Turkey: Mentoring and tutoring for visually-impaired teenagers
Supporting the integration of visually-impaired people with adapted equipment and coaching.
In Turkey, visual impairments in younger people can limit their access to equal opportunities and the quality of education that children and teenagers receive. Since 2021, together with Givaudan volunteers, we have supported a local organisation, which focuses on strengthening the education and social integration of visually impaired youngsters.
To date, Givaudan volunteers have contributed over 550 hours of tutoring in subjects like chemistry, physics, and history, as well as organising fragrance workshops, and participating in charity fundraising runs.
We have also funded a year of schooling for pupils, set up an Information Technology room with assistive devices, and aided students affected by the 2023 earthquake. Support also includes university entrance exam preparation and the provision of Orbit readers (digital Braille displays) for students with learning difficulties.
In 2024, activities included distributing the Orbit readers, offering weekly oral expression courses, and providing extra tutoring. We also focused on improving students’ social skills, particularly in group settings, which allows the youngsters to interact with all members of society. This critical assistance has helped students catch up academically, with many now successfully pursuing higher education.
