificulties to severe learning disabilities, downs syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, debilitating physical conditions and we also provide help and support to several young adults who are blind.) we will continue to strive for this aim, our main project now is to complete the new school unit. Some of this work is being completed by sponsorship of a room. The room is then dedicated to the sponsor, we have some areas open to sponsorship including the outside play areas for the children. If you would like to be involved in this life changing project please contact us.
