Minister Göktaş: There is Goodness Caravan will travel around Türkiye

In his speech at the academic year opening ceremony of Hatay Mustafa Kemal University (HMKÜ), Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş wished that the new term would be beneficial for students, academics and the entire university community.

Stating that Hatay is a city where different cultures meet and where neighborliness and solidarity are transferred from generation to generation, Göktaş said, "There is a deep-rooted memory of understanding people, taking care of each other and living together in these lands. So much so that this unity enabled the city to get back on its feet after the February 6 earthquakes." he said.

Göktaş congratulated the young people who decided to study in Hatay and share in the future of the city, and congratulated the academics who did not leave their chairs empty and did not leave their students' side in difficult times for their efforts and loyalty.

Stating that he believes that academic studies will make significant contributions to the reconstruction process of Hatay, which was affected by earthquakes, Göktaş said:

"As the Ministry of Family and Social Services, we attach importance to benefiting from scientific knowledge, the knowledge of our universities and the experiences from the field in our work. We find our cooperation with the academy very valuable for the protection of our children, the empowerment of women in all areas of life, the access of our disabled and elderly citizens to services, and the support of our families."

Göktaş emphasized that the research, suggestions and experts trained by academics are important in increasing the quality of social services.

"YOU WILL WRITE YOUR STORY AGAIN"

Addressing university students, Göktaş said:

"University is the place where you will pursue your own questions in your life. You will draw your own path, determine your rhythm, write your story, but believe me, years later you will remember those mornings with longing because university is not just about lecture halls and exams. Nights spent in the library, long conversations starting in the canteen, lifelong friendships established in clubs will all be a part of the story that will make you who you are. You will not only acquire a profession here, books, laboratories or classrooms will give you strong knowledge. The experience of your teachers will add direction and meaning to this knowledge, but you will decide what kind of person you will be with the knowledge presented to you."

Göktaş advised students to combine knowledge with conscience, not to break away from their roots, and to stand by what is good and good.

Asking young people to run when they hear a call for kindness, Göktaş explained the following:

"I came today with exactly such a call because I know that there are hundreds of young hearts in this hall who will come running to such a call and I would like to say only these two words to these hearts: 'There is goodness.' No one knows the meaning of these two words better than this city. In Hatay, mosques, churches and synagogues have shared the same street for centuries, different languages and beliefs became brothers around the same table in this city. In those difficult days of February 6, there were hundreds and thousands of volunteers who came running to the roads from all over Türkiye. We saw the one who shared his bread, read stories to children in the tent, and opened his doors to families he didn't know. That day, the goodness of the whole of Türkiye poured into Hatay, our cities affected by the earthquake."

"SEVERAL OF OUR CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS ADDED STRENGTH TO THE POWER OF GOODNESS BY TAKING THEIR PLACE ON OUR PLATFORM"

Göktaş stated that they started the "There is Kindness" movement last month and continued as follows:

"Do not see Goodness Var as just a platform. This structure is a strong movement that starts with a click and continues in the heart, connecting people to people. Here, the public, civil society, private sector and our citizens come together around the same goal. A good work that started in this city sets an example for all corners of our country. With the Goodness Gate, our tradesmen and professionals use their products, services and expertise to solve the problems of their neighbors. As soon as our platform was opened, thousands of volunteers became a part of this big family. In addition to our volunteers, several civil societies Our organization has also strengthened the power of goodness by taking its place on our platform. Dear young people, you are undoubtedly the strongest link in this chain of goodness, because we know very well that when goodness comes together with the energy of youth, no obstacle can stand in your way. With this belief, I invite you to become the pioneer of this movement. You can easily volunteer from our website or application. You can also take the first step by visiting our There is Goodness Caravan on your campus today."

Stating that the Goodness Var Caravan, which started its journey from Hatay, will travel from city to city, Göktaş said that the caravan will meet those who are devoted to goodness at every stop it stops.

"GOODNESS DOES NOT REQUIRE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES"

Minister of Family and Social Services Göktaş said, "My request from you is to be our ambassadors of goodness wherever you go. Never forget this, great opportunities are not required for goodness. An hour you spare, a greeting you give, sometimes a smile or just listening, believe me, can turn into an unforgettable kindness in the life of a disabled brother or elder, and you can also be instrumental in sprouting a new hope in the heart of a child." he said.

Emphasizing that their biggest dream in the first year of the Family and Population Decade is to spread goodness to all corners of the country through the hands of young people, Göktaş stated that the biggest guide of this dream is President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who always trusts young people and sees them as companions.

Göktaş underlined that President Erdoğan has always believed in a youth equipped with knowledge and kneaded with goodness that will build the Turkish Century, and that youth is sitting in this hall.

Governor Mustafa Masatlı and HMKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Veysel Eren also wished the new academic year to be beneficial in his speeches.

After the speeches, Minister Göktaş chatted with the students and bid farewell to the İyilik Var Caravan, which will tour Hatay and other provinces, by pouring water behind it.

Göktaş then chanted the slogan "If there is goodness, we are there too" with the students.

Following the program, Minister Göktaş visited Governor Masatlı in his office. Metropolitan Mayor Mehmet Öntürk and AK Party Provincial Chairman Mustafa Erdoğan also took part in the visit.