Visually Impaired Leaders :

January 20, Bilkent

January 21, TOBB

April 10, Koç University

After the Koc University seminar a workshop was organized in which 12 different groups of visually impaired and non-visually impaired students worked together on ideas to develop and implement empowerment projects and programs for the visually impaired youth.

April 12, Bogazici University

A seminar at Bogazici University was organized on April, 12. Leaders from business , academic and media attended the seminar. At the end of the seminar a workshop was organized for a brainstorming session about a Leadership training camp for the visually impaired youth. It was decided the camp would be in June at Saklikoy.

April 13 , ODTÜ

May 3 , Sabanci Üniversity

May 7, Robert College

2 - Read-Think-Share Project - Ankara :

Read -Think-Share Project was first implemented in 2002 in Turkey. In this project YGA builds Creative Libraries in disadvantaged public elementary schools and the Read-Think-Share Program is thought by YGA trained moderators to 6th and 7th graders. Each year 12 students are selected by schools' principal where the Creative Libraries have been build. The YGA trained moderators teach and educate the students leadership development skills. A book called Read-Think-Share is designed and published by YGA to be studied from in the Read-Think-Share Program. After the university seminars a project idea to implement the Read-Think-Share program was developed and the first workshop on this program for the visually impaired youth took place at Mithat Enc Elementary School for the visually impaired youth in Ankara on April 16, 2007.

The Read-Think-Share book of YGA has been read to a CD for the visually impaired youth by Bogazici University students and Garanti Insurance employees.

March 31, Reading of Read-Think-Share book to a CD :

April 16, Mithat Enc :

After implementing this program in Ankara a workshop has been organized to plan and implement this project in Istanbul as well as in other cities in Turkey.

Istanbul ve Ankara project coordinators :

4 - Leadership Camp For the Visually Impaired Youth :

First annual Leadership Camp for the visually impaired youth was held in Saklikoy on June 29th to July 1st. The visually impaired participants and the sighted participants were trained and educated by speakers, leaders from different backgrounds on leadership development skills.

LEADERSHIP SCHOOL 2007

2007 LEADERSHIP SCHOOL RESULTS:

• Hande Keykubat, a YGA leadership school graduate who is an visually impaired youth was offered a position at Pepsico International.
• Eureko Insurance CEO Mr Okan Utkueri gave his support to start an empowerment project for the visually impaired youth in Turkey to work at Eureko Insurance.
• Turkcell vice president Miss Lale Saral Develioglu and human resources director Miss.Selen Kocabas gave their support for a project for the the visually impaired youth to work at Turkcell.

5 - USA Leadership Camp for the Visually Impaired Youth :

Selected students from the Leadership Camp in Saklikoy participate in the annual USA Leadership Conference / Camp.

Visually Impaired Participants in USA Leadership Conference 2007

1 - Süleyman Ari
2 - Hande Keykubat

2007 Leadership Conference:

• September 15- September 26
• Participants visited New York, Washington DC, Raleigh and Figure Eight Island
• They met with American and Turkish leaders and NGO's
• They attended workshops and seminars.
• They met with USA representatives
• They participated in a radio program in Raleigh
  
• They participated in leadership conferences and seminars in Figure Eight Island

6 - 5 Year plan for the empowerment of the Visually Imparied Youth :

A 5 year plan for the empowerment of the visually impaired youth will be developed and implemented by 2007 graduates of YGA. The programs will make Turkish society more aware of the daily problems the visually impaired youth go through. YGA graduates will work with organizations, NGO's and the public to develop projects to better serve the youth.

7 - Media coverage to educate the public about this project:

On February 21st, May 8th and May 9th Mr Sinan Yaman, founder of YGA participated in radio programs to discuss the project and implementation steps regarding this program. On April 29, 2007 the project was reported in the Milliyet Newspaper. On July 17th visually impaired Hande Keykubat and Suleyman Ari both participated in radio programs to educate the public on this project as well as discuss issues that the visually impaired youth face on a daily basis in the Turkish society.

8 - Setting up a web site:

In order for the students to be able to discuss issues and develop programs and projects a web site will be set up. Visualy impaired students and the sighted students will have an platform to discuss issues, develop projects and programs to empower the visually impaired youth.
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