Turkey
participants
Our goal for this activity was to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for Erasmus students, local buddies, and our ESN chapter. We aimed to achieve the following objectives:
- Foster Meaningful Friendships: Our primary objective was to facilitate connections between local buddies and Erasmus students, encouraging them to establish lasting and meaningful friendships.
- Provide Support and Information: We sought to address any questions or concerns our students had, offering comprehensive responses and information to enhance their overall experience in our program.
- Promote ESNcard Usage: We aimed to promote the use of ESNcards, providing access to exclusive benefits while also contributing to the support of our ESN section's initiatives and activities.
- Share ESN's Mission and Values: We aimed to educate our students about ESN's mission and its significant role in the international student community, highlighting our commitment to enhancing the student experience abroad and our motto "Students helping students."
- Break Taboos and Promote Safe Sex: Recognizing the sensitive nature of sexual health discussions in Türkiye, we distributed brochures on safe sex practices, including HIV testing locations and essential guidelines, to ensure our students had access to crucial information and felt included in this important conversation.
- Encourage Open and Inclusive Discussions: We wanted to promote open and inclusive discussions about topics affecting our students' well-being, believing that addressing taboos is a vital step toward creating a healthier and more informed community.
- Strengthen Bonds: Finally, we aimed to provide an enjoyable evening in Istanbul's picturesque park, where students could unwind and strengthen the bonds that would define their Erasmus experience.
By accomplishing these objectives, we aimed to create a supportive and enriching environment for our students and contribute to their successful and memorable time abroad.
During our meet-up with Erasmus students, our primary goal was to connect local buddies with their assigned Erasmus counterparts, fostering meaningful friendships. We also addressed questions, and offered ESNcards for exclusive benefits.
Additionally, we shared insights about ESN's mission and its role in the international student community, emphasizing our commitment to enhancing the student experience abroad and our motto "Students helping students". We distributed brochures on safe sex practices, including HIV testing locations and essential guidelines since sex and sexually transmitted diseases are more of a taboo in Türkiye. We wanted our students to feel safe and included in this conversation, which we believe is a crucial one. As ESN Existanbul, we believe change starts with open and inclusive discussions about topics that affect our students' well-being and that addressing such taboos is a vital step toward a healthier and more informed community.
To conclude, we enjoyed a memorable evening in one of Istanbul's picturesque parks, strengthening the bonds that will define their Erasmus experience.
