Hundreds of beautiful handcrafted products added color to the festival in Izmir

The 2023-2024 Academic Year Adult Education Festival of İzmir Bornova Public Education Center Directorate was held with the participation of students, instructors, and citizens. Speaking about the exhibition with hundreds of colorful and diverse products, Director of Bornova Public Education Center, Yeliz Ünal, stated, ‘We have 25,000 students and we expect our citizens to be here. We aimed to bring together the works carried out in adult education institutions with the public to raise awareness and encourage more participation in these activities.’ The festival, which includes dozens of instructors and students, can be visited at Bornova Culture and Art Center today and tomorrow as well. Bornova District Governor Muzaffer Şahiner, Bornova District National Education Director Mustafa İslamoğlu, along with many protocol members and citizens attended the festival.
Expressing her views on the festival, Director of Bornova Public Education Center, Yeliz Ünal, said, ‘We started with artificial intelligence. We initiated the pre-registration process with QR code for the first time in Turkey at Bornova Public Education Center. We have recycling campaigns and social responsibility projects. At our first stand at the entrance, we accept organ donation. Additionally, there are works done by our children related to robotic coding. At another table, we create decorative products that can be used in homes from completely discarded papers. We collect skins thrown away from places like Işıkkent Shoemakers’ Site and create first-class products such as wallets and bags. We have 25,000 students and we welcome our citizens here. We aim to bring together the works carried out in adult education institutions with the public to raise awareness and encourage more participation in these activities. We are organizing a wide-ranging exemplary festival in collaboration with special education students, students in schools, and many hospitals.’
‘Our exhibition is completely open to the public,’ said student Melis Yarbasan, ‘We share all the work we have done throughout the winter at the Public Education Center through our exhibition. There is a very nice education offered to all women at Bornova Public Education Center. Apart from here, we also have different handicraft products at our other stands. We are displaying products such as hats, scarves, and many more items produced by our friends with great care and effort.’
Dilek Kanova, a student who has been attending the gourd course at Bornova Public Education Center for 1.5 years, stated, ‘At the end of the many trainings we received in our course, we have a exhibition. I have a product that can be used as a lighted lamp with an Atatürk embroidery made using various techniques on the gourd. We invite all our citizens to our exhibition.’ Bahar Çağlan, who is a handicrafts teacher and has been working as a master instructor for 4 years, said, ‘I provide training on gourd, macrame, Punch, and Ebru Art. I have around 25 students in the gourd course. Together with our drills and tips, we create very nice technical works. With my students, we also produce very nice works using knitting techniques from ropes in macrame.’
‘I have had a very productive period with my students,’ said Gönül Kaygusuz, a student who has been studying for 2 years, ‘I make glass mosaic art by cutting and painting glasses. While working, the toning of the colors, the proper cutting of our glasses, the grouting process, and the details are the technical aspects of this craftsmanship. I completed the painting in 2 months.’ Gamze Çelik, the instructor who mentioned they are at the end-of-year exhibition with their 30 active students, stated, ‘All our paintings, works are on display on the table. I had a very productive period with my students. I invite all students who want to apply to the Bornova Public Education Center Glass Mosaic course.’