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Bodrum Foundation Helps Disabled

A foundation established 13 years ago by volunteers in the popular resort town of Bodrum has created a source of 4 million Turkish Liras for the education of the disabled in the region. Bodrum Health Foundation, or BSV, was established in 1996 with 36 members & considered its first priority to provide care for disabled children. Purpose built, in 2002, Begonvil Education & Rehabilitation Centre was constructed on 10,000 square meters of land provided by Turgutreis Municipality.

Speaking at a dinner party organized to mark the 13th anniversary of the foundation’s establishment, foundation president Ahmet Biçer said over 140 disabled people have been educated with the financial support of 4 million liras. “Close your eyes for 30 seconds & imagine yourself or one of the people you know is disabled,” Biçer told an audience of 400 guests, including 50 overseas nationals living in Bodrum.

“The founders of this foundation set out with this philosophy & created a chance of high-standard education & rehabilitation for 140 disabled people. These people, who created this organization without expecting anything in return but the happiness of the children, are the real heroes of Bodrum.”

Biçer said the foundation hopes to complete a new workshop for the disabled next year with an estimated investment of 450,000 Turkish Liras.

According to the information on the foundation’s Web site, Begonvil Special Education & Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children provides trainable mentally impaired children, autistic children & those with physical disabilities in the 0-18 age group with one-on-one & group education. The centre has professional training rooms, a library, a lounge, a kitchen & a dining hall.

The interior of the centre has been designed to provide disabled individuals with safe & easy mobility. In the gardens, there is an agricultural rehabilitation area, a playground, swimming pool & Jacuzzi. Presently, 90 physically & mentally disabled individuals are provided with services at the rehabilitation centre.

One-on-one education is given in five main fields: physical development, self-care skills, mental development, emotional & social development, & language development.

Fields defined in accordance with the child’s needs are supported with group education. The children who have completed their basic development can start academic education, receive training for independent living, & attend vocational education workshops. During the workshops making galoshes, ceramics, accessories & souvenirs develops the children’s manual skills.

The aim of these endeavours is to support the disabled children’s personal & social life skills so as to increase their self-confidence & motivation & to enable them to become independent, self-contained individuals with an improved sense of self-worth.

Because education & rehabilitation cannot be solely indoor activities, picnics, excursions, trekking & activities in the sea are considered to be crucial endeavours that foster harmony between disabled individuals & society. Therefore, the rehabilitation centre organizes many outdoor activities that children can attend together with their parents.

Television & radio programs are prepared & panel discussions are held to inform the public & to raise awareness. The newspaper of the foundation, Gökkuşağı (The Rainbow) is published every two months & delivered to 3,000 locations in Istanbul & 2,500 in Bodrum.

Physiotherapy for children with mobility problems

Physiotherapists at the centre rehabilitate mobility problems of children who suffer from certain disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, motor mental retardation, & Down’s syndrome. In addition, in accordance with the needs of children with other disabilities, programs for individual, group or home exercise are offered.

The aim of the therapy programs is to minimize the mobility problems of the children & to help them gain maximum independence in daily life. Therapy sessions are held with the full support & cooperation of the families.

Education & rehabilitation of children with a diagnosis from a fully equipped state hospital & a medical report from the hospital board can register for the centre where they are given meticulous care by a team of specialists. The team includes physiotherapists, special education teachers, ceramics teachers, & child development & education teachers. Moreover, specialists in music & folk dance volunteer & also support the centre.

To spread the workload, the foundation & the rehabilitation centre depend on the help of volunteers. The social committee, which consists of volunteers from all over the Bodrum Peninsula, work all year round for the betterment of the foundation. The activities of the committee include organizing fairs & benefit dinners, working on projects with similar institutions, & preparing programs to raise public awareness.

Source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com