We Continue to Strengthen International Cooperation: A Seminar on the "Extrability Movement: Sails of the Spirit" was held for Students of Mersin University, Turkey

We are actively preparing for the 21st stage of the Sails of the Spirit project! This initiative is a unique platform for unlocking the additional talents and abilities of Extrability, including among young people from different countries. Recently, we held meetings for university students in the Turkish cities of Sinop and Tarsus, and on May 2, a master class took place for students of Mersin University.

The event was opened and participants were welcomed by Dursun Arslan, Chairman of the Tarsus Disability Platform; Ahmet Uchar, representative of Mersin University’s Faculty for Disability Affairs; and Oleg Kolpashchikov, President of the White Cane NGO. The students were then introduced to the philosophy of Extrability — a concept that proves limitations can become a springboard for new achievements, revealing hidden talents and abilities. Special attention was given to the Sails of the Spirit project, which for many years brings together people with different physical abilities in sailing expeditions and festivals across various seas and countries.

Participants were invited to watch a video about the Turkish stage of Sails of the Spirit 2024 and a clip featuring the story of Mumin Abbas, one of the project’s participants with a hand anomaly, who initially felt self-conscious about his hands but later declared, "I am no longer disabled."

Guests and speakers also shared their personal stories. Dursun Arslan (Tarsus), head of the Tarsus Disability Platform and an expedition participant, spoke about overcoming vision-related challenges and finding socialization thanks to the Sails of the Spirit. Alina Tosun (Antalya), a volunteer of the Extrability Movement, and Yaroslav Makhtsiev, an employee of White Cane NGO, shared how Sails of the Spirit impacted their lives. Elena Dedyulina, a student at Ural Federal University and content manager at White Cane NGO, spoke about a project she participated in with the Extrability Movement and invited Turkish students to engage in dialogue with the Russian team.

At the end of the seminar, some participants expressed interest in joining Sails of the Spirit 2025, which will take place in Turkey from October 18th to November 1st.

To conclude, one of the Mersin University students shared their impressions:

We are grateful to Dursun Arslan (Chairman of the Tarsus Disability Platform), Ahmet Uchar, and the students of Mersin University, as well as Oleg Kolpashchikov, Alina Tosun, Oksana Makoviyenko, Yaroslav Makhtsiev, and Elena Dedyulina for organizing and participating in the seminar.

The event was hosted by White Cane NGO, the Extrability Movement, Tarsus Disability Platform, and Mersin University.