The Skillful Hearts Project brings together individuals with special needs and their mothers

The “Skillful Hearts” project, implemented by the faculty members of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) within the scope of TÜBİTAK 4008, brings together children with special needs and their mothers in workshops on art, creativity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

The “Skillful Hearts” project, numbered 126B480 and supported within the scope of the TÜBİTAK 4008 Inclusive Community Applications Support Program for Individuals with Special Needs, started in Bucak district of Burdur.

The project, carried out under the Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Bucak Emin Gülmez Technical Sciences Vocational School, is being held between September 7-11, 2026. Within the scope of the project, 15 individuals with special needs aged 9-13 and their mothers have the opportunity to learn, produce, and gain experience together in various workshops and activities.

Children and their mothers produce together

The project is led by Instructor Sevil Yılmaz Aykul. Aykul stated that the main aim of the project is to involve individuals with special needs in the production process together with their parents, expressing that this way, they aim to develop children's artistic and creative aspects, support their self-confidence, and strengthen their entrepreneurial skills.

Aykul emphasized that they adopted a different approach by including parents in the educational processes of individuals with special needs, highlighting that producing together with their families provides significant gains for both children and parents.

Within the scope of the project, various workshops that support children's creativity, such as t-shirt painting, natural sand, jewelry design, and blue printing, are organized. In activities where mothers also actively participate, bocce ball sewing is carried out, and recycling mats are prepared by evaluating waste textile materials.

From production to entrepreneurship

With the “Skillful Hearts” project, it is aimed not only for children to acquire new skills but also for them to realize that the products they create can turn into value.

The project, which brings together different fields such as art, sports, sustainability, digital entrepreneurship, design, and social development, aims to develop participants' self-confidence, creativity, productivity, and communication skills.

“I did it, I produced, I can succeed too”

On the last day of the project, an event will be held where children will meet music accompanied by ‘Whispering Voices’ and spend enjoyable time together. The program will conclude with a closing and exhibition event to be held afterward.

The products prepared by children and their mothers during the project will be presented for visitors' appreciation at the closing exhibition to be held on Friday, September 11, 2026, starting from 1:30 PM next to the Old Courthouse building in Bucak district.

Stating that the closing exhibition is not just an event where products are displayed, project coordinator Instructor Sevil Yılmaz Aykul expressed that their main goal is for children and parents to experience the feeling of ‘I did it, I produced, I can succeed too’ together.

The “Skillful Hearts” project, offered free of charge to participants residing in Bucak, will conclude with the issuance of certificates to participants after the closing event.