Bridge to Türkiye Fund NY-NJ Circle Celebrates International Women’s Day at New York University

On Saturday, March 5th 2016 BTF NY-NJ Circle celebrated International Women’s Day with a panel discussion about women’s rights in Turkey and in the world with attendance of over eighty guests at NYU, New York. The goal of this event was to promote access to high quality education and educational scholarships to university girls studying in Eastern Turkey through Kars ÇYDD. All proceeds will support this goal and 18 students will receive scholarship. Since its inception in 2003, BTF sponsored more than 875 students and has donated more than $2,000,000.

BTF NY-NJ VOLUNTEERS

The panel discussion focused on women’s rights, challenges and opportunities of being a woman in Turkey and in the world. The discussion also highlighted the link between girls’ education and their career choices, and how this impacts on women’s and girls’ opportunities to participate in leadership and decision-making processes at all levels for their social, political and economic empowerment.

There were three amazing speakers and very engaged audience. The panelists for this year’s event were:

• Dr. Selçuk Şirin, Associate Professor, Applied Psychology, Steinhardt, NYU
• Dr. Ayşe Aytaman, Associate Professor of Medicine, Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at VA New York Harbor Healthcare System’s Brooklyn Campus
• Dr. Elif Kongar, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Technology Management, School of Engineering, University of Bridgeport

International Women’s Day was first celebrated by the United Nations on 8 March during International Women’s Year 1975. The 2016 global theme for IWD is gender parity.

BTF NY-NJ volunteers created a day of joy and happiness with their participation. Wine and homemade cookies were served. In a positive environment, guests were excited and willing to contribute generously to the cause of girls empowerment.

When we ask women how they want their children to live, they almost never say, ‘like me.’ And when we ask the women what they want to be, they say, ‘educated.’ — United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative Campaign in Van

After the panel discussion Dr. Şirin signed his book “Yol Ayrımındaki Türkiye” and presented as a gift to the guests. The highlights of the event and BTF were written by distinguished academician Prof. Dr. Emre Kongar in his column at Cumhuriyte Gazetesi, by journalist Ferhan İstanbullu in her column at Radikal Gazetesi and Şeyda Gümüş at Turkish Voice.

You can watch the video of BTF International Women’s Day Celebration.

Dr. Sirin and our youngest volunteer Tutku Sabuncu

BTF creates opportunities for financially challenged children and young adults to receive the benefits of a higher education. In 2015–2016 semester BTF sponsors more than 300 students in Turkey.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all who participated, donated or supported to our 3rd International Women’s day celebration as BTF NY-NJ Circle. With generous donation we will sponsor 18 university students and make a difference in lives of many girls through a transformative power of education. We all know that educating a girl changes a generation.

Thanks for believing in us.