Sakarya University delivers community outreach and public awareness activities to promote health and well-being among local communities in Sakarya, Türkiye. Through its Science Communication Office, academic staff and student-led initiatives, the University shares accessible, evidence-based information on health-related topics with members of the public and school communities.
Key activities include:
- Food Safety and Nutrition Awareness – “Reading Food Labels Can Save Lives”: A public science communication session covering food safety, food literacy, food labelling, food waste, cross-contamination and safe food handling. The session provided practical information to help participants make informed food choices and reduce food-related health risks.
Public evidence: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/etiket-okumak-hayat-kurtarabilir
- Mental Health and Stress Management: A science communication session delivered by a specialist psychologist from Sakarya University’s Mediko service for students at Prof. Dr. Tansu Çiller Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School. The session addressed examination anxiety, stress management, emotional awareness, psychological resilience and practical coping techniques.
Public evidence: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/snav-kaygs-ve-stresle-baa-kma-yollar-ele-alnd
- Autism Awareness and Early Identification: A public awareness session at Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality’s Social Development Centre. The programme explained autism spectrum differences, early developmental signs, the importance of early identification and specialised education, family support, and inclusive attitudes towards autistic children.
Public evidence: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/otizm-hastalik-degil-farkliliktir-h109429
These outreach activities extend the University’s health and well-being knowledge beyond campus, reaching local residents and school communities through practical health information, prevention-oriented education, and awareness-raising.
Sakarya University conducts community outreach programmes to promote health-related well-being, social participation and quality of life among vulnerable groups in Sakarya, Türkiye. These programmes combine student volunteering, academic expertise and community engagement to support people who may face additional barriers to participation, social interaction or well-being.
In collaboration with the Sakarya Provincial Directorate of Health, Sakarya University runs the Hospital School Project at Sakarya Training and Research Hospital’s Paediatric Oncology Department. The programme provides educational, creative and social activities for children receiving hospital treatment. During the spring semester of 2025, the programme ran for 13 weeks and included memory games, sports activities, music workshops and educational games. It continued during the 2025–2026 academic year with a further 10-week programme featuring handicrafts, music, puppet activities and creative workshops. These activities aim to support children’s emotional well-being, motivation and social interaction during treatment.
Public evidence: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/hastane-okulu-projesi-bahar-dnemi-tamamland
Sakarya University works with the Sakarya Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services through the “Sevgiye Engel Yok” project at the Sakarya Day Care and Rehabilitation Centre. During the spring semester of 2025, the programme delivered 19 activities, including art, music and photography workshops, memory games, educational games and activities supporting practical skills. A further 10-week programme took place during the 2025–2026 academic year. Student volunteers support social interaction, inclusion, participation and well-being among individuals receiving care and rehabilitation services.
Public evidence: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/sevgiye-engel-yok-projesi-bahar-dnemi-tamamland
Sakarya University collaborates with the Sakarya Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services through the “Bir Tatlı Huzur” programme at Hendek Melek Nişancı Nursing Home. The 10-week programme brings university students and older residents together through intergenerational activities, including ceramic workshops, wood-painting activities, information competitions and health screenings. The programme promotes social participation, interaction between generations and the well-being of older adults living in residential care.
Public evidence: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/kuaklar-buluturan-bir-tatl-huzurda-gz-dnemi-tamamland
Together, these programmes demonstrate sustained university outreach to vulnerable groups, with activities tailored to the needs of children receiving medical treatment, individuals with disabilities and older adults in residential care. Student volunteers and university units contribute directly to the delivery of activities that promote well-being, inclusion and community participation.
Health-Access Engagement with Migrant Communities (2025)
In 2025, Sakarya University contributed to improving healthcare access for migrant communities through an applied, community-engaged research project on communication barriers faced by Arabic-speaking foreign patients in Türkiye. Supported by the University’s Scientific Research Projects Coordination Office (project 2024-25-55-22), the study surveyed 420 Arabic-speaking foreign patients residing in nine provinces across the TR1 and TR4 regions. Published on 31 August 2025, the findings showed that 87.14% had insufficient Turkish proficiency and only 13.81% had accessed professional interpreting services. The research examined telephone interpreting as a means of reducing communication barriers, delayed care and unequal access to public healthcare. Complementing this work, Sakarya University’s Mediko-Social Centre provides on-campus medical and psychological support to students. Together, these activities contribute to understanding healthcare needs and promoting accessible health services for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Public evidence (2025 peer-reviewed study): https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/soylemdergi/article/1690525
Institutional health service information: https://mediko.sakarya.edu.tr/tr/icerik/12553/88765/sube-mudurlugu
