Religious Education in Social Service and Child
Protection Agency
Key Questions
•
What are the aims of RE in Social Service and Child protection Agency?•
Analyzing of the program of these institutions.•
What are the problems of these Education.RE in Social Service and Child Protection Agency
In our history, we had some places for children who have no family and home.
In 1917 «Istanbul Himayeyi Etfal Cemiyeti (the institution of children protection) » was opened. In 1983 this institution was shut down and opened a new institution named «Social Service and Child Protection Agency» In 2012, that
institution was turned over to the «Ministry of Family and Social Politics»
(See http://cocukhizmetleri.aile.gov.tr/hakkimizda/tarihce )
Children in social services and child protection agency are (Ozdemir, 2012);
•
Orphan children who lost both or one of their parents•
Children who have no (certain) parents•
Children who are neglected by their parents (children of addicted, beggar, and prostitute parents.There are several places for children (Ozdemir, 2012)
•
Day care center: for 0-12 years olds children who need help•
Orphanage: for 13-18 years old children who need help•
Children home: for 0-18 years old children. It consist of 6- 8 children•
According to «international children rights agreement»«every child has a right to learn and practice his religion freely and no one can be forced to accept and practice any religion»
(See Cocuk haklari Sozlesmesi. UNICEF. http://
www.unicefturk.org/public/uploads/files/UNICEF_CocukHakl arinaDairSozlesme.pdf
)
The process of RE in Social Services (Ozdemir, 2012)
•
The first application of the department of religious affairs in religious services in the social services and childprotection agency started in 1989.
•
But it was stopped because of some reaction againstsermons and preaches in these institutions in 1992 until 1996. It was stopped in 1997 again.
•
In 2007 department of religious affairs and Ministry ofFamily and Social services signed a protocol about having sermons and preaches in those places.
According to researches, there are some topics that preachers should deal with (Ozdemir, 2012);
• They should teach our religion without making them get bored. According to some research, children in the protection agency told that children under the
government protection say «we want to learn our religion but when it gets longer we get bored».
• When they try to teach about God, they should emphasize the love and mercy of God instead of fear of him.
• Children want to learn about angels and other spiritual creatures. Preachers have to know how to teach abstract topics.
• Miracles of the prophets and their life process are the main topics that they want to learn. In this case, preachers should know that how to teach prophets and
especially prophet Mohammad.
•
According to researchers, one of the main topics thatchildren want to learn is fate and destiny. Preachers have to remind them their responsibilities and meaning of life and motivate them.
•
Trust in God (tevekkül), death, and hereafter are the other topics that they wonder according to researchers as well.Cited Resources
• Ozdemir, S. (2012). Dini Sosyal Hizmet Alanlari. Din Egitimi El Kitabı. Ed. By Recai Dogan &Remziye Ege. Grafiker: Ankara
• Ozdemir, S. (2012). Dînî Sosyal Hizmetlerin Temelleri. SDU Faculty of Arts and Sciences Journal of Social Sciences, N:25, pp.125-138.
• Cocuk haklari Sozlesmesi. UNICEF. http://
www.unicefturk.org/public/uploads/files/UNICEF_CocukHaklarina DairSozlesme.pdf
• http://cocukhizmetleri.aile.gov.tr/hakkimizda/tarihce
