16.12.2025 20:00
Down Futsal National Team athlete Harun Efe Türk from Konya not only wears the crescent-star jersey for the Futsal National Team, but he is also developing his skills in photography and traditional bookbinding at the Karatay Special Education Vocational School where he studies.
Harun Efe Türk, a 16-year-old with Down syndrome living in Konya, wears the national jersey of the Futsal National Team and inspires those around him with his talent in photography and traditional bookbinding at a special education vocational school.
At Karatay Special Education Vocational School, known for its impactful projects in special education, Harun Efe, like all students, stands out with his talent and determination. He embodies the school's slogan, "We are also here in art, sports, education, and production," and adds value to his school with his versatile abilities that make one say "he has ten skills on ten fingers."
REPAIRED THE WORN QUR'AN Harun Efe, who is closely monitored by his teachers, is also learning bookbinding in traditional Turkish Islamic art. After three months of training in this field, he renewed the binding and cover of a worn Qur'an brought from the neighborhood. Additionally, he is receiving photography training at school and showcased his talent in this area with his shots during meetings and events.
Harun Efe Türk, who plays for the Down Futsal National Team, worked hard during the European Championship held in June. The school administration, workshop teachers, and classroom teacher are making great efforts to support Harun's diverse talents. Harun Efe shines as one of the best examples of how individuals with special needs can reach significant milestones with proper guidance and support.
'A CHILD WITH TEN SKILLS ON TEN FINGERS' Mustafa Perçin, a teacher at Karatay Special Education Vocational School, told AA reporter that Harun and his friends contributed to recycling by creating products like notebooks, envelopes, and boxes from waste materials in the Zero Waste Project.
Perçin pointed out that Harun has developed his manual skills, saying: "Harun's manual skills are very good. He is talented in both sports and artistic fields. That's why we are working intensively with him. We create an individual education plan (IEP) for each child. We support their development in their respective fields. Currently, Harun stands out with his manual skills and artistic talents. Since we have observed his abilities in Qur'an binding, we are directing him towards this area. Harun also has an extra talent in photography. We initially did photo shoots within the school, and then we transitioned to external shoots. Recently, he served as a photographer at a congress, and as we see his success, we are trying to develop new projects for him to progress further. Our goal is for him to acquire a skill, socialize, and improve his communication skills. Harun successfully represented our country internationally in Italy as part of the Down Futsal National Team. Harun is a child with ten skills on ten fingers. I also send my love to his family for raising him so well."
Karatay Special Education Vocational School Principal Soner Selçuk Tekeli stated that they are proud of Harun Efe, just like every student, emphasizing that the student has the capacity to develop in every area.
EVEN SERVES TEA AT HOME Mother Esra Türk stated that Harun Efe is also skilled at home tasks, saying, "He is very organized in his daily life. He serves tea very neatly and beautifully. I am proud of his skills. His teachers also show great interest in him wherever he goes. I am very happy about that." Harun Efe Türk expressed that he enjoys spending time at school, stating that he loves photography and bookbinding in addition to football.