Kastamonu University organized a collaboration meeting with the Kastamonu Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services to support family-focused social policies and practices in light of the declaration of 2025 as the "Year of the Family." The meeting, held in the Rectorate Meeting Hall, was chaired by Prof. Dr. Selahattin Kaymakcı, Vice Rector of Kastamonu University. 

Sustainable social responsibility projects aimed at the elderly and children living in Kastamonu formed the main agenda of the meeting. In the meeting, participants discussed topics such as increasing inter-institutional coordination, expanding university contributions in the field of social services, and planning joint activities within the scope of Family Year.

Joint Projects Determined with the Action Plan

The meeting was attended by Harun Köksalan, the Provincial Director of Family and Social Services in Kastamonu, as well as Deputy Provincial Director Murat Akbaş, Social Services Specialist Eylem Aydın, Güldal Akşit Nursing Home Director Remzi Şahin, Director of the Child Care Coordination Center (ÇEKOM) Hakan Yavuz, Director of the Child Care Sites (ÇES) Asuman Akbaş, Social Worker Zehra Semiz, and teacher Bahattin Açıkgöz. 

Representing Kastamonu University were the Head of the Health, Culture, and Sports Department, Mehmet Sena Aygün, the Director of the Turkish Folklore Application and Research Center, Prof. Dr. Gülten Küçükbasmacı, the Director of the Career Application and Research Center, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adem Yılmaz, the Director of the Child Education Application and Research Center, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aysun Ata Aktürk, the Director of the History and Archaeology Application and Research Center, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rabia Aktaş, the Director of the Women and Family Studies Application and Research Center, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şahika Şimşek Çetinkaya, the Press Advisor, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selver Mertoğlu, and the Project Unit Officer, Pınar Zeydan. 

Volunteering and Intergenerational Interaction in the Foreground
At the meeting, it was agreed to combine the academic expertise of Kastamonu University with the field experience of the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services to transform them into projects that will contribute to society. We created an action plan in this direction, which includes social, cultural, and educational activities targeted at elderly individuals and children. 

Additionally, we discussed mechanisms to ensure university students actively participate in volunteer-based social responsibility projects. Intergenerational interaction projects that can be implemented in nursing homes and children's homes, artistic and educational workshops, and projects developed based on local collaborations were highlighted. 

At the end of the meeting, the participants expressed their determination to develop a culture of collaboration within the scope of the 2025 Family Year by sharing their mutual views and suggestions. It was emphasized that Kastamonu University and the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services will continue to contribute to the city through projects that promote family values and strengthen social solidarity