BELGEM Student Accepted to Medical School in Italy
Mayor Eşki: “We are sending you off as a spark—return as the Fire of the Republic”
Doğa Naz Şarkoğlu, a student at the Bornova Municipality Youth Education Center (BELGEM), has achieved great success by gaining admission to the Faculty of Medicine at UniCamillus University in Italy. Doğa emphasized that she reached this dream thanks to the free and high-quality educational support she received from BELGEM. Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki highlighted this success as a concrete result of investing in education. Quoting Atatürk, he told Doğa Naz, “We are sending you to Italy as a spark—we expect you to return as the Fire of the Republic.”
Doğa Naz Şarkoğlu, a 12th-grade student at BELGEM, has been accepted into the Faculty of Medicine at Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences (UniCamillus), one of Italy’s most prestigious universities. Having dreamed of becoming a doctor from a young age, Doğa expressed her gratitude to BELGEM and her teachers for making this dream come true.
Doğa Naz Şarkoğlu:
“Studying medicine has been my childhood dream. I was able to gain admission to this university with the support of BELGEM and my teachers. We moved from Istanbul to Izmir, and having access to such an opportunity here was a great privilege for me. Thanks to an institution like BELGEM, I was able to succeed without attending expensive private courses. I sincerely thank my teachers, friends, and the Mayor of Bornova.”
Mayor Eşki: “We expect you to return as the Fire of the Republic”
Congratulating Doğa Naz Şarkoğlu in person, Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized that every investment in education contributes to social equality:
“Doğa’s success has made us all proud. For us, BELGEM is not just an education center—it is one of the key pillars of our vision for a fair future in which no child in Bornova is left behind due to lack of opportunity. In the early years of the Republic, successful students were sent to schools across Europe to receive world-class education, and upon their return, they contributed to raising Turkey above the level of contemporary civilization. During their departure, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk told them, ‘We are sending you off as a spark—you will return as the Fire of the Republic.’ We now send off Doğa Naz as a spark to Italy and await her return as the Fire of the Republic.”
BELGEM is open to all students
Bornova Municipality’s Director of Social Assistance Services, Damla Kaya, stated that Doğa’s achievement has made the entire BELGEM family proud:
“We are just as happy as Doğa. BELGEM has been offering free support to students in Bornova for many years. Our goal is to increase the number of branches and students.”
BELGEM Director Süheyla Kayalı shared her thoughts:
“We are proud of her and wish her continued success. Seeing our students reach this level is the greatest joy for us.”
About UniCamillus
Located in Rome, Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences (UniCamillus) is a distinguished private Italian university focused exclusively on medicine and health sciences. The university offers internationally recognized degrees and is known for its emphasis on practical medical training, clinical skill development, and scientific research. It accepts outstanding students from around the world.
What Does BELGEM Offer?
BELGEM provides free academic support to students from 4th grade through middle and high school. Student progress is digitally monitored through the BİLSA-OKULSİS system. With guidance services, monthly practice exams, progress reports for parents, and rich course content, BELGEM stands out as one of the strongest examples of equal opportunity in education.