The 2nd World Children's Conference, organized by Özay Günsel Children's University, the first and only children's university in Cyprus, was held on 21-23 May 2021. 199 oral presentations from 25 countries were presented at the conference.
The 2nd World Children's Conference, hosted by Özay Günsel Children's University, the first and only children's university of the TRNC, was held in the TRNC between May 21-23, 2021. At the conference, where 28 sessions were held during 3 days, scientists from 25 countries presented 199 verbal presentations and discussed many issues with children in the center.
Dozens of topics related to children were discussed
At the 2nd World Children's Conference, scientists from different countries of Africa, America, Asia and Europe presented the results of their studies on children as oral presentations in 5 separate halls in the morning and afternoon for three days. Preschool education, school management, teacher behaviors, digital education opportunities, digital literacy and digital parenting, digital phobia, positive and negative reflections of the digital world on children, child abuse, child rights, separated parental attitudes, the phenomenon of violence, children's books, children's libraries, children and art, children's pictures and their meanings, child health issues, child and sleep, oral and dental care in children and adolescents, mentally and physically disabled children, development of social responsibility awareness in children, child and environmental awareness , entrepreneur-creative child, child, family, parent relationship during the pandemic process, problems caused by pandemic and distance education in children, mental problems, moral and ethical development in early childhood, approach to children in science and mathematics education, peer education model in the development of 21st century skills. Many research topics related to children were addressed and evaluated together. At the meeting where scientists participating in the conference came together with other experts in their fields, proposals for developing new joint projects were brought to the agenda.
The conference, which was held online due to the COVID 19 outbreak, started by Özay Günsel Children's University Rector Prof. Dr. Filiz Meriçli saying "good morning" to all participants in their own languages.
Prof. Dr. Filiz Meriçli: "Dozens of scientists from different countries came together to create a better world for children."
Stating that what is experienced and learned in childhood determines how people turn into individuals, Prof. Dr. Meriçli said, “Every baby is born innocent. Every child is curious. How do children who ask thousands of questions every day in their early years become individuals who do not ask questions, do not wonder, do not question, and even be violent? " Stating that children need clean water and sufficient food to grow, and a clean environment, Prof. Dr. Meriçli said, "Raising children as adults who love and respect people, nature, environment and art is the key to beautifying the world and the future." She said that at the World Children's Conference, in line with the founding objectives of Özay Günsel Children's University, dozens of scientists from different countries came together to create a better world for children.
Anna Günsel: "Policies to be implemented for children should be discussed on a global scale and implemented with a consensus spread all over the world"
Özay Günsel Children's University Board of Trustees Chairman Anna Günsel also addressed the participants at the opening of the World Children's Conference. Emphasizing that local studies are not sufficient alone to ensure that children live in a better world and a better future, Günsel said, "Policies to be implemented for children should be discussed on a global scale and implemented with a global consensus." Speaking to the participants with the words "If there was no pandemic, we would like to welcome you in our country, Cyprus, but since the meeting topics are too important to be postponed, we are doing it online." Anna Günsel thanked the scientists who contributed to this important conference.
Sema Hosta: "We must work together for children."
Sema Hosta, United Nations UNICEF Turkey representative, which develops projects for disadvantaged children all over the world, emphasized the importance of this meeting organized by Özay Günsel Children's University and said that all adults and all individuals and organizations and universities should work together for children. Hosta also gave examples of UNICEF's projects in the world.
Young people's performances have greatly been acclaimed
The 2nd World Children's Conference revealed successful musical performances by young people at its opening as well as at its closing. At the opening of the conference, Rauf Rasimov's 13-year-old student, pianist Can Sakkaoğlu played the Turkish March of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, while Begüm Tekakpınar, a master student of the Music Department of the Near East University Atatürk Education Faculty, sang a Northern Cyprus tune with the piano. The closing of the conference was made with a song written and composed by Rüya Yılmaz from the Music Department of the Near East University Atatürk Faculty of Education and sang online by high school children due to pandemic conditions.
