“Advice to My 18-Year-Old Self: A Bridge Between Generations” Documentary Premieres at Özyeğin University in Celebration of “International Day of Older Persons” on October 1

Özyeğin University recently hosted a landmark event as part of a project developed by the OzU Violence and Law Lab in collaboration with the Istanbul Darülaceze Directorate under the Department of Health and Social Services at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), and funded under the European Union’s Sivil Düşün Programme. The event marked the first of its kind to be organized by a university.

Drawing on the 2023 Türkiye Older Persons Profile Survey, six students from OzU Violence and Law Lab produced the documentary “Advice to My 18-Year-Old Self: A Bridge Between Generations”. The documentary seeks to uncover why many elderly individuals reflect on their pasts with dissatisfaction, explore what they would have changed if given the chance, and raise awareness of a rights-based approach to older persons. The documentary’s premiere was held on October 1, 2024, during the Elder Rights Symposium at Özyeğin University in observance of the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons, which has been celebrated since 1991.

The symposium and premiere included a panel discussion, featuring academics and subject matter experts, as well as a poster presentation session led by university students. Attendees included Prof. Barış Tan, President of Özyeğin University, Assistant Prof. Önder Yüksel Eryiğit, Head of the Department of Health and Social Services at IMM, residents of Istanbul Darülaceze, Özyeğin University faculty and students, IMM officials and staff, representatives from NGOs working in the field of elder rights, legal experts, and nearly 150 participants with a keen interest in the subject.

Project Details:

Advice to My 18-Year-Old Self: A Bridge Between Generations (2024, 30 minutes)

Project Advisor : Prof. Özlem Yenerer Çakmut
Project Manager / Coordinator: Assistant Prof. Zeynep Reva
IMM Health and Social Services Department Head: Assistant Prof. Önder Yüksel Eryiğit
IMM Istanbul Darülaceze Director: Tülay Aytekin Aktaş
Art Coordinator: Orhun Erdenli
Art Assistant: Burak Can Çatan
General Assistant/Interviewer: Aylin Suna
Logistics Assistant/Interviewer: Zeynep Onat
Communication Assistants/Interviewers: Ceylin Seyhan, Mehmet Yiğit Karakuş
Social Media Assistants/Interviewers: İlayda Mert
Interviewer: Emin Aksu

For project updates:
https://www.instagram.com/ozusiddetvehukuklab