The first book of the series of “Values of Northern Cyprus” prepared by University of Kyrenia Faculty Member Assist. Prof. Dr. by Mutlu Soykurt has been published by Near East University Culture Publications. Bringing together the life of the legendary music teacher of Northern Cyprus, Yıldan Birand, the book addresses to everyone from 7 to 70 with its colorful design and entertaining language.

There are some names that quietly create a great change and inspiration by touching the life of society with their actions. The stories of the heroes, which seem little in size but transform the society by creating big effects, are forgotten in time. University of Kyrenia Faculty Member Assist. Prof. Dr. Mutlu Soykurt aims to immortalize the stories of these secret heroes, who made great contributions to the culture and life of the Turkish Cypriot Community, by bringing them together with future generations, with the “Values ​​of Northern Cyprus” book series.

The first book of the “Values ​​of Northern Cyprus” series, which was initially thought to be a series of 10 books, has been released. Bringing the story of the legendary music teacher of Northern Cyprus, Yıldan Birand, the book addresses to everyone from 7 to 70 with its colorful pages and entertaining language. Assist. Prof. Dr. Mutlu Soykurt, whose specialty is creative curriculum development, carries the story of Yıldan Birand to the future with a language and design that will inspire everyone who reads it, especially children.

The woman who brought a new age to music education in Cyprus: Yıldan Birand
In the book series “Values ​​of Northern Cyprus”, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mutlu Soykurt not only saves names who created important values ​​for Northern Cyprus by revealing their inspiring stories, but also offers children role models from their own society, their own culture, and figures who perhaps have walked on the same streets where they grew up in the same land.

Yıldan Birand, the hero of the first book of the series, is one of these role models. Yıldan Birand, who made the music lesson included in the curriculum in Cyprus schools in 1964, opened great horizons by touching the lives of many of his students with her creative education techniques. She founded orchestras and choirs and gave concerts in village schools as a music teacher. Thus, many children on the island became acquainted with music thanks to her. She founded the first Girl Band of Cyprus. In the following years, she founded the Jazz Orchestra and the Classical Orchestra. Although Yıldan Birand retired after 35 years of teaching music, she continued to train students who broke performance records in the piano exams of the Royal School of Academy. The story of Yıldan Birand is inspiring with the colorful narration of Assist. Prof. Dr. Mutlu Soykurt in the first book of the “Values ​​of Northern Cyprus” series.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Mutlu Soykurt: “The life stories of people who have added value to the Turkish Cypriot Community will continue to inspire and be a role model without being forgotten thanks to the ‘Values ​​of Northern Cyprus’ book series.”
Stating that we live together with many secret heroes who transform society with their success, leadership, taking responsibility, sharing, sometimes being the first and sometimes opening new horizons in people’s lives, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mutlu Soykurt added as follows; “The life stories of people who have added value to the Turkish Cypriot Community will continue to inspire and be a role model without being forgotten thanks to the Values ​​of Northern Cyprus book series.” Assist. Prof. Dr. Soykurt also believes that this project will encourage individuals from different age groups to have a culture of reading and develop creative thinking skills.