IMPACT AREAS
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
THE CHALLENGE
Despite periods of economic growth, Türkiye continues to grapple with deep and persistent social and economic inequalities. Poverty affects 14.4% of the population, with children disproportionately impacted—one in three grows up in poverty compared to 17.2% of adults. Economic instability and high inflation have pushed more families into hardship, forcing many children to leave school to work. Income inequality is widening: the top 20% of earners take home nearly half of the nation’s income, while the poorest 20% receive less than 6%. Although poverty rates fell from over 20% in 2007 to 7.6% by 2021, recent economic shocks have reversed progress, leaving marginalized communities with limited access to decent work, sustainable livelihoods, and the resources needed to break the cycle of poverty.
WHAT WE DO
READY TO TAKE ACTION?
This project empowers Türkiye’s next generation of changemakers by providing funding and mentorship to transform innovative ideas into real-world solutions. By supporting young graduates—especially those affected by the February 6 earthquake—the program helps build forward resilient leaders who will shape a stronger future for Türkiye.
Social & Economic Development$20,031 USD / $200,000 USD
Strong Pedals empowers adolescent girls in post-earthquake Hatay by providing bicycles, creating opportunities for mobility, independence, and outdoor activity. Your support helps these girls gain freedom, confidence, and safe spaces to play, socialize, and thrive despite the ongoing challenges of displacement and recovery.
Social & Economic Development$1,524 USD / $10,000 USD
Many young graduates in Türkiye, especially from second-tier universities, struggle to find paid work after finishing their studies. Limited internships, scarce networks, and lack of career guidance leave talented youth with few opportunities. Esas Sosyal’s programs provide scholarships, mentorship, training, and internships to help first-generation university graduates gain skills, experience, and confidence to secure meaningful employment. With your support, more young people can overcome barriers, find work they deserve, and build brighter futures.
Social & Economic Development$33,247 USD / $35,000 USD
Help families access food, cash support, and sustainable livelihoods. Your donation provides immediate relief and long-term solutions to break the cycle of extreme poverty.
Social & Economic Development$25,060 USD / $150,000 USD
Support beekeepers affected by wildfires and protect vital local ecosystems. Your donation provides hives and resources to ensure bees thrive and honey production recovers.
Social & Economic Development$0 USD / $20,000 USD
STORIES
October 27, 2026Turning Emergency Response into Lasting Capacity
Some of the most complex challenges facing communities cannot be addressed by philanthropy, academia, or local organizations working alone.
October 27, 2026A Place to Find Her Voice
After the February 2023 earthquakes, children in Hatay lost far more than buildings and familiar surroundings. Daily routines disappeared, communities were
October 27, 2026Home Away from Home.
We’re Here Hatay was founded immediately after the twin earthquakes by locals supporting their neighbors, friends, and families, and they’ve stayed
October 27, 2026Seen, Heard, and Built Together
Zerrin, a 9-year-old from Adıyaman, was asked a simple question: what would she like to add to the playground in her neighborhood? She did not ask
October 27, 2026Where Children Found Space to Play Again
In Hatay, a space created for children in the aftermath of the earthquakes became the setting for something unexpected: a film made by children about their own rights.
October 27, 2026Still Beneath the Surface
In the mid-1980s, a farmer in Şanlıurfa was working his field when he came across several stones, heavy, carved, and unfamiliar. He took them to a museum,