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The opening session of the “Cevher Child” project, launched to discover the potential of gifted and talented children and equip them with social and emotional skills through appropriate educational methods, was held on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the Gebze Arapçeşme Science and Art Center.

Launched through a collaboration between our university and the Gebze Municipality, the project aims to indirectly enhance children’s academic achievements and integrate them into their communities with strong life skills. Conducted under the IMÜZEP (Istanbul Medeniyet University Gifted Education Program)—a multidimensional and interdisciplinary educational model—the project spans a two-year period from 2025 to 2027. Based on scientific foundations such as Bloom’s Taxonomy, the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, and Sternberg’s Theory of Successful Intelligence, the educational program accepts only 3rd and 4th-grade students. The program offers an interdisciplinary journey of discovery across various fields, ranging from gastronomy to software, artificial intelligence to numismatics, and philosophy to entrepreneurship.

The opening ceremony held in Gebze was attended by our Rector Prof. Dr. Gülfettin Çelik, our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Yaşar Bülbül, Gebze District Governor Mehmet Ali Özyiğit, Gebze Mayor Zinnur Büyükgöz, Project Coordinator Prof. Dr. Marilena Z. Leana Taşcılar, along with numerous parents and students.

"Our Most Valuable Asset Is Humanity"

Delivering a comprehensive opening speech at the event, our Rector Prof. Dr. Gülfettin Çelik emphasized that in the 21st century, the most important foundation of nations is the human being itself. Beginning his remarks with the statement, “Our most valuable asset is humanity,” Çelik noted that as a university, they have moved beyond the claim of being merely an institution that grants diplomas. Çelik shared the vision underlying the project, stating, “We must focus on five key fields with the university students who come to us. It is not enough to merely train engineers or doctors. We also prioritize our students’ academic development, as well as their personality and character, healthy socialization, integration into the global system, and physical development.” Recalling that Gebze is a special place where he spent his childhood, Çelik concluded his remarks by saying, “Our Cevher Children Project is the first step in bringing our gifted children together with academia during their time outside of school in these five key fields. Through this vast ecosystem, we will offer our children a two-year journey that addresses every aspect of life.”

​"Refining a Gem Is a Matter of Craftsmanship"

​Gebze Mayor Zinnur Büyükgöz noted that the project had been developed with great care from the very beginning of the naming process, stating, "We have a gem in our hands, but recognizing its value and processing it correctly is a matter of craftsmanship." Noting that a good diamond cannot reveal its true value unless it passes through the hands of a skilled craftsman, Büyükgöz emphasized that the Cevher Children project is the only local government initiative of its kind being implemented in Turkey. He added, “Unfortunately, there is an exam-score-focused mindset within our Ministry of National Education, and in this process, talents can sometimes be overlooked. Here, we will not serve our children ready-made knowledge or ‘fish’; instead, we will teach them how to fish—that is, critical thinking, the ability to analyze, and leadership skills. We aim to help these special children, whose temperaments are suited to this, develop the reflex to generate knowledge in every field—from mathematics to philosophy—in a very short time." With these words, he indicated that they have moved beyond the traditional education system’s approach focused solely on "teaching."

​Mayor Büyükgöz also emphasized technology in her speech, stating, “Our youth should not merely be consumers of technology but leaders who produce laser technology and write the software and games inside phones. They must never become slaves to technology,” defining the project’s vision as “cultivating inventors who will elevate the Teknofest generation to the highest level.”

“Our Gifted Children Are a Special Group, Just Like the Zakat Rate”

Gebze District Governor Mehmet Ali Özyiğit made a striking analogy in his speech, drawing attention to the proportion of gifted individuals in society. “These children make up 2.5% of the entire human population. This ratio is the zakat rate in our faith; do not forget this,” said Özyiğit, noting that nations capable of identifying these gems rise to the pinnacle.

​Highlighting the high risk that children whose potential is not properly guided may be lost and could stray onto undesirable paths in the future, District Governor Özyiğit called for sensitivity regarding the need to "not dilute the process" and ensure that those who do not deserve it are not included in these groups, in order to maintain the seriousness of the process. Additionally, calling on academics to ensure these valuable efforts become a lasting legacy, Özyiğit emphasized that the work must be transformed into academic articles or books to contribute to the scientific community, ensuring that these experiences are not limited to Gebze alone.

Following the opening remarks, protocol members visited the classrooms to meet with the students. At the same time, a seminar for parents was conducted by Prof. Dr. Marilena Z. Leana Taşcılar. During the seminar, the project’s core structure was explained, with a focus on the attitudes parents should adopt toward gifted children. Parents were advised not to stifle their children’s strong sense of curiosity, to serve as patient and supportive guides, and to prioritize their emotional development by avoiding the pressure of perfectionism.

Launched with the goal of helping children identify their strengths and weaknesses and develop social-emotional learning skills such as problem-solving and teamwork, the program—which aims to cultivate “Little Entrepreneurs” and “AI Pioneers” who understand tomorrow’s technology today—concluded with a group photo session. This educational journey will not only enable children to express themselves more effectively but also lay the groundwork for them to grow into individuals with a strong sense of social responsibility.