The “Second Spring” exhibition, prepared by the participants of the 60+ Refreshment University, which is the first and only in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, operating with the support of the University of Kyrenia and the Near East University, opened by the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts at the University of Kyrenia Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu Republic Hall with a ceremony attended by Minister of Labor and Social Security Hasan Taçoy and Kyrenia Deputy Fikri Toros. The exhibition will be open to the public free of charge until 15 July.

At the opening ceremony of the exhibition, the Founding Chairman of Board of Trustees and Rector of the University of Kyrenia Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, 60+ Refreshment University student Zülal Karlıova, 60+ Refreshment University Coordinator Assist. Prof. Dr. Emete Toros and Minister of Labor and Social Security Hasan Taçoy made speeches.

Hasan Taçoy: “The work initiated by the University of Kyrenia and 60+ Refreshment University is an example that we can draw inspiration from.”
Speaking at the opening of the “Second Spring” painting exhibition, Minister of Labor and Social Security Hasan Taçoy started his speech by congratulating the University of Kyrenia, which has implemented the 60+ Refreshment University project in the TRNC, and said, “I appreciate all our precious students who brought these works to us.”

Minister Taçoy said that they will implement a similar project with the Cyprus Turkish Pensioners Association, which will enable retired citizens over the age of 60 to use their social lives efficiently and continue to generate benefits for the society.

Stating that social projects should be increased, Minister Taçoy said, “All these social projects are a support given to humanity. As the Minister of Labor and Social Security, I try to take a step towards many studies that include the rights of the elderly and the mental health of the elderly in the social security terms. The work initiated by the University of Kyrenia and 60+ Refreshment University is an example that we can draw inspiration from.”

Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu: “Education is a lifelong process. We, with 60+ Refreshment University, offer opportunities in this direction to people over the age of 60.”
Speaking at the ceremony, University of Kyrenia Founding Chairman of Board of Trustees and Rector Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu said, “With the increase in the average age limit in the world and in our country, active and successful aging has gained greater importance. For this reason, as the University of Kyrenia, we launched 60+ Refreshment University for the first time in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 2018 in order to meet the needs.”

Stating that the 60+ Refreshment University project adds many values ​​to the society, Prof. Dr. Salihoğlu said, “Education is a lifelong process. We, with the 60+ Refreshment University, offer opportunities in this direction to people over the age of 60. While examining the works in the “Second Spring” exhibition, I remembered Anna Mary Robertson Moses, who started painting at the age of 78 and became one of the most important names of modern art in the world today under the name “Grandma Moses”. Dr. Salihoğlu said, “I believe that among the 60+ Refreshment University participants, there will be prominent names with their works.”

Assist. Prof. Dr. Emete Toros: “Our program, which we started with four people, succeeded in reaching 90 people in one year. We are very happy.”
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, 60+ Refreshment University Coordinator Assist. Prof. Dr. Emete Toros started her speech saying “Today is a very important day that can be considered a touchstone for us”.

Reminding that the 60+ Refreshment University project laid its foundations in the TRNC with the International Aging Society and Human Symposium they organized in 2018, Assist. Prof. Dr. Toros said, “To be honest, at that time, although I was excited for 60+ Refreshment University, I had doubts that it could find its way in the TRNC. However, our program, which we started with only four participants, succeeded in reaching 90 people in one year. We are very happy.”

Assist. Prof. Dr. Emete Toros also touched on the COVID-19 pandemic period and said, “We have experienced many negativities due to the pandemic we are experiencing. Thanks to our university administration, who wholeheartedly believed in this program and faced all these negativities, our supportive teachers, and all our participants who set an example for our society with their love of learning, today we are getting the first fruit of the painting class, which is one of our elective courses in our program.”

Zülal Karlıova: “I would like to thank the management of the University of Kyrenia, which provided us with the opportunity to receive free education and lectures with the 60+ Refreshment University that it has implemented in the TRNC, based on the principle of social responsibility.”
Zülal Karlıova, a student of 60+ Refreshment University who also teaches painting, shared her excitement and happiness in the opening speech of the exhibition. Zülal Karlıova said, “I would like to thank the directorate of the University of Kyrenia, who provided us with the opportunity to receive free education and lectures with the 60+ Refreshment University that it has implemented in the TRNC, based on the principle of social responsibility.”

Stating that she attended +60 Refreshment University in the second term, Karlıova said, “I could not attend the first term due to my busy schedule. But in the second term, my first job was to enroll in 60+ Refreshment University. However, I received an offer to give painting lessons to the students of our university. Unfortunately, on the day of our first lesson, face-to-face training was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But we didn’t give up. Our university said that we can continue our classes online, and today we have brought you 20 works made with various techniques. I am very happy to be a part of this beautiful family.”