Dear First name / friend of Bridge to Türkiye,

 

Our Istanbul event was an evening to remember—filled with smiles, inspiring conversations, and a shared passion for giving back to Türkiye. 

Co-hosted by our partner Habitat Association at Facebook İstasyon, the event brought together civil society leaders, partner organizations, and friends of BTF. It was an evening marked by sincerity and brilliant ideas, all nurturing our shared goal of supporting future generations in Türkiye.

President Emin Pamucak kicked off the evening by sharing the inspiring journey of BTF’s grassroots Giving Circles and their growth over the past 21 years. Board Secretary and longtime friend of Türkiye, Jordan M. Scepanski spoke about BTF’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Bora Caldu, Executive Director of Habitat Association, discussed his organization’s work in bridging Türkiye’s civil society with the public sector, and how their philosophy aligns with BTF’s mission. The event also featured the screening of Feyza’s Kitchen, this year's Cinema4aCause documentary.

BTF 2024 BACK TO SCHOOL CAMPAIGN REACHES ITS GOAL

Thanks to your incredible support, 642 students from 7 under-resourced schools across 6 cities in Türkiye have started the new school year with brand new supplies. These included schoolbags, stationery, and essential learning materials. These gifts are giving students a renewed sense of hope and motivation, sparking a joy for learning that will carry them through the year. Your contributions to our 2024 Back to School campaign made this possible. 

 

To deliver more smiles to more classrooms, you can still fund a school by clicking the button below. It's wonderful build brighter futures for Türkiye together, one classroom at a time!

BTF OPENS FIFTH KINDERGARTEN IN THE EARTHQUAKE REGION

In Adıyaman, our board and staff members joined Gülben Ergen in the district of Kahta to celebrate the opening ceremony of the Çocuklar Gülsün Diye-BTF Kindergarten - the fifth school we built together in Türkiye's earthquake-hit region with our partner Çocuklar Gülsün Diye Derneği. The event was also attended by Adıyaman’s Governor Osman Varol, and Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere. Here’s to stronger partnerships, extending bridges of hope, and opening many more schools to support the future generations of Türkiye!

ALP MACUN FROM BTF YOUTH SPEAKS TO VOICE OF AMERICA

At just 17 years old, Turkish-American high school student Alp Macun couldn't stand by as his peers in Türkiye continued to suffer in the wake of the 2023 earthquakes in Hatay. Inspired to take action, Alp partnered with BTF Youth to support children affected by the disaster. His efforts culminated in organizing a powerful photo exhibition to raise awareness and funds for those impacted.

Alp's dedication caught the attention of Voice of America, who featured his inspiring fundraiser earlier this month. Click here to read the full story (in Turkish).

 

Want to hear directly from Alp? Watch the video below to see his story in his own words. You can also donate to his fundraiser by clicking here.