During the 2024–2025 academic year, students of the SSP900 Social Responsibility Projects course at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Faculty of Theology carried out 34 projects that made direct contributions to society. These initiatives significantly enhanced students’ awareness of volunteerism, strengthened their teamwork and communication skills, and fostered stronger interaction between our Faculty and the local community.
The projects were organized under themes such as goodness and volunteerism, humanitarian awareness, environment and sustainability, education and mentorship, animal welfare, library and cultural services, and health and addiction prevention. Notable projects during this period included the photography exhibitions “The Value Where Humanity Unites: Goodness!”, “Goodness-Themed Volunteer Activities”, “A Scientific Perspective on Goodness”, and “Do a Good Deed for Gaza”. Students also contributed to social awareness through initiatives like “Knitting Winter Clothes for Underprivileged Students” and “Hand in Hand for Our Furry Friends”.
Under the theme of environment and sustainability, projects such as “A Sapling, A Good Deed”, “Tree Planting Project”, “Forest Cleaning Activity”, and “Marine Pollution: Kozlu Coast Cleanup” were implemented, aiming to protect nature, raise environmental awareness, and leave a more livable world for future generations. In the area of education and mentorship, senior students shared their experiences with preparatory class students through projects including “Education with Quran Course Students” and “Learning and Having Fun Together”.
Animal welfare also constituted an important focus of the projects. Activities included providing clean food and water for stray animals, fostering compassion for animals among children through recycling initiatives, and raising awareness about animal rights. Projects to improve the Faculty library, such as classifying and organizing books for easier student access, were also carried out. In addition, initiatives promoting public health—including a conference on “Smoking and Tobacco Addiction” and research on the effects of smoking in manuscripts—were highlighted.
Students further demonstrated their sense of volunteerism and social responsibility by participating in the cleaning and maintenance of prayer rooms. Activities at the Faculty mosque and the KYK Karaelmas Student Dormitory mosque exemplified cooperation and solidarity.
Through these thirty-four projects, students actively experienced a culture of volunteerism, generated social benefits through their own initiative, and engaged in meaningful interactions with different age groups. The initiatives contributed to increased environmental awareness, equal opportunities in education, animal welfare consciousness, and strengthened awareness of healthy living and addiction prevention, while also enhancing the Faculty’s sustainable engagement with the city.
We congratulate all students, advising faculty, and stakeholders who contributed, and we hope these exemplary acts of goodness will continue and grow in the coming academic years.
