TPF is committing $1 million this Children's Day
The impact of the earthquake has been particularly severe on children. As we mark the Children’s Day on April 23rd in Türkiye, we are focusing on the approximately 850,000 displaced children in the affected region and how we can address their needs. On this occasion, we are pleased to announce that we will donate $1M from our Türkiye Earthquake Relief Fund to ten organizations that serve the needs of children in the impacted area.
TPF has been dedicated to addressing the needs of children in Türkiye through decades of grant-making and partnership-building. Our primary focus has been on education, where we aim to improve access and quality at every level, promote social-emotional well-being, provide professional development for teachers, offer scholarships, introduce technology, and even build new schools. We are also actively involved in healthcare to ensure that all children, from infants to teenagers, have access to essential healthcare services and support.
During times of crisis, we prioritize allocating a significant portion of our funds to support vulnerable and overlooked groups, with children being a top priority. So far, we have granted over $7.5 million to more than 50 partner organizations, benefiting over 1.5 million people. You can find a detailed breakdown of our grants to date, as well as an overview of the areas of support here. Our on-ground partners provide us with real-time insights into the needs, which enables us to ensure that your donations have the maximum impact.
We would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us for a panel discussion with our partners, AÇEV, Suna’nın Kızları, and Çukurova University, on Wednesday, April 26th, at 1:00 PM EST. This conversation will provide valuable insights into their work on the ground, the impact of your donations, and the effects of the earthquake on the children in the region. We hope you will join us and encourage you to share this invitation with others who may be interested.
TPF’s $1 million funding will support the following programs:
$97,512 to Cerebral Palsy Turkey – The grant will cover one year of medical and developmental support for 200 children and newborns with cerebral palsy impacted by the earthquakes.
$99,980 to Türkiye Down Sendromu Derneği (Down Turkiye) – To provide educational and psychosocial programs (PSS) for people with Down Syndrome and their families.
$76,150 to Çocuklar Gülsün Diye Association – To establish a preschool in the most needed city in the region.
$91,000 to Educational Volunteers Foundation (TEGV) – To repair a FireFly Mobile Education Vehicle to be placed in earthquake-impacted cities alongside the additional FireFly Mobiles.
$105,000 to Turkish Education Association (TED) – To provide a year of educational and physiological support for 15 kids who are now orphans. This project will support 15 K-12 level orphaned students affected by the earthquake in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education. The project team will assess students’ academic and psychosocial needs and develop a plan accordingly while providing them with scholarship support.
$89,364 to Sinemasal Art & Culture Association – To establish a Sinemasal Campus providing kids living in tents and container cities with workshops and outdoor activities in Samandag, Hatay. The project aims to support children and youth between the ages of 5-17 living in tent and container cities through extra-curricular workshops and 6 hours a day of outdoor activities. The program focuses on interactive and experiential learning, prioritizing the development of children and young people with extra-curricular educational activities and introducing them to different subjects, such as cinema, music, math, and science.
$165,459 to Microfon – To provide 300 elementary and middle school students impacted by the earthquake with scholarships and tablets.
$23,711 to Buradayız Hatay Derneği – To cover the expenses of the April 23rd Festival in Hatay. Buradayiz Hatay was founded after the earthquake by people from Hatay to support local people to continue their lives. The Association plans a two-day April 23rd Festival in Hatay, Serinyol, for preschool and elementary school students (4-11 years old) next week. It aims to support kids to return to their everyday lives. Many activities and workshops will be held during the festival, such as movement, arts, music, and drama workshops. The events will host 600 people, including families. This grant will cover the expenses of the materials for each workshop.
$120,319 to Basketball Solidarity and Education Foundation (BIDEV) – Resuming daily life has been a challenge, especially for children and young adults following the earthquakes. The grant will establish ten containers with basketball courts in Belen, Hatay. BIDEV’s project builds Basket Villages, which offer shelter, hygiene facilities, and basketball courts, aimed at helping kids to cope with the disruptions caused by the disaster and facilitate socialization with their peers. Each Basket Village container is designed to accommodate eight individuals, features a bathroom and kitchenette, and will be placed by the basketball courts.
$120,867 to Young Guru Academy (YGA) – To provide science kits to underprivileged schools for earthquake-impaired students. The Earthquake Region Science Movement aims to improve affected children’s competencies in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) while allowing them to develop projects independently. The project aspires to make kids feel safe and secure again, in control, and hopeful for the future. With this grant, the project will aim to reach 400 students per school and 150 schools in total.
