Under the auspices of the Kırşehir Governorship and within the scope of the 2025 Year of the Family, the Kırşehir Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Policies organized a workshop titled “The Best Interests of the Child and Interagency Cooperation.” The workshop, held on November 3, 2025, at the Kırşehir Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Policies, was attended by Governor Murat Sefa Demiryürek, Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, Deputy Governor Alper Balcı, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Senior Colonel Ahmet Yıldırım, Provincial Police Chief Mesut Görücü, Provincial Director of Family and Social Policies Serkan Sağlam, as well as local administrators, heads of institutions, NGO representatives, academics, and citizens.



The opening speech of the workshop was delivered by Kırşehir Governor Murat Sefa Demiryürek, who emphasized the importance of family and children’s rights. Governor Demiryürek highlighted that child protection is not only a field of social services but also a human responsibility, and stated that all institutions must work in cooperation to support the physical, emotional, and social development of children. Expressing his hope that the workshop would contribute to the well-being of all children, Governor Murat Sefa Demiryürek extended his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the organization of the event.

Speaking at the workshop, Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil emphasized that Akhism is not merely a professional guild but a holistic philosophy of life grounded in individual virtue, social responsibility, and moral values. He stated that the fundamental mission of Akhism, inspired by the spirit of futuwwa, is to raise virtuous individuals based on knowledge, art, and morality, to increase goodness, support the oppressed, and strengthen society. Highlighting that Ahi also means brother, brave, and generous, Prof. Karahocagil noted that the values of compassion, solidarity, sharing, and selflessness in Ahi culture form the essence of child protection policies. He described the workshop as a meaningful step that bridges the values of civilization with modern knowledge. Stressing that universities are leading centers of knowledge, social responsibility, and transformation, he stated that it is their duty to contribute to data-driven human rights policies and to enhance protective and preventive services for children. Prof. Karahocagil affirmed that Kırşehir Ahi Evran University is committed to protecting family structures, promoting children’s rights, and developing psychosocial and early intervention systems in cooperation with the Kırşehir Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services and other partners. He concluded by expressing his hope that the workshop would strengthen children’s rights and protection systems, establish lasting interagency cooperation, and help build a future where every child grows up safely and lovingly.

The two-day workshop will address the protection of the best interests of the child, the strengthening of interagency cooperation mechanisms, and the importance of adopting a holistic approach within the child protection system. The outcomes of the workshop are expected to form the foundation of the “Kırşehir Grand Family” project, which will be carried out under the coordination of the Kırşehir Governorship with the support of various institutions.

With strong participation, the workshop supported by a range of institutions, including Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, the Provincial Directorate of National Education, the Provincial Police Department, the Provincial Gendarmerie Command, the Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management, İŞKUR, the Provincial Health Directorate, and the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation.