An awareness event was held at the July 15 National Will Hall as part of "World Celiac Week." Organized on May 21, 2026, in cooperation with the Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Gluten-Free Life Support Student Society and the Kırşehir Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, the event was attended by Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Musa Özata and Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Şimşek, Kırşehir Provincial Director of National Education Yusuf Yasin Gülşen, Kırşehir Provincial Director of Youth and Sports Yasin Çakmakçı, Kırşehir Provincial Director of Relations with Civil Society Hikmet Kılıç, as well as academics, institutional representatives, teachers, students, and parents. Aimed at raising public awareness about Celiac disease, promoting a gluten-free lifestyle, and developing empathy toward individuals with Celiac disease, the event began with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem.

In the opening speeches, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Okan Kuzu, President of the "Smile at Life with Celiac" Association and Academic Advisor to the Gluten-Free Life Support Student Society, took the floor. Drawing attention to the importance of increasing social awareness about Celiac disease, Kuzu emphasized the contributions of a gluten-free lifestyle to individuals' quality of life. He also mentioned the awareness efforts carried out within the university and the supportive role of student societies in this field.

Following the opening speeches, Kırşehir Provincial Director of Youth and Sports Yasin Çakmakçı addressed the participants. Emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among youth regarding a healthy lifestyle, Çakmakçı stated that such social awareness events hold great value for society.

Following the speech by Kırşehir Provincial Director of Youth and Sports Yasin Çakmakçı, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Musa Özata emphasized that Celiac disease is an important health issue that must be addressed not only from a medical perspective but also through its economic and social dimensions. Stating that the gluten-free life workshop, conducted from the perspectives of doctors, dietitians, and parents, is of great importance for a multidisciplinary approach, Özata commended the pioneering efforts of the Gluten-Free Life Support Student Society operating within the university. Thanking the academic advisor of the society, particularly Assoc. Prof. Dr. Okan Kuzu, and its student members, Özata expressed that the support provided by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and ÜNİDES is highly valuable for increasing social awareness.

Following the speeches by Prof. Dr. Musa Özata, a special promotional video prepared on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the founding of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University was screened. In the remainder of the program, a Polyphonic Choir Concert was performed, conducted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Satı Doğanyiğit Yıldız, a faculty member of the Neşet Ertaş Faculty of Fine Arts.



As part of the event, a "Celiac Week Awareness Show" was also staged. The performance drew attention to Celiac disease while delivering messages on creating social awareness about a gluten-free lifestyle and approaching the lives of individuals with Celiac disease with empathy.

Following the performance, Asst. Prof. Dr. Birgül Demir Doğan evaluated Celiac disease from a physician's perspective with her presentation titled "Celiac from a Doctor's Point of View." Afterwards, Dietitian Kübra Sarı provided information on the nutritional process in Celiac disease and maintaining a gluten-free lifestyle.

In the final part of the event, a presentation titled "Celiac from a Parent's Point of View" was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yasemin Kuzu. In the presentation, the life process of individuals with Celiac disease was addressed from a family perspective, sharing experiences during the diagnosis process, the effects of a gluten-free lifestyle on daily life, and the challenges faced by families with the participants.

At the end of the program, certificates of appreciation were presented to the choir conductor, speakers, exhibition area coordinators, science and art workshop coordinators, and all contributors. The event concluded with a commemorative group photo session, for which all participants were invited onto the stage.