Thanks to your contributions we are able to make great impacts in the lives of many across Turkey. Please join Turkish Philanthropy Funds once again to support the wonderful work our partners are doing on the ground.

Thank You for Your Continued Support to TPF & TPF Partners!

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What is Science Movement Project?

Since 2018, Science Movement Project provides each secondary school with five Twin Science Kits and an online learning platform for teachers. These kits allow teachers to implement S.T.E.M subjects into the curriculum and make experiments an integral part of classes. Usage of the kits in classes helps students develop projects, improve their problem-solving skills, and become tech-savvy team players.

How does it work? 

In partnership with the Ministry of Education of Turkey, every year we identify 500 socio-economically disadvantaged schools all around Turkey. Each of these schools receives five Twin Science Kits to be used by secondary school students aged between 12 to 15 years olds with the guidance of their teachers in classes.

These easy-to-use kits consist of easily combined electronic blocks to teach students how technological devices actually work by assembling the pieces. With each kit, students explore a new subject in S.T.E.M such as coding, robotics, A.I. in a fun way. Students use various modules and sensors to understand crucial concepts to be implemented in dozens of different projects.

In addition to the kits, each school receives the project-integrated curriculum for 100+ weeks and teachers are given access to the Science Movement Workplace online platform that offers rich experimental content to be used in class. The platform also allows teachers to connect and brainstorm with each other.

Impact of Science Movement: 

In just three years, Science Movement Project has reached out to 1,153+ underprivileged schools and 461,200 students.  Since the establishment of the Science Movement Workplace Platform in 2020, more than 200 teachers have been trained, some students have developed autonomous irrigation systems, electric cars, and earthquake safety systems.

Twin Science Kits received the Smart Toys Award from The World Economic Forum and The Bett Award from Bett, a global community for education technology.

Recent research conducted by a global research and public opinion company measured the outcome of the project. Research shows that according to the teachers;

● while 97% of them are seeing the positive effect of science kits on students’ academic success, 89% of them have found the application of science kits compatible with their academic approach.

●while 100% of them are considering science kits’ general effects as positive, approximately three-quarters of them state that it positively impacts the academic achievement of students.

●100% of them think that the project creates awareness in the daily life of students.

● 97% of them favor the subject of science kits being part of the curriculum.

You can read the rest of the impact report here.

Help us reach the hidden gems of tomorrow! 

–By the Fall 2021 Academic Year, the project aims to provide 85 schools with science kits and reach out to 34,000 students.

–By the end of 2023, the project aims to reach 2 million students.

Support Science Movement Project to equip students with the necessary tools and knowledge they need to overcome tomorrow’s challenges.

Supporting one school requires $1,200 and benefits 400 students on average.

Donations for each school will be used for:

%75 Science Kits

%10 Volunteer & Teacher Training

%10 Logistics & Operation

%5 Scholarship

Support YGA's Science Movement Project

From the students’ perspectives:

“My name is Semih and I’m 14 years old,  a freshman in high school. Since the science kits came to my school and we started making projects with them, I realized that there was no such thing as impossible; this thought could derive from only our lack of self-confidence. With the necessary determination, effort, and patience, I learned that how easily everything we call ‘impossible’ can turn into actuality. I learned to not fall into pessimism. This year, I won Denizli Aydem Science High School by being in the 0.79% at the national high school entrance exam.”

-Semih Kose, Cameli Kalinkoz Village, Denizli.

“I’m Hayrunnisa and am 12 years old. I live in Bilgi Village of Catak district of Van. I am an 8th-grade student. Science kits came to our school when I was in 6th grade. Our teacher, Ms. Aysel, wanted us to create a project that makes people’s lives easier with science kits. A semester before that, Ms. Aysel had a broken leg. Me and my friend, Muhammed, thinking of our teacher, made our “Barrier-Free Ladder” project. Our project got accepted and we traveled to the exhibition in Istanbul. We presented the project to a lot of people there and made interviews, appeared on the news on TV. It was an honor to represent our village, and our families, friends, and teachers to follow us. The projects we have done maybe models, they may be cardboard, but I believe, one day it will be used in real life. When we decide to do something, many obstacles may arise, but the important thing is not to give up despite all those difficulties as we overcame ours.”

-Hayrunnisa Berge, Bilgi Village, Van.

From a teacher’s perspective:

“I’m Aysel. When we were dreaming big with my students in my tiny village hidden amongst the mountains of Van, we received a phone call that sparked our hopes. I remember the days I couldn’t sleep because of the news we got that we were going to receive science kits as part of the Science Movement Project. I can never forget the happiness in my students’ eyes while opening those boxes, their discovery of the sensors, their excitement when they heard the sounds of different modules. Muhammet and Hayrunnisa,  who produced projects and were invited to Istanbul, said in a completely different environment, despite their hesitation and embarrassment, ‘We came to represent our village, district, and city!’ It was very important for them to hold their heads upright. Science Movement Project, which allows my students to look for solutions to every problem around them and put project ideas on paper before coming into life, makes everything possible that they previously thought impossible… We are so glad to have you!”

-Aysel Ince, Van.

Once again you enabled TPF to make a difference in the lives of many young people. We want to thank you for that and share the impact we’ve made together in closing the digital divide in Turkey.

Since the pandemic led to the sudden closure of schools, many of our partners on the ground in Turkey have made heroic efforts to provide students with continued learning opportunities and connections with their teachers and classmates. This dramatic increase in online learning has spotlighted the longstanding equity issue of the digital divide. Many students’ homes do not have the computing devices and internet access required for them to benefit from the online opportunities their schools have scrambled to provide.

An estimated 60 percent of the students in Turkey lack access to a computer at home. Our partners report that many additional students are limited in their use of online learning because they share a single device, slow and unreliable internet access, or restricted data plans with other family members. Students in economically disadvantaged homes, from traditionally underserved groups, and from rural communities are much more likely to be left offline.

To address this dire need we connected stakeholders and mobilized the community to a prompt and effective response.

With the support of nine partner organizations, TPF prioritized underprivileged students’ access to online education through providing computers, tablets, internet connection, and online classes. Together we raised close to $210K and were able to support approximately 4,500 children in continuing their education.

Addressing digital equity calls for a concerted effort of all of us. We want to thank all of our donors and partner organizations one more time for supporting our efforts in closing the digital gap and bringing accessible education to more students throughout Turkey. Thank you Needs Map, Cagdas Yasami Destekleme Dernegi, Toplum Gonulleri Vakfi, Okul Destek Derneği, Turk Egitim Vakfi, Tohum Autism, PAYDA, ILKYAR, and Hayata Destek Dernegi for your leadership and dedication.

Please read TPF’s Digital Divide Impact Report to learn more about how our grants created an impact for many.

We are humbled by the trust you have placed in us and for your relentless support, thank you once again.

TPF's Digital Divide Impact Report

Join TPF in Closing the Digital Divide

We are looking for MENTORS in STEM
to pair up with young women in Turkey.

Turkish Philanthropy Funds is proud to partner with the Million Women Mentor Program (Milyon Kadına Mentor) in Turkey.  The program gives young Turkish women a chance to team up with mentors who can guide them in pursuing their professional careers. The goal is to curate 1,000,000 mentoring relationships over the next ten years.

We are proud to be a part of an initiative that continues to motivate young Turkish women.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor please submit your application here by selecting Turkish Philanthropy Funds as your supporting organization. Click on “My Institution is Attending – I want to be a mentor.”

About the Program

The Million Women Mentor Program is a mentoring program that aims to bring together young women (15-25 years old) and industry leaders working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields through a digital platform.

The program was organized by Ümran Beba (Founder, Beba Foundation and Partner, August Leadership) and Canan Özsoy (CEO of GE Turkey) under the leadership of the project stakeholders TurkishWIN and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).

Bringing STEMconnector’s global experience and TurkishWIN’s extensive mentor and mentee network together with its digital platform BinYaprak, the program is realized with the contributions of its founding supporters Beba Foundation, Limak Holding, Logo Software, and PepsiCo Turkey, and Petrol Ofisi.

Become A Mentor Today!

Million Women Mentor Instructions 

1. Visit: https://binyaprak.com/milyonkadinamentor
2. Scroll and click on Kurumum Katiliyor – Mentor Olmak Istiyorum
3. Click Yes or No for if you’re already a part of Bin Yaprak
4. Follow Steps 1- 6
5. In Step 2 (Kurumunuzu Seçin) Select Turkish Philanthropy Funds
6. Complete and Check E-mail for Login

FEATURED PANEL EDTECH & PHILANTHROPY: CRAFTING THE FUTURE

How technology and innovation can drive the future of education in Turkey and in the world. Our esteemed panelists, moderated by Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner of GSV Advisors, will share their views on the importance of technology and the role of philanthropy in guaranteeing high-quality education, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner, GSV AcceleraTE – Moderator: Deborah is the Managing Partner of GSV Ventures, a venture fund investing in education and workforce skills technologies that are disrupting the $7 Trillion sector. In addition, she is Co-founder of the ASU+GSV Summit. Now in its 12th year, the ASU+GSV Summit celebrates innovations and innovators across the global “preK to Gray” learning and talent landscape and attracts over 5,500 attendees.

Eren Bali, Founder, Udemy: CEO and Co-founder of Carbon Health Eren Bali is a serial entrepreneur with a vision to democratize healthcare. Eren leads the team at Carbon Health to reimagine the healthcare experience from the ground up and make world-class care accessible to everyone. Previously, Eren paved the way to make education accessible as co-founder of Udemy, the world’s largest marketplace for online courses with over 50 million students worldwide, where he continues to serve as Chairman.

Gulay Barbarosğlu, Ph.D. General Manager, Hisar SchoolsAdvisory Council Member, American Community Schools AthensMember of Board of Trustees, Ozyegin University: Professor Gülay Barbarosoğlu was the Rector of Boğaziçi University between August 6th, 2012 and November 12th, 2016. During her career, Professor Barbarosoğlu served as the Vice-Rector for Research, as the founding Chair of Center for Disaster Management, as the Chair of Department of Industrial Engineering, as the Founding Chair of Financial Engineering at Boğaziçi University, and as the Head of the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute. She has been the General Director of Hisar School since April 2018.

Ahmet Bozer, Advisory Board Member, Swire Coca-Cola, Board Member, Esas Holding Board Member, The Whole Coffee Company: Ahmet Bozer served as an Executive Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company until his retirement in March 2016, serving as the President of Coca-Cola International since January 1, 2013. In that position, he was responsible for all units outside North America. Ahmet began his career in 1983 as an Assistant Professor at the DeVry Institute of Technology. He joined the audit firm Coopers & Lybrand in Atlanta in 1985, serving in a variety of audit, consultancy & management roles.

Sarper Taskiran, M.D., Psychiatrist, Child Mind Institute: Sarper Taskiran, MD, is an ABPN Board-certified senior child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist at the Child Mind Institute with extensive experience diagnosing and treating the full range of psychiatric disorders. He has particular experience in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, disruptive behavior disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and mood disorders in children and adolescents.

Steven G. Seleznow, President & CEO, Arizona Community Foundation: Steven G. Seleznow is President & Chief Executive Officer of the Arizona Community Foundation, a statewide philanthropy whose mission is to lead, serve and collaborate to mobilize enduring philanthropy for a better Arizona. Seleznow earned a doctorate and master’s degree in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Maryland, and is a magna cum laude graduate of Boston University.

Haldun Tashman, Chairman Emeritus, Turkish Philanthropy Funds: Born in Bolu, Turkey Haldun Tashman is an entrepreneur who came to the United States, after graduating from Robert College of Istanbul in 1966, to study at Columbia Business School with a Fullbright Fellowship. Upon graduation, he worked at Deloitte in New York City for two years. Tashman moved to Phoenix, Arizona and became co-owner/manager of a privately held plastics contract manufacturing company called The Tech Group, Inc. 

WATCH THE PANEL