Stand Upright Project by CIU Academics

The Stand Upright project, which is coordinated by physiotherapist Münevver Özakalın and assisted by specialist Ayşe Volkan, faculty members in the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation of Cyprus International University (CIU), is running at full speed.

The project financed within the scope of the European Union’s (EU) " The eighth Cypriot civil society in action” grant scheme is carried out by the Turkish Cypriot Physiotherapists Association, where  along with specialist physiotherapists Burcu Tokgöz and Mehmet Miçooğulları, faculty members from the CIU Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, a total of 6 educators are actively involved in the training program.
The project includes providing primary school children with body awareness and the importance of correct posture, exercise and physical activity for their physical health in general, and spine health and preventive physiotherapy education in particular.

The Stand Upright project is planned for a period of 24 months in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades of 12 primary schools and 4 special education centers in 6 regions in North Cyprus, and the training will be carried out by physiotherapists who are experts in the field of body awareness and spine health.

So far, within the scope of the project, October trainings were held at Ziyamet Primary School, Polatpaşa Primary School, Şht. İlker Karter Primary School  and  Ziyamet Special Education Center. The project also aims to include physical education and classroom teachers in the training in terms of sustainability.

Within the specified parameters of the project, informative series of trainings will be organized regarding potential spine problems that may occur in children.  At the end  of the trainings, a booklet will be prepared by experts and shared with all stakeholders in hopes of getting it included in the primary education curriculum.

In addition to giving training to protect public health, the project also aims to prepare the legal texts of Physiotherapists regarding the Union and the Profession in accordance with the European Union legal texts and standards, and to improve the capacity of the association.