Founded in 1989 by Anthony Shriver, the non-profit project “Best Buddies” was launched in Adana this week. The “Best Buddies Matching Ceremony”, an international organization that positively affects the lives of more than 1.5 million people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, was held at Adana Gündoğdu College with the participation of students from many schools. Thanks to the project, which aims to end the social and physical isolation of students with special needs, many activities will continue to be organized in Adana throughout the year.
This week, an important step was taken in Adana to remove the barriers between students with special needs and social life. Bringing the world-famous “Best Buddies” project to Adana, Gündoğdu College collaborated with institutions that provide education to children with special needs in the city and brought together children with and without special needs under the same roof.
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN ADANA PARTICIPATED
Students and educators from Çukurova Mavi Special Education Rehabilitation Center, Aktif Değişim Special Education Rehabilitation Center, Ünsal Karasu Special Education Rehabilitation Center, Oğuz Kağan Köksal Primary and Secondary School for the Visually Impaired, Şehit Ahmet Mehmet Oruç Sports High School, Recep Birsin Özen Secondary School and Vehbi Güzel Girls Vocational High School attended the Best Buddies Matching Ceremony. During the event, many activities were organized from painting workshop to robot workshop, from side flute recital to piano recital. While students with special needs communicated intensively with their peers, students without special needs had the opportunity to dialog with students with special needs and learn together. At the certificate ceremony held at the end of the event, students gave their friends with special needs a standing ovation.
DR. GÜNDOĞDU: THEY ARE ALWAYS THE MOST SPECIAL
Gündoğdu Foundation President Dr. Gökhan Gündoğdu stated that the students organized a very meaningful ceremony and said, “Our children with special needs will always be the most special. I would also like to thank our dear friend Ercan Tutal, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alternative Life Association (AYDER), for walking together in this meaningful project.”.
Prof. Dr. Gündoğdu added that “Best Buddies” meetings will continue throughout the year. Adana Gündoğdu College (AGK) Student Assembly made a statement at the event and said, “We would like to thank the following stakeholder schools who took part in the Best Buddies Project with us.”.
ABOUT BEST BUDDIES
Founded in 1989 by Anthony Shriver, “Best Buddies” is an international organization that positively impacts the lives of more than 1.5 million people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. The “Best Buddies” program operates in 53 countries around the world. “Best Buddies Turkey” was founded in 2011 by Ercan Tutal, Founder and Chairman of Alternative Life Association (AYDER) after the accreditation process and accreditation rights were obtained. The activities of the “Best Buddies” program in Turkey are currently carried out by the Güzel İşler Derneği (GİD).