Derin jumped in, “because we should not take no for an answer, believe in ourselves and work hard.”

“But, I feel I have many obstacles in life and personally I do not believe I have any power on anything I do,” continued Gaye.

These girls certainly have dreams, and places they’d want to go. However, because of social and cultural barriers, sometimes they feel powerless. As they gathered to attend a panel for TPF Stars, a TPF program supporting high school students with scholarships, many of them with same doubts started talking to speakers shyly as they look for answers in the way these successful women act and speak. The panel featuring Julide Ates, Nakiye Boyacigiller, Itir Erthart, Didem Altop, Melek Pulatkonak and Gizem Moral didn’t give them the easy answer right away. They didn’t note that in 2017, even though it’s still true that no country has given women equal rights and equal opportunities — to education, to health care, to equal pay for equal work — to men, they should still feel powerful because they have it in themselves.

Yet they shared the challenges they faced. Combined voices of these successful women, telling their personal stories of what it was like to be a woman as they progress in their professional careers carried so much power. They told these girls not to second-guess themselves in anything they do. “Sometimes we did,” they noted. “But we learned the hard way that when we don’t, we can overcome many difficulties.” They advised them to go for what truly lies in their hearts despite unsupportive people around them. They encouraged them to challenge themselves with the “if she can, so I can!” attitude. And, they guided them to stand still and ignore critics in a “man’s world” even though it is the most difficult part of their jobs.

These great role models inspired and gave vision to tens of girls last week. As they were open with their own experiences on how they gained the courage to reach for more opportunities, to sit at more tables, and to believe more in themselves, young TPF stars were able to relate. This enabled the conversation to turn into a dialogue between women who is more experienced and young women who felt that their feelings are understood.

25 young women left their self-doubt at Impact Hub Istanbul that day. They were not the quiet and shy girls that walked in a few hours earlier. With their gift bags on their shoulders filled with Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In they stepped out to face the world claiming their own power by acknowledging their inner barriers.

TPF Stars is a program created by TPF in cooperation with Cagdas Yasami Destekleme Dernegi in 2014. Currently, the program supports 40 female high school students. Consider making a contribution so we can touch the lives of many more girls.

Turkish Philanthropy Funds realizes the importance of  investing time and effort to raising a younger generation of philanthropists. Since its inception in September 2011, Young Philanthropists for TPF has been doing just that, creating a new generation of present donors and future philanthropists.

Led by the Junior Board, a group of young professionals passionate about Turkey, philanthropy and TPF, Young Professionals for TPF was created with the mission to raise awareness about TPF, the many projects it supports and philanthropy in general in the younger generations. The Junior Board aims to bring together like-minded young professionals from the Turkish-American community and provide a forum of networking, conversation, new friendships and cultural exchanges while at the same time introducing a specific work or project of TPF.

Among the events organized by the Young Professionals for TPF were house gatherings, rooftop gatherings and wine bar happy hours. Initially, the purpose of these events was to bring young professionals together and introduce them to TPF and philanthropy. Realizing that a strong track record was created with the many events hosted, reaching a unique crowd of young professionals in New York, the Junior Board recently decided to fundraise for specific projects. The first of such events took place at Pera Soho’s rooftop in October 2012 where $4,000 was raised for a girls’ dormitory at 100. Yil University in Van after the anniversary of the devastating 2011 earthquake.

With that momentum, the Junior Board recently hosted a Mardi Gras celebration at Pierre Loti Wine Bar in Chelsea on February 12, 2013. In the company of live jazz music, wine, friends and festive Mardi Gras beads and masks, the Junior Board was joined by more than 40 other Young Professionals to raise awareness about autism and to collect funds for TPF Partner TOHUM (Autism Foundation of Turkey). The event was very successful overall. In only 2 hours, $2,092 was raised to support the Special Education School that will be built in Turkey by TOHUM. More important than the amount raised was the support, excitement and passion in the conversation that could be heard throughout the night. The positivism and energy of the crowd resonated in the conversations that could be heard among small groups. Not only were we able to raise awareness about autism in Turkey and raise much needed funds for a great project but we were also able to make and support the making of new connections and new friendships.

The autism campaign has generated great support not only from the attendees but also other TPF donors. A $10,000 matching campaign was launched in conjunction with the event and project from a generous donor. The campaign will last until April 2, 2012. Even though you may have missed the event, you can still support the campaign with any donation that will be matched 100%.

Join the movement. Join Young Professionals for TPF.