German teaching student, Esra Yılgın of Uludağ University (UÜ), which is noted for its social responsibility projects carried out by its students, offers sign language lessons to other volunteer students at the project workshop of the university's medico. The lessons, which teach people how to communicate with deaf people, are drawing great interest. Three classes have been opened for over 100 students who want to learn sign language. It was announced that the lessons will continue until May 10.
Yılgın tries to reveal the difficulties that deaf people encounter in daily life. "The students are very pleased with the lessons. There are some whose eyes brim with tears at the end of the lessons," she added. Yılgın offers lessons as a volunteer and aims to teach people sign language so that they can say "good morning" to deaf people when they meet them.
According to 2012 data of Turkey's Social Security Institution, nearly 150,000 people are hearing-impaired in Turkey. The basis of Turkish sign language dates back to the school which was established by Abdülhamid II in 1902, named Yıldız Sağırlar Okulu (Yıldız School for the Deaf). Some improvements have been made in recent years in the direction of updating and establishing a modern sign language in the country. In addition, there are some efforts which intend to create better employment conditions for the hearing-impaired. Today, there are more than 50 schools that provide services to hearing-impaired people living across Turkey.
