IGU Social Work Department Implements TÜBİTAK 4009 Project to Promote Holistic Empowerment in Rural Communities

The One Health Approach from a Social Work Perspective

The field programme began with the “One Health and Rural Social Work” session delivered by Assist. Prof. Emrah Tüncer. During the session, which brought together members of the local community, the project’s approach, the One Health concept, and the role of rural social work in community life were discussed.

The workshops conducted as part of the project aimed to help children learn about health, hygiene, ecology, and sustainability through hands-on experiences.

In the “Invisible Danger: Transmission Simulation” activity, led by Dr. Funda Pehlevan Karabıyık, the chain of transmission, contact, and hygiene were explored through simulations. Dr. Funda Pehlevan Karabıyık also led the “From Nature to Home: Ecological STEM – Soap Design” workshop, which focused on the reuse of waste and animal fats, soap-making, and sustainability. During the water filter design activity, children experimented with simple filtration methods using natural materials and explored the relationship between water, hygiene, and environmental health.

The “Cheese Culture and Raw Milk Workshop,” conducted by Dr. Funda Pehlevan Karabıyık and Dr. Çiğdem Tuncer, addressed raw milk consumption, zoonotic risks, and safe milk processing. The workshop aimed to help children recognise potential health risks in everyday life and develop awareness of preventive health practices.

The “Psychological Resilience in Rural Areas: My Shield and My Bag” workshop, led by Research Assistants Şebnem Çelik Uçuran and Onur Zeki Anılgan, focused on emotional awareness and psychosocial resilience. The activity aimed to help children recognise their emotions, discover their personal strengths, and develop coping skills.

The “Language of Nature and Passport to the Future” workshop, conducted by Research Assistants Fatma Türkan Özırmak and Şebnem Çelik Uçuran, addressed ecological awareness, children's rights, and the relationship between the environment, society, and the future. Through participatory and creative learning methods, children were encouraged to envision their future and explore their responsibilities towards the environment.

Sessions with Women on Health Literacy and Ecological Sustainability

As part of the project's community engagement activities, sessions were also organised for women. The first “Around the Tandoor Conversations: Rural Women and Community Health” session, conducted by Dr. Çiğdem Tuncer and the relevant project team, addressed preventive health and health literacy. By sharing local experiences, the session aimed to strengthen women's knowledge and awareness of health-related issues.

The second session, “Around the Tandoor Conversations: Rural Women's Ecological Value Creation and Sustainability Awareness,” was conducted by Assoc. Prof. Anıl Al-Rebholz and the relevant project team. It focused on women's labour, production, care, environmental knowledge, and sustainability. These activities provided an opportunity to consider women's everyday experiences and local knowledge within the framework of ecological sustainability.

A Scientific Learning Environment That Will Continue Beyond the Project

One of the project's lasting contributions was the establishment of the “One Health Children's Curiosity and Learning Space” at Taşkesen Şehit Nurullah Saraç Primary School, with contributions from Assist. Prof. Yonca Güneş Yücel Atalay and the project team. Equipped with scientific books and portable microscopes, the space was handed over to the school administration and teachers to support children's continued access to scientific resources and encourage their curiosity beyond the project period.

The project's community impact extended beyond Taşkesen. Activities for children in Gökoğlan and Dalsöğüt villages broadened the project's reach. Winter hats prepared by Istanbul Gelisim University were also distributed to children in Taşkesen, Gökoğlan, and Dalsöğüt, reinforcing the project's commitment to solidarity.

By bringing its academic and practical work into rural communities, the IGU Social Work Department integrated the One Health approach with social work's holistic, participatory, and empowerment-oriented perspective. Through supporting children's scientific learning opportunities, promoting knowledge-sharing with women on health and sustainability, and strengthening local solidarity, the project highlighted the importance of sustainable community engagement in rural areas.