What would you do to support our communities in Türkiye? Serhan Seçmen, a senior executive in finance, has consistently inspired us with his innovative and impactful ideas.
Just months ago, Serhan set his sights on climbing Mount Washington—a formidable challenge in one of the coldest places on Earth. Mobilizing a group of non-hikers among his family and friends, Serhan’s mission was to raise funds for prosthetics for children who lost their limbs during the devastating earthquakes of February 6th, 2023. His fundraiser not only raised funds, but also rallied a community of supporters around his cause, significantly increasing awareness and support for earthquake-affected communities.
But Serhan’s dedication extends far beyond this remarkable climb. For the past five years, he has been a driving force in Türkiye’s Educated Kids Giving Circle (Türkiye’nin Eğitimli Kızları) (TEK), which he helped establish as one of the founding members to empower young minds through education. What brought this inspiring group together was their understanding of the lack of opportunities in various parts of Türkiye and their commitment to take action. Since 2019, TEK Giving Circle has empowered 332 students with scholarships, computers, stipends, and critical thinking workshops. What started as a handful of passionate individuals has grown into a community of 200 donors, raising over $200K to provide equality in education annually.
Serhan’s commitment did not stop there. During the pandemic, he reconnected with his high school teacher, Aslan Köle (Aslan Hoca), and learned about the challenges students faced with online education—particularly those lacking basic resources like computers and internet access. Moved by the determination of these students, Serhan joined forces with Aslan Hoca and his high school friend Serkan, a college prep school tutor, to create the Club of Dreamers.
The three of them came up with a brilliant roadmap: Aslan Hoca would hand-pick the bright students with financial need, Serkan would provide them space in his prep school, and Serhan would mobilize his network to support these students. The Club of Dreamers offers mentorship, financial aid, and guidance through the demanding college preparation process. Ömer, one of the Club’s students, achieved a top 25 score out of 3.5 million candidates in Türkiye’s higher education exam and is now pursuing a law degree at Bilkent University with a full scholarship, driven by a desire to give back to his community.
The impact of the Club of Dreamers is clear: 23 students (and growing), like Ömer, have been able to focus on their future without the burden of financial stress. Serhan’s leadership and the collaborative efforts of his family, friends, and supporters have made this possible. It is the power of Giving Circles and collective action that drives these transformative outcomes. At TPF, we’re proud to support Serhan’s initiatives and collaborate with PAYDA and ÇYDD to further the Club of Dreamers’ mission.
We’re thrilled to be a part of Serhan Seçmen’s inspiring journey to make a difference. Whether he’s climbing mountains or tackling new challenges, we cheer for his dedication and are honored to be a part of his impactful efforts.