The Child Care and Youth Services Department – Child Development Program of our Vocational School of Health Services has achieved a significant success with the “Right to Development Project” led by Lecturer Bağdagül Sarıdaş. The project was selected among the top 26 projects deemed worthy of support out of 8,754 project applications submitted nationwide within the scope of the “Valuable Teacher – Stars of Education Program” organized by the Anadolu Foundation.

The finalists were invited to a major education summit held in Istanbul between January 16–18, 2026. During the three-day program, participants attended various training sessions and subsequently presented their projects. The event concluded with an award ceremony and social and cultural interaction activities held at Dolmabahçe Palace.

Within the scope of the project, it is planned to carry out educational and support-based activities aimed at enhancing the development of children aged 0–6 who live with their mothers in the Tarsus Women’s Closed Penal Institution. The project seeks to strengthen the developmental domains of children growing up under disadvantaged conditions in early childhood, increase psycho-social support mechanisms, and raise awareness of children’s developmental rights.

These 26 projects, selected from applications submitted from all 81 provinces of Türkiye, will be implemented throughout 2026 with mentoring, networking opportunities, financial support, and collaboration possibilities under the “Stars of Education” award program.

We sincerely congratulate Lecturer Bağdagül Sarıdaş on this outstanding achievement and wish her every success in the successful implementation of her project.