Turkey's Changemakers contribute to the lives of others through their efforts. They empower others, creating new opportunities and hope. They spend their days for the sake of this purpose, without any expectation of honor or praise. They never give up, and never relinquish their faith that tomorrow could be better...

Sabanci Foundation, which aims to promote social development and social awareness among current and future generations, brought a new perspective to civil society in Turkey with the Turkey's Changemakers Project.

"Turkey's Changemakers" is a weekly TV program which aired on CNN Turk and shared the stories of 32 Changemakers who contributes to social development in Turkey.

The Season Finale of "Turkey's Changemakers" was showcased on 17th May live on CNNTurk as part of the "besN birK" program hosted by Cuneyt Ozdemir. Guests of the program were Guler Sabanci, the Chairperson of Sabanci Foundation's Board of Trustees and the 32 Changemakers who participated in the Program.

About Turkey's Changemakers

How "Turkey's Changemakers" works

The Launch of Turkey's Changemakers

The Season Finale of Turkey's Changemakers

Season Summary (Long & Short Versions)

 
ABOUT TURKEY'S CHANGEMAKERS

The first episode of Sabanci Foundation's "Turkey's Changemakers" aired on October 4th on CNNTurk. The program received 500 applications from all across Turkey. During the selection process, the candidates were reviewed carefully by the program team and Advisory Board which selected the final 32 Changemakers.

Over a period of 32 weeks, 'Turkey's Changemakers' showcased the story of an environmentalist who works for Turkish community living in Berlin, as well as the story of a literature teacher who changes the lives of youth in Hakkari with basketball. The program team conducted over 300 interviews and travelled more than 40 thousand kilometers to capture 150 hours of film. In the end, the portraits of 32 outstanding individuals who have worked in areas such as civic participation, economic development, health, environment, education and social justice were prepared and televised.

Between October 2009 and May 2010, over 160 thousand people have been following the show on the internet, with another 6500 tracking the program on Facebook and Twitter. The Turkey's Changemakers website attracted over 50 thousand visitors, and thousands more visited the Sabanci Foundation and Hurriyet Daily News website where programs were broadcast with English subtitles.

 
How "Turkey's Changemakers" works
The program has a website (www.farkyaratanlar.org in Turkish only) which invited the public to nominate a "Changemaker" using an online application form. There are six categories through which a "Changemaker" could be nominated:

• Economic Development
• Health
• Environment
• Education/Learning
• Civic Participation
• Social Justice

Candidates must reflect the following qualities:

Personal profile:

• Social entrepreneurship spirit
• Honesty and trustworthiness
• Inspiring personal story

Scope of work:

• Innovative and creative approach
• Solving old problems through new methods
• Scalable and/or replicatable programs

Once the nomination was sent, the Sabanci Foundation and Dipnot Production conducted a pre-assessment and created a pool of eligible candidates. This pool was reviewed regularly by an Advisory Board consisting of the following members:

Aysen Ozyegin - Chairperson, Mother Child Education Foundation

Korel Goymen - Professor, Sabanci University

Osman Kavala - Chairperson, Association for the Support of Social Cultural Life 

Temel Aksoy - Founder, Fikirhane Consulting

Umit Boyner - President, Turkish Businessman and Industrialists Association (TUSAID)

Vahap Munyar - Columnist, Hurriyet Daily Newspaper

Zerrin Koyunsagan - Asst. General Manager, Sabanci Foundation

    
 
SABANCI FOUNDATION LAUNCHES TELEVISION PROGRAM TO SHOWCASE TURKEY'S CHANGEMAKERS

 
Sabanci Foundation's "Turkey's Changemakers" project was launched on 24 September at a press conference attended by Sabanci Foundation's Chairman Ms. Guler Sabanci, General Manager Husnu Pacacioglu, Assistant General Manager Zerrin Koyunsagan, and TV Producer/Host Cuneyt Ozdemir. The press event was held at the Sabanci University Sakip Sabanci Museum's new 'SEED' venue.

 
"Turkey's Changemakers" is a weekly TV program which aims to highlight the efforts of unique individuals who promote change and development in their communities and create a remarkable impact in the lives of others. TV program's first episode aired on 4 October 2009 at 18:30 on CNNTurk (national news channel) and continued for a full season of 32 weeks." For more information please click here...

    
 
THE SEASON FINALE OF TURKEY'S CHANGEMAKERS

 
Guler Sabanci, the Chairperson of Sabanci Foundation's Board of Trustees participated to the Season Finale of Sabanci Foundation's "Turkey's Changemakers". During the program Cuneyt Ozdemir interviewed Guler Sabanci, Chairperson of Sabanci Foundation's Board of Trustees and all 32 Changemakers. Guler Sabanci said that "Changemakers are an important catalyst for social development in Turkey." She emphasized that support for civil society is necessary in promoting social development, and said that Changemakers are important role models whose stories must be told. Changemakers told their own stories about how their work has expanded and grown since being on the TV program. For more information please click here...