One Act of Kindness, a Thousand Hopes: Green Crescent’s Gathering for Good
The Turkish Green Crescent Society provides free psychological and social support through its Green Crescent Counseling Centers (YEDAM) to people experiencing addiction related to alcohol, tobacco, substance, internet, and gambling. Its work spans addiction prevention, counseling, and rehabilitation. Alongside individual counseling, YEDAM centers offer social support services and workshops to help clients lead addiction-free lives.
Recognizing the importance of involving clients in creative activities and strengthening their social connections, Green Crescent held its Gathering for Good under the theme “One Act of Kindness, a Thousand Hopes.” Held on Monday, October 12, at Sepetçiler Pavilion, the event brought Green Crescent supporters together to share in a spirit of solidarity and generosity. The charity bazaar featured handmade items created by YEDAM clients, showcasing their skills and hard work. The bazaar highlighted the importance of creative activities, social participation, and community support in the recovery process. Visitors’ strong interest in the items also underscored the power of solidarity in supporting people on their recovery journeys.
The event was emceed by Betül Gülbahar, President of the Turkish Women’s Federation, and Sema Coşkun, President of the Keşkül Association. Guests also enjoyed musical performances by popular Turkish music artist Aylin Şengül Taşçı.
“We Have Supported More Than 100,000 People Through YEDAM”
Addressing attendees, Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Dinç, President of the Turkish Green Crescent Society, underscored the profound impact of addiction on people’s lives[FDA2.1].
“Addiction takes so much away from a person. First, it takes their time and resources, then their relationships, their job, and their health. We are guided by the belief that the greatest act of kindness we can offer in this world is to save someone’s life. Today, one of the greatest acts of kindness we can perform is to help someone overcome addiction. That is precisely what we do at our Green Crescent Counseling Centers. We offer free psychotherapy and social support through a system unlike any other in the world. To date, we have supported more than 100,000 people,” he said.
Dinç said the Gathering for Good reflected this commitment in action. He noted that the Charity Bazaar, featuring handmade items created by YEDAM clients, underscored the importance of creative engagement, participation in social life, and community support throughout the recovery process.
“A Türkiye Free from Addiction Is No Distant Dream”
Dinç warned that the addiction industry was constantly developing new ways to target young people and stressed that there was no time to lose when it came to preventing addiction.
“The addiction industry is powerful and highly organized. Every day, it comes up with new tactics to lure our young people into its traps. We must therefore respond with greater courage and urgency and take on more responsibility. Some countries may have waited too long to prevent addiction and turned to harm reduction out of desperation. But Türkiye is not in that position. We still have hope. We believe we can reach more people and change more lives,” he said.
Emphasizing that preventing addiction requires support from all parts of society, Dinç urged participants to help spread the word about Green Crescent’s work and the support it provides.
“We want you to serve as ambassadors for Green Crescent, helping more people learn about our work and the support we offer. We want everyone to play a part in addiction prevention. The more people who join us, the stronger we will be. We must act before it is too late. We are committed to never giving up on any of our children. A Türkiye free from addiction is no distant dream,” he said.
