Derya ERTOPCU
Hello. I'm Derya ERTOPCU. I was born in 1993 in the Görele district of Giresun, and I'm married and a mother of two. I graduated from Bakırköy Girls' Technical and Vocational High School, Department of Social Services. I graduated from Istanbul Aydın University, School of Health Services, Department of Social Services, as an honor student in 2022 with a 3.29 GPA. I've been working at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Women and Family Services Directorate since 2015. I completed my internships in the same unit I worked in during my university years. I currently work as a mother and child counselor for children aged 0-3 at the IMM. I also pursued my associate's degree while pursuing my professional career. When asked why I didn't abandon the field of social services while already having a job that paid me, I confidently say I'm a socially responsible young woman and mother who is sensitive to social issues. While social services often comes to mind as a rights-based profession based on human rights and social justice, as social workers, we are actually agents of social change. There are disadvantaged groups in society, including the elderly, the disabled, women, and even children, and I can say that I chose this profession to be their voice. To further my professional development, I have received certification from various seminars and courses. As someone open to innovation, change, and transformation, I continue to improve myself.
SEDEF UÇAŞ
I'm Sedef UÇAŞ. I graduated from Istanbul Aydın University with a second-year degree in Social Services in 2022. Since my early childhood, I've always been fascinated by human relations, discrimination against disadvantaged groups, socioeconomic activities, and psychosocial development processes. These factors played a significant role in my choice of department. The history and roots of my chosen profession, rooted in social justice, the welfare state, and kindness, and its grounding in behavioral and social sciences, strongly attracted me to this department. I constantly found myself helping people, listening to them, understanding them, and being their companions through an empowering approach. Knowing that I could be aware of all the issues I needed to consider while practicing my profession, and knowing that I would dedicate all my professional knowledge and skills to the well-being of all people, especially disadvantaged groups, made my job and career paths much easier. I currently work as a social worker at the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation Directorate of the Bayrampaşa District Governorship. I am happy to play my part in ensuring people's well-being, fulfilling their psycho-social functions, and acting as a mediator between protective, developmental and rehabilitative functions and State facilities and our clients.
Mürüvvet Ece FERAH
From a very young age, I was curious about people and their subjects, interested in family relationships and social issues. I opened my perspective to the social sciences. I loved listening to people, trying to understand them, and I enjoyed learning new information and teaching others. When I applied what I learned in my life, I found myself deeply immersed in education. I deeply love education and feel deeply connected to its essence. Because, in my opinion, education is a way of life and a lifelong journey. It seems that a person's talents develop in the direction of their interests and interests. I, too, always found myself drawn to the subjects I was passionate about. Years ago, I started working for a while and left school. It turns out I hadn't stopped studying, just taken a break. Years later, I took the university entrance exam and, at my turning point, I was accepted into the Social Services department at Istanbul Aydın University with a full scholarship. I owe a debt of gratitude to my university for granting me this privilege and opportunity. Indeed, by graduating with a GPA of 3.63 and beginning my professional career in the Social Services Department of the Turkish Spinal Cord Paralytics Association, I've taken a step toward using all the talents my university has taught me to benefit humanity and society. I do my job with love and care, and I'm happy about this. I'd like to thank Istanbul Aydın University and my invaluable and esteemed teachers for supporting me in my endeavor to become a beneficial individual, first and foremost for myself and then for my country.
