News

Turkish Tunes in Phoenix

04/25/2012

Phoenix's Musical Instrument Museum has an expanded Turkish music collection. Read about this extensive single-country exhibit that showcases mehter (Ottoman ceremonial) music, various traditions of the Turkish countryside, the music and movement of the Mevlevi Sufis, and the vibrant music of Turkey's urban centers that TPF is proud to support. Read more.

Social Entrepreneurship in Turkey: Mustafa Sari Saves Van

04/17/2012

Booming is the adjective most often used to describe Turkey these days. Ranked the 16^th largest economy (and growing) in the world, the country saddled between Europe and the Middle East is looked as a sound investment and economic model for others, especially in the region. Yet, it is important to note that this Turkish economic miracle is regional, contained to Turkey’s west. What happens in Istanbul stays in Istanbul. Read more.

Van Earthquake Relief Fund Recipients

Updated on March 28, 2012

TPF has raised $378,220 to-date to help with the city's relief and rebuilding efforts.  TPF team held direct meetings with key organizations in Turkey in November 2011 to identify projects that will respond to immediate needs as well as have longer-term impact. Our selection criteria have been, implementation capability, efficiency, financial strength and transparency. Van Earthquake Relief Fund recipients are as follows:

GRANTS DISBURSED:

KIZILAY (Turkiye Kizilay Dernegi - Turkish Red Crescent Society)  teams wasted no time in responding to the earthquake. They were on the scene within 2 hours after the first rumbles. The relief items have been deployed from the logistics centers of KIZILAY spread all over Turkey. One hundred one KIZILAY staff and dozens of KIZILAY Volunteers are still working in the disaster area in order to meet the needs of the victims. With support from TPF, KIZILAY provided 15 container houses, with running water, bath, electricity, cooking facility, etc.  to the victims. With additional funds coming in earmarked for KIZILAY, we will send a second grant to the organization in the coming days.

Grant Amount: $91,500

ACEV (Anne Cocuk Egitim Vakfi - Mother Child Education Foundation) serves communities in need with carefully designed early childhood and adult education programs in Turkey. The organization not only provides an alternative education model to those who do not have access to formal education but also supports existing preschool activities, and develops programs that strengthen the relationship between school and family. ACEV was one of the first organizations out-of-town that responded to the earthquake in Van. TPF support will contribute to ACEV's efforts in building a Family Rehabilitation Center. The goal is to provide long-term solution to the needs of the families in Van.

The Center is located in Hüsrevpaşa Container City, which is inhabited by 6,000 people in 1,121 containers. The Center is constructed as a prefabricated building that is 280 square meter with 5 counseling rooms, 1 psychiatrist room, 2 group rooms and 1 kids' room.

The center's services for earthquake victims that live in the container city are accompanied by mobile services for victims who are living out of the container city. The mobile team is responsible for assessing the needs, directing people in need to the center, and implementing basic training programs in different regions of Van city.

Grant Amount: $50,000

CYDD (Cagdas Yasami Destekleme Dernegi - Association For The Support Of Contemporary Living) aims to contribute to the formation of a contemporary society in Turkey through education. CYDD provides scholarships to students in Van and has been assisting Yuzuncu Yil University to start the Spring 2012 term on time. With support from TPF, CYDD will build a prefabricated building for educational activities on the campus of Van Yuzuncu Yil University. The urgency of the need was a critical factor in TPF's determination. The building was constructed in an area of 1.542 square meters, and has 10 classrooms and a canteen. A total of 6,000 university students will benefit from this building. The opening ceremony of the building was held on 20 April, 2012.

Grant Amount: $50,000

HADD (Hisar Anadolu Destekleme Dernegi - Hisar Anatolian Support Society) aims to educate young women of displaced families in Eastern Turkey.  HADD activities to date have been focused mainly in the city of Van. The organization runs multiple kilim weaving workshops in Van, two of which were destroyed in the October earthquake. TPF's assistance will help HADD build a prefabricated workshop to replace the damaged ones.

Grant Amount: $20,000

VAKAD (Van Kadin Dernegi -Van Women's Association) was established in 2004 to address the intersections of gender-‎based violence and women's economic independence in Eastern Turkey. It provides ‎women, primarily survivors of violence and displaced women, with legal and ‎psychological support as well as trainings on women's human rights and health. The organization was one of the first respondents to the earthquake providing food, tents, clothing to the victims. VAKAD continues to respond to basic needs especially of the most vulnerable populations such as disabled and elderly. TPF support provided emergency relief supplies for the victims.

Grant Amount: $12,000

GRANTS APPROVED:

AKUT Search and Rescue Association (AKUT Arama Kurtarma Dernegi), initially designed for mountaineering search and rescue, became well known for its rapid, organized response to the Marmara quake in 1999, an effort that saved hundreds of lives and showed that AKUT's disciplined approach to citizen volunteering was effective across a broad range of terrains. AKUT's response to the October 2011 Van earthquake has also been remarkable. TPF will help AKUT to purchase 2 Searchcam 3000 Kit 1 Color and 2 Delsar 6 sensors, These equipments are used during search and rescue efforts and help to detect and locate live victims trapped and communicate with them.

Grant Amount: $46,472

Women Center Foundation (KA-MER Vakfi) responds both to women's immediate and critical needs and increases awareness of women of their rights as citizens, wives, and mothers. KA-MER works within the local culture, addressing the specific needs of women and families, and empowering women to reject their second-class status and believe in themselves. The center provides women with such services as counseling, daycare, and employment opportunities to help them achieve financial independence and gain self-respect. While focusing on women, KA-MER also works with husbands and families to encourage broad acceptance of women as independent wage-earners and citizens capable of valuable contributions to society. TPF grant will help KA-MER establish a prefabricated center for women, where women can not only come together but also learn a trade. The center will provide sewing workshops (one in the morning, one in the afternoon) for  20 women in total. The products will be marketed through KA-MER's already established network and online on Morhipo (Boyner Holding).

Grant Amount: $20,000

KEDV (Kadin Emegini Degerlendirme Vakfi - Foundation for the Support of Women's Work) aims to improve women's' economic well-being and quality of life. KEDV has gained vast experience in post disaster efforts during the Marmara Earthquake in 1999. Right after its active involvement in relief efforts, KEDV opened eight Women and Children's Centers in prefabricated settlements in the disaster region. These centers are still functioning as local grassroots women organizations. TPF will support the establishment of a prefabricated Women and Children Center in Van to provide women and children with a safe, collective space to help them get over the earthquake trauma, and to support women's leadership to recreate their own lives, homes and communities.

Grant Amount: $25,000

PROJECTS PENDING APPROVAL:

Turk Egitim Vakfi (TEV)

Turkiye Egitim Gonulluleri Vakfi (TEGV)