The NGO Projects Event, organized through the collaboration of the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation within the Faculty of Health Sciences at İstanbul Rumeli University and İRÜFİZMER, was held with strong participation at the Anadolu Central Campus. Bringing together students and academics from the Departments of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation and Gerontology within the Faculty of Health Sciences, the event hosted important discussions centered on social benefit and personal development.
Coordinated by Dr. Lecturer Gamze Başkent and Dr. Lecturer Nursel Öziri, the event addressed the concept of kindness not only as a social responsibility but also as a healing force affecting human biology and mental health. During the program, Birsen Yıkılmaz and Çiğdem Gürer from the Kalpten Kalbe Association participated as guest speakers, sharing insights into the functioning of civil society projects and the concrete impact these initiatives create in the field.
The event highlighted scientific perspectives showing that acts of kindness can trigger hormonal responses in the body and initiate a physiological transformation that positively affects mental well-being. Participants were informed that it is possible to create social benefit through innovative solutions even under limited conditions, emphasizing the importance of using available resources in the most efficient way. These theoretical insights were reinforced through practical activities included in the program, helping students develop hands-on problem-solving skills.
At the end of the program, participants gained an understanding that kindness is not only a form of moral satisfaction but also a biological process and a mechanism that supports mental health. Realizing that meaningful impact can be achieved even without extensive resources, the students left the event highly motivated to take part in civil society projects.
