At BARÜ, MP Serkan Bayram shared his life story of overcoming obstacles.

20 Mayıs 2026

At Bartın University (BARÜ), Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Istanbul MP and United Nations (UN) Peace Ambassador Serkan Bayram delivered an inspiring talk titled “A Life Overcoming Obstacles”, offering young people important advice on perseverance, determination, and social awareness.

The event, organized in collaboration with BARÜ’s Special Education Application and Research Center and the Disabled Student Unit Coordination Office, attracted significant interest from students and academics alike.

Opening speeches emphasized accessibility and inclusive education

In the opening speeches, Dr. Tahir Mete Artar, Director of BARÜ’s Special Education Application and Research Center and Coordinator of the Disabled Student Unit, highlighted the challenges faced by individuals with special needs in social life and underlined the importance of promoting an inclusive society.

BARÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akkaya stated: “We regard accessible and inclusive education as one of the fundamental pillars of our higher education vision. Within the scope of the Council of Higher Education’s Accessible University Awards, our university currently holds 21 accessibility flags and 7 Accessible University Program Badges. For the 2026 applications, we have also submitted applications for 12 accessibility flags and 5 program badges. In addition, through our Accessible Life Center, 151 individuals with special needs and their families benefit from special education services across 381 sessions, from early childhood through adulthood. We see disability not merely as an issue of accessibility, but as a matter of social awareness. In this regard, today’s guest, our esteemed MP Mr. Serkan Bayram, will serve as a source of inspiration for all of us. I hope this talk will be highly beneficial for everyone attending.”

MP Serkan Bayram shared his inspiring life journey

During the program, Serkan Bayram shared his personal story with participants: “If you have not watched the film about my life, I encourage you to do so. Buğday Tanesi is indeed both a life story and a social responsibility project. Through this work, we received more than 50 international awards. I was born in Erzincan in 1974 and suffered an accident in a field when I was only one year old. I was in intensive care for 40 days and came back to life on the 41st day. Until the age of 18, because of social pressure and prejudice, I walked around with my hands in my pockets. I even went abroad to escape from people’s questions, yet today life has granted me the opportunity to share my story in different countries around the world.”

MP Bayram: “You do not lose when you fall, but when you give up”

Speaking about his experiences in education and politics, Bayram offered valuable advice to young people: “In 2015, at the age of 41, I became a Member of Parliament for Erzincan. You must rise from where you fall and dedicate yourself to serving humanity. That is the message I received from life. I have spoken at universities all around the world. Young people, diligence is the mother of good luck. We must struggle, work hard, and strive for our dreams and goals. Our motto should be: ‘You do not lose when you fall, but when you give up.’ Life is a long journey with ups and downs. Things may not always turn out as we imagine. But you must have goals and pursue them relentlessly. You should improve yourselves well, because it will be you who represent our country on the international stage.”

Following the talk, participants including Rector Akkaya attended a book-signing session where MP Bayram signed copies of his book Buğday Tanesi.

BARÜ Communication Coordination Office

Fotoğraflar