Changemakers - Fark Yaratanlar
Fark Yaratanlar

Changemakers

Meet Changemakers who choose to be part of the solution to an existing problem, who demonstrate an example for an active citizen, who create innovative solutions for a concrete and sustainable change, who make social contributions with measurable effects, and who inspire others with their stories.
Themes
Cities
Season
Economic Development
Yeşim Bekyürek - Cappadocia Organic Agriculture Producers Association

Education
Hale Uçuş - Barrier-Free Mathematics Education Platform

Civic Participation
Gülçin Cömert – Antandros Association

Social Justice
Murat Kefeli - Körüz Biz

Economic Development
Nesteren Şencan Görgülü - Kadınlar Matinesi

Education
Onur Kahvecioğlu - Müzikist

Education
Rumeysa Çevlik - Doğadaki Sınıf

Education
Ferda Salık – Diyarbakır’s Cultural Ambassadors

Education
Erdinç Erdem Bakkal - A Spark of Science in Şırnak

Education
Suat Arı – Everyone in This Village Is Athlete

Suat Arı, who introduced 120 students, 45 of whom were girls, to 14 different branches such as bocce, dart, softball, baseball, field hockey, cricket, rugby, flag football, and orienteering and made them become licensed athletes.

Education
Gamze Elibol - Culture, Art and Education Center for People With Disabilities of Turkey

Elibol, who so far has performed 500 plays and eight musicals on many different social issues such as traffic accidents to violence against women, meets the educational and medical needs of more than 120 disabled girls with all the income from these shows.

Education
Nusrettin Biçer/ Abdulkadir Korkmaz - Reading is Being on the Road

Nusrettin and Abdulkadir are teachers who visit the villages of Şanlıurfa with the project 'Reading is Being on the Road' and come together with the children.

Health
Cystic Fibrosis Patient and Family Association of Turkey

The Association works to both improve the lives of patients and their relatives, and to raise the awareness of public and health workers.

Health
Theodora Giggle Doctors

Visit children receiving long-term treatment in hospital and make them laugh, taking them out of the hospital environment...

Civic Participation
Don’t Throw It Away! Get It Repaired, Let It Be A Hope for Children

Works to collect unused, broken, faulty, malfunctioning toys, repair them and get them to children in need and make the children happy...

Environment
Lisinia Nature

Within the scope of the Lisinia project, plants indigenous to the region’s nature were started to be produced at the villages near Burdur. In this way, the local people were both introduced to new products and continuing to farm without disrupting the natural balance.

Health
Living with Allergy Association

The Living with Allergy Association operates to defend the rights of allergy patients, to communicate their problems to the relevant authorities and to find solutions together.

Social Justice
Hasan Kızıl (Life Mendel)

Hasan Kızıl initially made the walkers he designed for animals by breaking up wheeled paraphernalia he found at home like the toy car.

Social Justice
Elazığ Social Cooperation Sports Club Association

İsmail Bayraktar is a teacher; at the same time, he has dedicated his life to the sport of handball since 1991.

Economic Development
Bedriye Berber Engin

Bedriye Berber Engin and other women villagers started to sell their products in the local bazaars.

Civic Participation
Center for Spatial Justice (MAD)

The Center is working on gathering urban planners, architects, social scientists, journalists to develop participatory urban planning and implementations that consider social, environmental and human rights.

Education
Informal Learning Youth Center (YAŞÖM)

Informal Education Youth Center, YAŞÖM, was founded by a group of young people mentored by Hülya Denizalp in 2011.

Environment
Mediterranean Conservation Society

The guardians of Mediterranean

Economic Development
Boğatepe Environment and Life Association

An exemplary model for rural development

Civic Participation
Midnight Library

A new model of library open to reader’s participation

Social Justice
Animal Rights Watch Committee

A more equal and peaceful world for all living creatures...

Social Justice
Wheelchair Dance Project

A dance group of individuals with physical disabilities...

Environment
Yeşilist

Turkey’s first sustainable life network

Health
Leyla'dan Sonra

Leyla'dan Sonra realizes the dreams of children who undergo medical treatment

Education
Living Museum

Turkey's first applied open-air museum: Living Museum

Environment
Earth Association

Sustainable, ecological, joyful living

Social Justice
Askıda Ne Var

A platform for enriching students’ education lives

Civic Participation
Map of Needs

Map of Needs: Evoking the solidarity feeling in the society

Environment
Good4Trust

Trust to Goodness

Education
Ahmet Naç

An idealist teacher, who recreated his classroom

Health
Robotel Turkey Association

Children reach their robohands with Robotel Turkey Association

Health
Tics and Tourette Syndrome Volunteers of Turkey

A support mechanism for families, a common platform for sharing experiences

Education
ÇABA-ÇAM

ÇABA-ÇAM proposes an alterative model to social inequality in early childhood education

Education
Fatma Ayan

Turkey’s first open-air library has been opened with the efforts of Fatma Ayan, a teacher with 20 years of experience.

Health
The Hope Foundation to Children with Cancer

Founded in 2000, The Hope Foundation for Children with Cancer (KAÇUV) develops many different projects for children diagnosed with cancer.

Economic Development
Basic Needs Association

Food Banking Association was established in 2010, under the leadership of entrepreneur Serhan Suzer, for the people who are unable to meet their basic needs.

Civic Participation
Vote and Beyond

Vote and Beyond (Oy ve Ötesi) has been founded by Sercan Çelebi and his friends both to check these claims through the means of participatory democracy and to develop a sense of citizenship.

Civic Participation
Yuvarla Social Startup

Yuvarla.org initiative conducts projects in partnership with 15 different civil society organizations.

Social Justice
Ayşe Tükrükçü

A bowl of soup, a hope...

Education
Dilek Livaneli

Dilek Livaneli is a teaching profession since 13 years, the last 6 years of which were in Kumköy Primary School in Samsun.

Economic Development
Leyla Karabulut

Leyla Karabulut supported social participation of women living in a city opportunities are limited.

Social Justice
Abdullah Oskay

Abdullah Oskay worked with children and young people raised under similar conditions. Together with his friends, he established Hayat Sende Youth Academy Association in 2007.

Social Justice
Duygu Kayaman

Duygu worked on the development of “My Dream Partner” application with the support of Turkcell that eases the access of visually impaired people to information.

Economic Development
Nusratlı Village Association

Süheyla Doğan, a retired civil engineer, has moved to Ida Mountain with her family for a tranquil life after living in Antalya for many years. Thanks to her socially responsible character, she established “Nusratlı Village Culture Tourism and Solidarity Association” in 2005 with the support of villagers of Nusratlı.

Social Justice
LİSTAG

LİSTAG was established in January 2008 in İstanbul as a civil society organization by the families of LGBTI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people.

Environment
Seferihisar Cittaslow

Capital of Slowness: Seferihisar

Social Justice
Hülya Aydın

Life of A Determined Woman

Economic Development
Cansu Akarsu

"Happy Baby"

Economic Development
Karabiga Women's Cooperative

Visionary Women of Karabiga

Economic Development
Ödemiş Women's Cooperative

They Weave Their Future With Silk

Education
Selma Yıldız

"Small Codas" Are Not Alone

Civic Participation
Özlem Arman

Let's Be Happy For The Children In Hospital

Education
Ergin Erenuluğ

Two Eggs Are Enough To Go To The Cinema And To Fight Against Obesity

Health
Salih Yüce

Salih Yüce works to raise awareness on cancer by establishing the “Help and Love Association for Cancer Patients”.

Social Justice
Lütfiye Kelleci Birer

Story Of The Effort To Make Obstacles Invisible

Civic Participation
YouthBank

Youth Makes A Difference By Receiving Grants From YouthBank

Social Justice
Sami Altunel

A New Door From İzmir Into A Different World

Civic Participation
K. Demirel Youth Association

Down Cafe Became The Light Of Hope For People With Disabilities

Social Justice
Ömer Faruk Arınç

Disadvantaged Kids Are At Playhouse

Economic Development
Tülin Akın

Farmers Open Up To The World Through Internet

Social Justice
Women Association of Muş

Early Marriage Is Not Their Destiny

Education
One Rubber One Pencil

“One Rubber One Pencil Project” Brings the Schools and the Donors Together

Economic Development
Bedriye Hülya

B-Fit Sports Center Encourages Women to Become Entrepreneurs

Civic Participation
Disaster Relief Interpreters

Life-Saving Interpreters

Environment
Play For Nature

"Play For Nature" Creates Nature Awareness Through Social Media

Civic Participation
GÖZDER

Persons with Disabilities Fighting Against Discrimination

Civic Participation
Mehmet Münir Cura

Athletes in Mardin are “running” to a better future

Economic Development
Meral Kekeçoğlu

‘Bee-like’ Entrepreneurs are On Their Way

Civic Participation
Ayşegül Güzel

A Bank Where the Currency is Time, Instead of Money: “Zumbara”

Economic Development
Enver Özkahraman

Persons with Disabilities Are Fighting Against Discrimination

Social Justice
Nurcan Baysal

A Success Story Written From West To East

Civic Participation
Melek Erman Köni

Melek Erman Köni Helps Rural Women Adapt to City Life in İstanbul

Education
Melahat Aydın

Galloping for Girls’ Education in the Eastern Province of Muş

Civic Participation
Open Istanbul

They Hit the Streets for an Accessible City

Civic Participation
Ati Youth and Sports Club Association

Ati Youth and Sports Club Association Creates Hope for Future of Youth in Hakkari

Social Justice
Sulukule Children's School of Arts

Children in Sulukule Make their Voices Heard through Music

Civic Participation
İZEV - Down Cafe

İstanbul Foundation for People with Mental Disabilities (İZEV) provides employment opportunities to youth with Down syndrome.

Social Justice
Güney Hastemoğlu

Güney Hastemoğlu Fights to Prevent Juvenile Delinquency

Health
RUSİHAK

Human Rights in Mental Health Initiative Makes a Difference with its Community Based Approach in Mental Health Care

Education
Selçuk Var

Selçuk Var Motivates Teachers through Theater

Economic Development
Selma Demirelli

Selma Demirelli Empowers Women to Economic Independence

Social Justice
Nihat Kihtir

Nihat Kihtir Removes Barriers to Participation through Sign Language

Social Justice
Senem Gül

Senem Gül Encourages Women Participation in Social and Economic Life

Social Justice
Tahir Dadak

Tahir Dadak Develops Capacity to Improve Agriculture

Social Justice
Child Brides Project

Child Brides Project Fights Early Marriage Tradition in Turkey

Education
İsmail Gündüz

İsmail Gündüz Adapts Education to the Roma Children's Culture

Education
Zekeriya Ersoy

Zekeriya Ersoy Makes Education Accessible to Village Children

Economic Development
Hüsamettin Koçan

Hüsamettin Koçan Created a Museum to Revitalize the Local Economy

Social Justice
Cavidan Yılmaz

Cavidan Yılmaz Advocates the Women Rights in the Northern City of Trabzon

Economic Development
Şengül Akçar

Şengül Akçar Developed the First Women's Micro-Credit Program in Turkey

Social Justice
Şahhanım Kanat

Şahhanım Kanat Helps Families Face the Challenge of Urban Migration

Education
Hacı Ormanoğlu

Hacı Ormanoğlu Empowers Children through After-School Programs

Social Justice
Bener Erkorur

Bener Erkorur Trains Athletes with Autism

Health
Kamil Çetin Oraler

Kamil Ç. Oraler is a microbiologist with Ph.D. and established Kadıköy Health and Education Center Foundation (KASEV) with other volunteers in 1986.

Environment
Gülcan Nitsch

Gülcan Nitsch Raises Awareness on Environment among Turkish Communities in Germany

Economic Development
Fasla Anter Alp

Fasla Anter Alp Offers a New World for Women in Kızıltepe, Mardin

Education
Erhan Ağbaba

Erhan Ağbaba Helps Promote the Self-Esteem of Children

Civic Participation
Rodin Alper Bingöl

Rodin Alper Bingöl Raises Awareness about Disability

Social Justice
Şaban Tören

Şaban Tören Makes a Difference in Children's Lives with Art

Social Justice
Tahsin Aksu

Tahsin Aksu Devotes Himself Serving the Community of Van-Gevaş

Health
Arzu Kaykı

Arzu Kaykı Provides Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS

Economic Development
Victor Ananias

Victor Ananias Works for a More Ecologically Balanced Turkey

Education
Mehmet Selim Baki

Mehmet Selim Baki Brings Music Education for Children in the Inner City

Civic Participation
Ahmet Besim Toker

Ahmet Besim Toker Helps Families with Members that Have Disabilities

Civic Participation
Alper Kaya

Alper Kaya Strives to Raise Public Awareness about ALS and Help Patients

Civic Participation
Ercan Tutal

Ercan Tutal Makes a Difference in the Lives of People with Disabilities

Health
Zeynep Şimşek

Zeynep Şimşek Improves Conditions of Migrant Farm Workers

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