Speaking at the promotion of "There is Kindness: Türkiye Volunteering Program" held in a hotel in Istanbul, Minister of Family and Social Services Göktaş said that everyone has a kindness they cannot forget in their lives.
Stating that people do not forget the people who supported them in difficult times and the sense of solidarity they made them feel, Göktaş emphasized that with the new step to be taken today, they aim to increase this feeling and grow it as a nation by bringing together examples of goodness from all over Türkiye. Göktaş stated that the "There is Goodness" platform reached 86 million citizens and thanked those who contributed to the realization of this meaningful work.
Thanking Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Knowledge Dissemination Foundation, for his participation and support, Göktaş stated that the Turkish nation has a deep-rooted understanding of kindness based on solidarity, sharing and helping those in need. Explaining that their understanding of the social state is based on being there for citizens whenever they need it, protecting and strengthening people, and not leaving anyone behind, Göktaş said that the strongest pioneer of this understanding is President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Göktaş said:
"Under the leadership of our President, we are strengthening our social state day by day. As the Ministry, we stand by our citizens in every period of life, from birth to old age. We work for a stronger Turkey where women are empowered, children grow up safely, elderly people live in peace, and disabled individuals participate fully and equally in life. Together, we are building a future in which we are always with our martyrs' relatives and veterans, because we know that some needs of a person cannot be met only with financial means. Sometimes it is a friend who rushes to meet the needs of an elder, sometimes it is a friend who meets the needs of a child from his hands." "It is a companion who will keep him safe and give him confidence, sometimes it is a foster family that will open his home and heart to him and accompany him to grow up with love, sometimes it is a little support that will make the needs and life of a disabled brother and his family easier."
"WE BUILDED THE 'THERE IS GOODNESS' PLATFORM ON THREE STRONG CONCEPTS"
Stating that they believe that a strong society can be established with individuals in solidarity, Göktaş stated that they aim to strengthen family ties and intergenerational solidarity and spread kindness and volunteerism with the "10 Years of Family and Population" vision.
Minister Göktaş stated that they witness countless beautiful examples of this solidarity every day, and said that a volunteer supports the educational journey of a child he has never met, a non-governmental organization strives to find a solution to a social need, a business turns its opportunities into social benefit, and public institutions, local governments, universities and citizens expand the goodness in different areas.
Pointing out that many good examples are not visible, Göktaş said, "'There is Goodness' was born from this very thought. We built the road map of our platform on these three strong concepts: To make visible, to bring together, to multiply, because visible goodness activates the common conscience of the society. Shared experience turns today's labor into tomorrow's opportunity. The goodness initiated by one person inspires another, reaching from one heart to another." he said.
"OUR MORALITY TRADITION WILL COME TO LIFE AGAIN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE DIGITAL AGE"
Göktaş continued his speech as follows:
"Let every step we take increase solidarity in a neighborhood, hope in a school, and smiles in a nursing home. Over time, a great network of goodness will be formed that encompasses the whole of Türkiye. We want the goodness done to be contagious, good examples to be shared, to inspire each other and to multiply. With this belief, today we are opening up both our 'There is Goodness' website and our mobile application. One of the most special steps of our platform will be the 'Gate of Kindness'. 81 "In our city, our tradesmen will bring their products, services and expertise to our citizens in need. Thus, our centuries-old Ahi tradition will come to life again in our neighborhoods with the opportunities of the digital age. Our citizens will be aware of all the work carried out. A good movement that starts in one place will inspire other places and goodness will increase."
Underlining that "There is Goodness" is a platform for everyone, Göktaş called on public institutions to bring their knowledge, experience and service capacities together on a common ground, and non-governmental organizations to bring their knowledge, volunteer spirit and good practices to more people. Asking the private sector to mobilize their resources, innovative powers and experiences to grow good, Göktaş also called on universities and young people to be the pioneers of this movement with their ideas, energy and courage. Addressing citizens, Göktaş stated that they should not expect to have great opportunities to be a part of a kindness movement and said that sometimes listening to a person, guiding a child or knocking on the door of an elder can be the beginning of a great good deed.
