Within our National Pact borders, everywhere is my homeland, my precious land, whether I live in a hamlet or a city, I am equal with everyone, I should share my knowledge, skills and labor, I thought.

The Atatürk Republic, which I was born into, has always been a source of pride for me. Except for the times I went abroad for education, I have spent my entire life in this beautiful country. Within our National Pact borders, everywhere is my homeland, my precious land, whether I live in a hamlet or a city, I am equal with everyone, I should share my knowledge, skills and labor, I thought. I spent a quarter of my life working in Anatolian lands. The beauties, not the difficulties and negativities I experienced, always remained in my mind. I learned a lot. Turkey is a large country geographically, it has very rich cultures, regional differences, traditions and lifestyles are different, but these are the things you can learn if you live there.

The Anatolian people are inclusive, hospitable, (even if you ask for the address, they won’t send you away without offering you tea) but they were left to their own fate. Our Republic brought schools, health centers and religious officials to the villages. Teachers became the source of enlightenment for the village people, midwives became the friends, confidants and health teachers of the women. Our midwives would get to know everyone with their home visits, learn the beauties and negativities first, guide the families and ensure that they lived healthily. Teachers would not only educate the students, they would also teach the mothers and fathers how to read and write. The religious official would perform the duties in his area of ​​responsibility. When you visited the village as a guest, the three of them would come to the mukthar’s house together, take part in the village protocol and work wholeheartedly to solve the village’s problems. Prof. Dr. Nusret Fişek, the value of Public Health, the architect of the law numbered 224 on the socialization of health services, with this law that he created, health centers became the women’s home, all the women of the village became the friends of the midwife, nurse and doctor. They, especially women, were joint decision makers in both health and village development.

Unfortunately, villages turned into neighborhoods, almost every village school was closed, and family physicians replaced health centers with the Health Transformation Project. The services provided by health centers were no longer provided in the family physician system, and people began to communicate less frequently with doctors, midwives, and nurses. Teachers had already gone to other schools and were no longer living in the village.

This issue left villages, or neighborhoods as they are called today, to their own fate. There was no one left to ask for information or consult about their experiences. Villages became introverted, role models disappeared.

There was no one left to touch children, young people, women, the disabled, adults, and the elderly. Years passed, and we began to hear news of child and woman abuse and murder from villages that had become introverted. We were shocked with every piece of news, our minds were unable to comprehend, and our bodies were no longer strong enough to fight. Before we could accept one painful piece of news, more pain was added to it. The rape of a two-year-old baby by adolescent children was brought up. We came to the point of going crazy.

In order to cure all these evils and what is happening, we need to act together, work together and heal while healing.

I would like to list my suggestions and address the authorities with my identities as both a public health professional and a member of ÇYDD;

*Mr. Minister of National Education, open village schools as soon as possible, assign teachers to villages, let teachers live in the village, let children attend primary school in the village. Regional Boarding Schools (YBO), (Our teacher Türkan always said YBOs are the life and soul of Turkey) are very, very valuable, they should be revived as they used to be, let our children attend secondary school here, let girls not be deprived of school. Until this happens, transportation education should continue, and especially girls should not be left out of formal education. If transportation system service is not provided, our girls in the village will not be able to go to school. Another most important issue is that the cooperation protocols with religious orders and congregations, associations and foundations working for this purpose should be canceled as the Ministry of National Education. No one, no institution other than teachers should enter schools.

*Mr. Minister of Health, even while the Health Transformation Law is still in effect, open health centers in villages, let midwives live in villages, provide preventive health services and raise healthy generations as in the past, and ensure that children, young people and women are equipped with accurate health information. Sexual health education should be provided continuously, primarily to adolescents.

*Mr. Minister of Youth and Sports, sports opportunities, village-city youth hand in hand programs, youth activities in line with secular education should be provided to spend the energy of young people in the right direction.

*Mr. Minister of Family Policies, let's prevent early marriages, let's educate mothers and fathers before having children. Just as a doctor cannot become a doctor without graduating from medical school, spouses who do not complete their parental education should not have children. Being a mother and father is a great responsibility, they will bring a person into the world and raise them, they can be very good people or very bad people, this should be prevented.

*Universities should move out of campus and implement projects for village development in every field.

*As ÇYDD, let's try to support every child who says 'I want to go to school but our economic conditions are insufficient' with educational scholarships, and let's work so that no child, especially girls, is left out of school. I call out to everyone who reads this letter; if there is a girl in your circle who is of school age but cannot go to school, I want her to visit the nearest ÇYDD branch and introduce the girl to the scholarship. We say that our girls should not stay at home, they should be in the school building with their teachers and friends.

Scientific, Secular, Contemporary, Public and Mixed Education is a Must. I believe that if this is achieved, the pain we are experiencing will end. If we join hands, we can reach the level of a modern country that was the dream of our Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Come on then.

Prof. Dr. Ayşe Yüksel

ÇYDD  President