Public relations education meets social benefit

Students from the Public Relations and Promotion Department of Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication brought their education together with social benefit through a social responsibility project carried out within the scope of the “Graduation Project I” course. By coming together with residents of a nursing home, the students organized meaningful activities that strengthened intergenerational interaction. Within this framework, a comprehensive social responsibility project was implemented for the residents of the Kadıköy Nursing Home and Elderly Care Center. The students held mini interviews with the residents, listening to their life experiences and their advice for young people. The recommendation cards prepared based on these interviews were later exhibited and shared with students.

Senior students Zehra Gündüz, Sudenur Altun, Ebrar Aksu, Büşra Yayla, and Reyyan Fatma Bahçeci carried out the project under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Nejla Polat for the residents of the Kadıköy Nursing Home and Elderly Care Center.

Activities that began with a Turkish classical music concert attracted great interest

The activities organized during the visit to the Kadıköy Nursing Home and Elderly Care Center began with a Turkish classical music concert. Bilge Melek Çap, a graduate of the Public Relations and Promotion Department from the previous year, created memorable moments for the residents with her emotionally rich performances. She was accompanied on the qanun by her husband, Hakan Çap. The residents enthusiastically joined the concert with applause and singing along.

A warm atmosphere was created through sincere conversations and refreshments

Following the concert, cookies prepared by the students in their own homes were served to the nursing home residents. During the gathering accompanied by tea, warm and sincere conversations took place between the young people and the elderly residents.

“If I were 22 years old…” advice met with young people

Another activity organized within the scope of the project was the preparation of recommendation cards under the theme “If I were 22 years old…”. The students conducted mini interviews with the nursing home residents, listening to their life experiences and advice for younger generations.

The recommendation cards created as a result of these interviews were exhibited in the foyer area of the C-D Block at Üsküdar University South Campus and shared with students.

Enjoyable moments with stone painting and wish balloons

As part of the activities, a stone painting workshop was also held. This activity enabled the nursing home residents to express their manual skills and spend enjoyable time together with the students. The program concluded with the slogan “It Is Good That We Exist Together,” as students and residents released wish balloons into the sky together.

Intergenerational interaction and social benefit stood out

Throughout the events, a strong bond and a sincere atmosphere of communication developed between the Public Relations and Promotion Department students, their advisor Asst. Prof. Nejla Polat, and the nursing home residents.

The students gained valuable professional and personal insights by listening to the life experiences of older individuals. It was also observed that the social interaction of the nursing home residents increased and that they felt valued and remembered.

Through this social responsibility project, the students transformed their professional education into social benefit, while also receiving positive feedback encouraging the continuation of similar initiatives in the future.