Sowing Season: Experience Sharing Meeting October 18, 2012

On October 18 2012, representatives of 9 NGOs who completed their projects with support from the Sabanci Foundation Social Development Grant Program came together at a meeting held in Istanbul at the Sabanci Center, hosted by Chair of Sabanci Foundation Board of Trustees, Ms. Guler Sabanci.

In her opening speech, Ms. Guler Sabanci stated that Sabanci Foundation has made great efforts to apply best practices in philanthropy for social justice and development in Turkey. Comparing the Social Development Grant Program to a vast garden with 28 ‘seeds’ planted over the past 5 years, Guler Sabanci said: “This is our ‘Social Development Garden’ and with each project we plant a new ‘seed’ to promote equality and participation. These projects have made a difference in the lives of more than 60.000 individuals in 71 provinces of Turkey. They have been instrumental in enabling social and economic participation for women, youth and people with disabilities. Sabanci Foundation will continue to plant more seeds to further promote the social development of Turkey.”

Following these opening remarks, project representatives from the Youth Lives Foundation, Association of Persons with Visual Impairments, Foundation for Women’s Solidarity,Human Rights in Mental Health Initiative, Children with Cerebral Palsy Association, Woman Life Center Association of Trabzon, Youth Re-Autonomy Foundation of Turkey, Youth Unity Association of Turkey, and the Library of Persons with Visual Disabilities Association in Turkey shared their experiences and project outcomes with the audience.

Prior to this meeting on October 17, 2012, current and former projects convened at a workshop to share experiences and discuss topics such as cooperation with government, private sector and capacity building for NGOs in Turkey.

Please click here for the book “Sowing Season Grant Program Stories” which shares the stories of projects implemented with the support of Sabanci Foundation during 2011-2012.