18 October 2024, Istanbul, Turkiye – CIFAL Istanbul, FAO, BAU SÜGAM, Bahcesehir University organized a Poster Competition to highlight this years concept “The Right to Food.”
The World Food Day Poster Competition has raised awareness about the right to food, promote understanding of sustainable agriculture and food systems, and created a social impact. This competition encouraged young people to advocate for everyone’s right to adequate, nutritious, diverse, and culturally appropriate food.
The student contestants focused on critical issues such as food security, justice, and sustainability through their posters. With the slogan “Leave No One Behind,” they envisioned a world where everyone has equal and safe access to food. Highlighting the importance of social, economic, and environmental justice while reaffirming that the right to food is a fundamental human right. It was emphasized that consumer organizations strive to make the food system more transparent and fair by raising public awareness about healthy nutrition.
The opening speech was delivered by Prof. Arif Ergin, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences. In his speech, he expressed his belief that these posters would enhance young people’s awareness of food sustainability, taking the first step toward a more sustainable future.
Assoc. Prof. Zeynep Tacer Caba, Director of SÜGAM, spoke about the ‘right to food,’ emphasizing that it is not only essential for survival but also for maintaining a healthy life through regular and sustainable access to food.
Assoc. Prof. Yasemin Ülker, Deputy Director of CIFAL Istanbul, has showcased data to explain that the existing food gap is indeed a gap that can be filled. She noted that the reason for the gap not being filled is due to factors such as lack of access, unawareness, and the inability to prevent food waste.
Dr. Ayşegül Selışık, Deputy Representative of FAO Turkey, called on young people to advocate for the right to food for a better life and a better future. She emphasized that we must not only ensure food availability but also make sure it is diverse and nutritious. To achieve this, we need to transform agri-food systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. This transformation must be comprehensive and involve multiple stakeholders. “Since conflicts have become a major cause of hunger and malnutrition, we need to say louder than ever that Peace Is a Prerequisite for Food Security.”
The World Food Day Poster Competition has raised awareness about the right to food, promote understanding of sustainable agriculture and food systems, and create social impact. This competition
encouraged young people to advocate for everyone’s right to adequate, nutritious, diverse, and culturally appropriate food. They envisioned a world where everyone has equal and safe access to food. This highlighted the importance of social, economic, and environmental justice while reaffirming that the right to food is a fundamental human right.
At the end of the competition, jury members presented plaques and awards to the winning students.
Award-winning Posters:
23 September 2024, Istanbul, Turkiye – The Heroic Firefighters Mascot and Animation Competition Award Ceremony took place, organized in collaboration with the Istanbul Fire Department, CIFAL Istanbul, UNITAR and Bahcesehir University.
The Award Ceremony started with speeches given respectable guests such as Remzi Albayrak, Istanbul General Chief of Fire Brigade, Prof. Tunç Bozbura, Vise President of Bahcesehir University (BAU), and Prof. Hasan Kemal Suher, Dean of BAU Faculty of Communication. The contest attracted many young artists and students from different age groups, who contributed by designing creative mascots and animations that highlighted fire safety and the heroic efforts of firefighters.
During the contest, participants focused on the critical role of firefighters in society, their efforts in combating fires, and the importance of fire safety, all presented through an artistic lens. Contestants had the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents while also engaging in projects with a sense of social responsibility. The submitted works were carefully evaluated by the jury, and the winners were selected.
At the end of the event, an award ceremony was held, during which the winners were enthusiastically presented with their prizes. Those who placed in the contest not only had the honor of having their creative projects reach a wider audience but also felt the satisfaction of contributing to public awareness about fire safety. The event succeeded in raising the visibility of firefighting services and promoting fire safety consciousness across society.
This meaningful contest drew attention to the vital work firefighters undertake daily and helped spread fire safety awareness. By engaging young people, the contest effectively combined art with social responsibility, creating a significant impact.
Prof. Çisil Sohodol, CIFAL Istanbul Director, has shared her remarks on the panel titled “Trust and Impact: Good communication Guide for Sustainable Brands” on 17 September, 2024 at The Sustainable Brands Türkiye 2024.
The Sustainable Brands Türkiye 2024 conference is part of the global Sustainable Brands network, aiming to advance sustainable business models and practices. The conference emerged as one of the most significant events in the sustainability field in Türkiye. The conference addressed many key topics shaping the future of business, offering participants an inspiring experience.
The event featured more than 20 international speakers, including notable figures like Thomas Kolster and Karen Silverman, who discussed topics related to sustainable growth, innovation, and corporate transformation. At the event, discussions focused on how brands could reduce their environmental impact, shift consumer behaviors toward sustainable lifestyles, and utilize innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence in the process. Additionally, topics like waste management, supply chain optimization, and corporate governance were addressed, aiming to broaden the adoption of sustainability practices across the business landscape.
The purpose of this event is to enable participants to gain insights from expert speakers and innovative panels; to assist them in learning new sustainability strategies and developing creative solutions that can be integrated into their business models. This approach aims to help brands contribute to long-term value creation and to have a positive impact on society and the environment.
The conference also offered interactive workshops and panel discussions aimed at helping brands craft sustainable strategies.
Remarks by CIFAL Istanbul Director, Prof.Dr. Çisil Sohodol
Prof. Sohodol, Director of CIFAL Istanbul, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) International Training Center for Authorities and Leaders, also explained that to truly understand sustainable communication, it is essential to grasp the intersection between sustainability and communication itself. She highlighted that the issues embedded in sustainability and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent chronic global challenges urgently requiring solutions to create a better world. The first step in addressing these issues in improving our behaviour patterns. She emphasized that without cultivating an ecosystem of behavioral change, it would be impossible to achieve success in sustainability or any of the SDGs.
Otto & Fran Walter Rotary Peace Center will train regional peacebuilders through a one-year Rotary Peace Fellowship held at Bahçeşehir University.
The event for the signing ceremony of the Otto & Fran Walter Rotary Peace Center was held on 8th February 2024 at Bahçeşehir University Future Campus. The center provides a certificate program for peace and development for professionals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to have sustainable peace.
The certificate program aims to focus on various aspects of peacekeeping, peace-making, and peacebuilding processes by equipping community leaders with advanced knowledge and skills that focus on pivotal issues pertinent to the MENA region. These include land and identity disputes, climate change, food insecurity, refugee integration, and community development.
CIFAL Istanbul, as the local training center of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), will provide further academic studies, field visits, seminars, and workshops for the program fellows, deepening the program’s perspective. Program participants will employ the theoretical knowledge that they gained into the practice for a nine-month social change project within the region and conclude their fellowship with a capstone seminar to present the results.
Sustainable Peace in the Middle East and North Africa region.
BAU President Prof. Esra Hatipoğlu points out the critical position of BAU by saying “Bahçeşehir University brings deep local expertise in the Middle East and North Africa, embodying a commitment to multiculturalism and understanding” and she added that “Our collaboration with Rotary, a renowned leader in peacebuilding, merges academic rigor with hands-on knowledge, allowing us to address conflict transformation with a practical, grounded perspective and transitioning peace from a hopeful aspiration to an achievable goal.”
The fellowship at Bahçeşehir University in Otto & Fran Walter Peace Center is open for applications who are dedicated peace and development leaders from the MENA region to upbring qualified, educated leaders to establish peace in the region.
