The Sabanci Foundation’s “Turkey’s Changemakers” Project Sets Example for the World

- The 40 Projects Generating Solutions For Social Problems in 15 Cities of the World Include 3 Of “Turkey’s Changemakers”: “Melek Erman Koni”, “Selim Cavus” and “Tarlabasi Community Center”.

 “Turkey’s Changemakers” run by the Sabanci Foundation for the past three years with the aim to enhance visibility of people and institutions that contribute to social development.

Gathering people who resolve social, economic and environmental problems around the world under the roof of the “New CITYzens” project, the association has selected three of the  Sabanci Foundation’s “Changemakers” from Istanbul.Melek Erman Koni, Selim Cavus and Tarlabasi Community Center will be included among the 40 exemplary projects across the world.

General Manager of the Sabanci Foundation, Zerrin Koyunsagan, stated that “The Sabanci Foundation’s Turkey’sChangemakers project has served as a vital tool to increase visibility of those who have been working to contribute to the lives of people for the past three years. The fact that our initiative has attracted international attention is very encouraging”.

Turkey’s Changemakers will be a model for the French youth

New CITYzens selects “model citizens” among people who have created awareness about the urban problems and contributed to social development in 15 world cities from Paris to Beijing, from New York to Rio de Janeiro. New CITYzens team visited Istanbul to talk to “Turkey’sChangemakers” and listened to their stories.

New CITYzens will establish platforms at schools and city halls to display videos of the projects they met, and designate those who have contributed to the solutions of social problems as “model citizens” for the French people. The organization aims at raising awareness of particularly the young generations and reinforcing active citizenship through these efforts.

Melek Erman Koni “makes a change” by helping immigrants adaptat to urban life

Melek Erman Koni establishd the “Melek Erman Koni Education and Cultural Center” in Esenler, a district of Istanbul subject to high levels of immigration. The Center offers families the opportunity to develop themselves and be a productive member of the society, while enhancing adaptability to urban life at the same time. Literacy courses for adults, preschool education for children and adaptation to urban life program are among several programs offered at the center. 

Selim Cavus “makes a change” by conveying the message "Books Can be Read Everywhere"

Selim Cavus, who aims to bring about a 1% yearly increase in the literacy rate in Turkey through his “Thought Association”, organizes reading days to instill a habit of reading in people and makes a change by organizing these events in public venues. The Association, which has held the "Reading Bus" tours in cooperation with the public transportation authority of Istanbul, plans to hold a nationwide reading activity in 81 provinces of Turkey in 2012.

“Making a change” in Tarlabasi upon volunteer support

Tarlabasi Community Center reaches out Tarlabasi community known to be inhabited by minorities and immigrants through providing needs-based services The center offers dance, music, film, and theater workshops for all children and youth as of the age of 6. Literacy courses for women, women’s rights seminars, reproductive health and mother-child health education, awareness-raising seminars on drug and substance addiction are among the Center’s many activities.

About Turkey’s Changemakers

Sabanci Foundation’s "Turkey’s Changemakers" program aims to promote social development by higlighting the stories of ‘’Changemakers’’ and inspiring and encouraging others.Within the scope of “Turkey’sChangemakers” project which has received 800 applications since 2009, 67 “Changemakers” have been selected. 67 videos that highlight not onlyvarious problems of Turkey but also innovative solutions to them were shot.  “Turkey’sChangemakers” videos have reached out to more than 1 million people both in Turkey and abroad. through program websites (www.farkyaratanlar.org and www.sabancivakfi.org) and social media (Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.)