The Barrier-Free Cinema Hall and Activity Center, renewed with the collaboration of Near East University and Telsim, has been put into service with the aim of providing a development and socialization area for individuals with special needs.
The “Barrier-Free Cinema Hall and Activity Center”, renewed with the collaboration of Near East University and Telsim, has been put into service again at the Faculty of Communication of Near East University. The center, of which capacity has also been increased, will be a meeting and development point for individuals with special needs, beyond being just a cinema hall.

The opening ceremony, which was realized by participation of a large number of participants, was also attended by Near East University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt, Near East University Faculty of Communication Dean Prof. Dr. Fevzi Kasap, Telsim Deputy General Manager Fevzi Tanpınar, TRNC Disabled Persons Committee President Ahmet Akdeniz, Cyprus Turkish Orthopedic Disabled Persons President Günay Kibrit and Social Services Manager Alev Ecevit. Turkey Wheelchair Dance National Team Athlete and Russian Intercontinental World Cup Champion Yeliz Güllü also attended the opening ceremony and performed a dance show after the opening.

The “Accessible Cinema Hall and Activity Center”, which has a capacity of 40 people, will host various workshops, training and social activities that will allow individuals with special needs to discover their talents, in addition to film screenings.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt: “This center is not just a venue, it is an expression of inclusiveness, trust and honor.”
In his speech at the opening, Near East University Vice President Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt emphasized that the “Barrier-Free Cinema Hall and Activity Center” was brought to society through inter-institutional cooperation. Stating that “This center is a venue designed for special individuals to express themselves, feel comfortable and gain self-confidence.” Prof. Dr. Kurt also said, “The Accessible Cinema Hall and Activity Center, which will serve the entire society in our Faculty of Communication, will be an area where individuals can make their voices heard, be respected and find courage on their way to self-realization.”

Prof. Dr. Kurt thanked everyone, especially Telsim, who supported this important social responsibility project, and expressed his hope that the Barrier-Free Cinema Hall and Activity Center would inspire everyone.

Prof. Dr. Fevzi Kasap: “The Barrier-Free Cinema Hall and Activity Center will continue to serve the society as a center that grows not only with physical expansion but also with its content.”
Reminding that the “Barrier-Free Cinema Hall and Activity Center”, which was renewed with the cooperation of Near East University and Telsim, has been in service since 2017, Dean of the Faculty of Communication of Near East University Prof. Dr. Fevzi Kasap emphasized that cooperation between institutions is very important especially in social responsibility projects and thanked Telsim.

Saying “We are happy to carry our work that we started in a 20-person hall to a larger hall with a capacity of 40 people today and to bigger goals.” Prof. Dr. Kasap added; “The Barrier-Free Cinema Hall and Activity Center will continue to serve the society as a center that grows not only with physical expansion but also with its content.”

Fevzi Tanpınar: “I think everyone needs to sit in a wheelchair for a day for real awareness.”
“We started an exciting project together with Near East University about eight years ago.” said Telsim Deputy General Manager Fevzi Tanpınar, emphasizing that they approached the project not only as a hall opening effort but also with the aim of raising awareness.

Tanpınar stated that the access of individuals with special needs to public areas should be defined as a constitutional right, and said, “I believe that when this right is not granted, it should be considered a constitutional crime. Because it is not possible to achieve real equality and inclusiveness in any other ways.”

Fevzi Tanpınar, who stated that he believes that this new hall, which was brought to life at Near East University’s Faculty of Communication, can create very big effects even though it seems like a small step, said, “Even this small awareness created here today can turn into very big steps in the future.”

Ahmet Akdeniz: “Disabled individuals only expect an equal perspective and a small touch”
TRNC Disabled Persons Committee President Ahmet Akdeniz, who stated that raising awareness for disabled individuals and including them in life is one of the most important steps, congratulated everyone who contributed to the project. Ahmet Akdeniz, who stated that he also graduated from the Faculty of Communication of the Near East University in 2011, said, “Thanks to the education I received here, today I can touch the lives of disabled individuals in our country by producing inclusive solutions for their full and effective participation in life.”

Stating that the highest expectation of disabled individuals is to take awareness one step further, Akdeniz said, “They do not expect giant projects. All they need is a small touch, an equal perspective.” Stating that everyone has the right to live equally as a part of society, but that this is not always achieved, Akdeniz said, “As long as we can equalize opportunities, we can all live in a more peaceful, more prosperous society. This center that opened here today is one of the most concrete examples of this.”

Alev Ecevit: “Our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive living environment for everyone”
Emphasizing that they continue their work focusing on disabled individuals with determination, Social Services Director Alev Ecevit said, “Our highest expectation is to take action and take awareness one step further. I would like to thank the Near East University and Telsim team for bringing the Barrier-Free Cinema Hall to life and for thinking of individuals with special needs.”

Social Services Department; Alev Ecevit, who stated that it provides services to all disadvantaged groups such as women, disabled, children and the elderly, said, “We are trying to create our social service policies in a way that disabled individuals can see the value they deserve. Our goal is to create an equal, accessible and inclusive living environment for everyone.”

Günay Kibrit: “We must take more concrete steps for awareness.”
Günay Kibrit, President of the Turkish Cypriot Orthopedic Disabled People Association, stated that this journey, the foundations of which were laid with the “Barrier-Free Cinema” project launched in 2017 with the cooperation of Near East University and Telsim, continues to grow stronger today.

Günay Kibrit, who said, “In this project that we started in a small hall, we provided training to our disabled individuals and provided them with the opportunity to improve themselves, we strived for them to take part under equal conditions and we have come to this day.”, emphasized that there is social sensitivity but that more progress needs to be made in terms of awareness.

Günay Kibrit also said “We must take more concrete steps for awareness. The center we opened today is one of the best examples of this.” Stating that with the new center, individuals with mental, physical, visual and hearing impairments will be able to come together and take part in all activities together, Kibrit said, “If we produce together, we can know each other better and understand real needs more accurately.”