Istanbul Aydın University (IAU), in collaboration with its founding foundation, the Anatolian Education and Culture Foundation (AKEV), and the Sustainability Coordination Office, organized the Women and Volunteerism Summit. The summit highlighted the role of women in volunteerism and hosted inspiring talks and panels which are aimed at reinforcing social responsibility awareness.
The summit which was held with broad participation, opened with a speech by AKEV Vice Chairwoman of Board of Directors Elif Aydın. Emphasizing the significant role of women in volunteerism, Aydın highlighted their achievements in social solidarity and responsibility projects.
The event included three separate sessions, where distinguished figures from the fields of arts, law, civil society, and academy discussed women’s volunteer efforts and their experiences in this area.
The Power of Women in Volunteerism Discussed in Three Sessions
The first session of the summit was carried out with title “Volunteer Experiences in Different Fields.” In this session: Theater artist Açelya Akkoyun spoke about the impact of art on social volunteerism, while Eda Ciğerim from the Turkish Education Volunteers Foundation highlighted the transformative power of educational volunteerism on children, and Lawyer Afet Gülen Büberci addressed the role of law in social responsibility projects, and Nur Ger, Founder of the Yanındayız Association explained how women can take the lead in volunteer activities within the business world.
In the second session the topic “Strengthening Volunteerism Through Social Responsibility” were held. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Nurten Özdemir discussed the role of academic research in creating social impact, while Lawyer Nazlıhan Balkan addressed the influence of legal processes on public awareness, and Hayriye Karataş emphasized the significance of individual participation in social responsibility projects, and Türkan Alper from the Turkish Philanthropy Foundation explained how NGOs contribute to the integration of women into social life.
In the third session, inspiring success stories of women making an impact in various fields were shared under the title of “Women Who Leave a Mark.” Lecturer İnci Ertuğrul highlighted the role of communication and media in volunteerism, while Communication Specialist Ayten Çalış Kurtçu discussed the power of media projects in social responsibility, and Entrepreneurs Cansu Kukul and Yasemin Kısa explained how they combine entrepreneurship with volunteerism, and Havva Anne shared how individual efforts can drive communal transformation.
Women’s Contribution to Society Emphasized at the Summit
The summit which addressed women’s contributions to volunteer activities, gained great interest. Speakers highlighted that women’s dedication and leadership in social projects are keystones of social solidarity. The event encouraged women to take more active role in social responsibility projects while emphasizing that volunteerism is not only an individual effort but also an important part of communal transformation. İstanbul Aydın University will continue to support projects that create social value and organize events that empower women.
