Aysel Ekşi

Academic career

Ekşi worked from 1966 to 1967 at the Mental Health Dispensary in Ankara, as a specialist at the Ankara University Medical-Social Center from 1967 to 1974, and as the Director of the University of Istanbul Medical-Social Center between 1972 and 1982. She qualified as an Associate Professor in 1976 and a professor in 1982. From 1983 to 2001 she was a faculty member of University of Istanbul Pediatric Health Institute and the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, where she conducted research about child and adolescent psychology.

Activism

Ekşi became involved in the late 1980s in activities to protect the secular culture of Turkey from what she perceived to be threats posed by the fundamentalist movements. She organized panels, symposiums and conferences, and organized a march of 1000 women in Çağlayan, Istanbul in January 1989 to raise awareness of the dangers of fundamentalism. She collected thousands of signatures from women who supported the secular nature of the Republic of Turkey, which were presented to then President Kenan Evren. Ekşi initiated, wrote and organized a number of declarations at the University of Istanbul promoting awareness of the "Core Value of the Republic of Turkey".

Ekşi organized teams of volunteers before the 2007, 2009 and 2011 elections, for the purpose of raising awareness of what she considered key issues of the country.

Ekşi and some of her colleagues, in 1989, formed Cagdas Yasimi Destekleme Dernegi (The Association for the Support of Contemporary Living) where Aysel Ekşi was elected as the Founding Chairwoman. She held this role until June 1990.

Associations and community service

Ekşi as a member of Neuropsychiatry Association, Pediatric Psychology Association, Adolescent and Pediatric Foundation and the Children's Kidney Foundation.

Ekşi was elected to the board of directors of ÇEKUL (Cevre ve Kultur Degerlerini Koruma ve Tanitma Vakfi – The Foundation for the Protection and Promotion of the Environment and Cultural Heritage). At CEKUL, she originated and implemented the "7 Trees" programme. On the assumption that each individual consumes approximately seven trees in a year, at least seven trees are planted for each participant of the campaign. More than 2 million trees have been planted in Istanbul and its environs as a result of the programme.

Ekşi was elected as President of Bizim Ulke Association (Our Country). This association provided primary school children living in less privileged neighbourhoods of Istanbul with summer and weekend activities and courses in sports, theatre, foreign languages, and nature. Bizim Ulke Association organised "First Aid Training Courses" for school children and the public after the August 1999 Marmara earthquake.

Personal

She was married to journalist Oktay Ekşi, and the mother of two sons Mehmet and Özgür. She died in May 2015.