Maltepe University Center for Implementation and Research for Street-Living and Working Children (SOYAÇ)

Volunteer Contract

Maltepe University Center for Implementation and Research for Street-Living and Working Children (SOYAÇ) was established on March 18, 2010. The purpose of the center is to develop implementation and research projects in cooperation with relevant state institutions, local governments, and non-governmental organizations to reintegrate street-living and/or working children, which is one of the important social problems of our country, into society. SOYAÇ not only contributes to the existing scientific knowledge and practitioners in this field through its implementation and research projects but also works to develop and implement effective child policies. SOYAÇ is the first and only center established within a university in our country for children living and/or working on the streets. SOYAÇ is also the only organization representing Turkey in the "Safe Families Safe Children" (SFSC) International Street Children Coalition, formed by 14 respected organizations from 10 countries.

Street-living and/or working children constitute one of the most vulnerable and excluded groups in society. For this reason, it is meaningful to carry out SOYAÇ implementation projects within the university with the active participation of university students under the guidance of faculty members from relevant departments. In recent years, the importance of university-community cooperation has been better understood, and the positive results of inter-institutional cooperation and coordination in producing solutions to social problems by combining theory and practice through an interdisciplinary approach have been increasingly recognized. The involvement of university students in social projects contributes to their development as socially sensitive and professionally equipped young people, thereby enhancing the quality of university education.

SOYAÇ Projects are projects where ethical sensitivity is of considerable importance due to the scope of the work. For SOYAÇ Project team members to carry out trust-based work with youth/children within the scope of projects in accordance with SOYAÇ principles and rules, they are expected to pay attention to and comply with the following points.

As a SOYAÇ Volunteer:

1. The trust relationship you will establish with young people/children within the scope of the work forms the basis of the SOYAÇ Model. The framework of the relationships you establish is determined by the roles you take in the team. You are expected to be sincere, clear, transparent, and honest with children.
2. SOYAÇ is not a center that aims to provide financial assistance. You are required not to provide financial support to the youth/children you are in contact with in the project, not to buy them gifts, and/or not to create expectations for them regarding financial matters.
3. You are expected to pay attention to the content of the topics you discuss and your behavior in environments where youth/children are present. You should avoid any attitudes and behaviors that could set a negative example for them.
4. You are expected not to use technological devices such as phones during the time spent with youth/children and to give your full attention to the work.
5. You are expected not to share your personal phone number and/or social media account information with youth/children, and your relationships should be limited to the project.
6. You are expected not to make promises to youth/children on any subject, to be careful in your statements, and to take care to protect your own boundaries and the boundaries of others.
7. You are expected to take responsibility in your work throughout the project and always carry out the work in communication with the team.
8. Students participating in SOYAÇ activities are supported with regular supervision and training. All team members are expected to regularly attend supervision groups. In special circumstances where participation is not possible, the supervisor must be informed at least one day in advance.
9. Volunteers who do not attend supervisions and/or team work more than 3 times during the term must leave the project.
10. Regular reporting of the work is of great importance. You are expected to take the necessary responsibility in this reporting and to submit the reports to the relevant coordinator on time.
11. You are expected to be in communication with the team during the work, fulfill your responsibilities, and help the team follow each other and ensure integrity.
12. During the activities, photographs are taken only by previously assigned persons. Special attention is paid to ensure that children's faces are not visible in these photographs. You are expected to avoid one-on-one photos, to be in group photos, and not to share the photographs from your personal accounts in any way.

Project volunteers are expected to be:

• Inclined to teamwork
• Humanitarian
• Empathetic
• Trustworthy
• Highly responsible
• Patient and determined
• Flexible
• Self-aware
• Open-minded
• Open to learning
• Humble
• Respectful of differences, and against all kinds of discrimination