Young People with Down Syndrome Cooked in the Kitchen in Balıkesir
In the district of Burhaniye, young people with Down syndrome entered the kitchen and cooked meals as part of a project prepared by students of the Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department at the Faculty of Applied Sciences (BUBFA) during their teamwork course. During the activity held at Özemle Yaşam Facilities in the Karaağaç neighborhood of Gömeç, five different dishes were prepared.
While various projects are carried out within the scope of the teamwork course at Burhaniye Faculty of Applied Sciences (BUBFA) of Balıkesir University, third-year students of the Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department implemented the project titled “Let’s Overcome Barriers with BUBFA, Let’s Live Without Barriers” for young people with Down syndrome. The participants went to the Özemle Yaşam Facilities in Karaağaç, Gömeç, where the young people with Down syndrome entered the kitchen under the guidance of gastronomy students and Chef Gizem Manisalı and prepared meals together.
Third-year Gastronomy and Culinary Arts student Emrah Erzaim said:
“As third-year students of Burhaniye Faculty of Applied Sciences, we prepared this project. Today, under the leadership of our Dean Mehmet Oğuzhan İlban, we came together with individuals with Down syndrome within the scope of our teamwork project. We cooked together with them and proved that there are no barriers in cooking.”
Chef Gizem Manisalı also stated:
“Today we organized an event at Özemle Yaşam with gastronomy students. As Artı-1 Kitchen, we are conducting a teamwork activity. Together with our young people with Down syndrome and our gastronomy students, we are currently preparing five different dishes. They will serve these meals to their families. We will all enjoy them together with happiness. Today is going very well. At the same time, we are proving that individuals with Down syndrome can also be employed in the gastronomy field.”
Sevda Akgündüz, Founder and Director of the Özel Gamzelerim Rehabilitation Center, said:
“Together with the students of Burhaniye Faculty of Applied Sciences and Burhaniye Özel Gamzelerim Rehabilitation Center, we organized an event today for our children with Down syndrome as part of teamwork. It was a very beautiful event. Together with their families, we saw what our children can achieve. I would like to thank everyone who contributed.”
Dean Prof. Dr. Mehmet Oğuzhan İlban said:
“As part of the teamwork course, we prepared a project showing that our brothers and sisters with Down syndrome can also enter the kitchen and have a good time. We are currently guests at this facility and we are implementing the project thanks to their hospitality. I would like to thank our sponsor Özemle Yaşam and our Gastronomy and Culinary Arts students for their support.”
Participant Serenay Salman said:
“I made pizza. Thank you all.”
Eslem Narin added:
“I made salad. I am very happy. I did many things.
