The Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts organized a meaningful event to share culinary experience with individuals with special needs as part of the Kindness Week on March 13-20. On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, the “Kitchen without Barriers” event was held at Çakıroğlu İlkem Special Education and Rehabilitation Center, which has been working with children with special needs under the Ministry of National Education since 2008.
The event was attended by Prof. Dr. Adem Baltacı, Dean of IMU Faculty of Tourism, Asst. Prof. Dr. Esra Doğu Baykut, Head of the Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts. Asst. Prof. Dr. Berrin Onurlar, administrative and academic staff and department students participated in the event. Within the scope of the event, students performed a cupcake decorating workshop with children with special needs and offered a pleasant and instructive experience in the kitchen.
While the children had the opportunity to meet the fun world of the kitchen by revealing their creativity, it was once again emphasized that gastronomy can be accessible and inclusive for everyone.
The “Kitchen Without Barriers” event stood out as an exemplary corporate social responsibility project for individuals with special needs and an important work towards an inclusive gastronomy education.
