Social and Welfare Services

Volunteers are needed to care for elderly people, orphans, street children, and the disabled and homeless. Depending on the association or host project, some administrative and/or language skills might be needed.

Sample Projects:

"Friendly Hands" - DOST ELLER

The main objective of the project is to seek out and support needy people - immigrant families, students, the homeless, the unemployed, single mothers and the elderly - who need care and assistance by providing food, shelter, and educational resources regardless of their age, sex, political or religious beliefs. They accept donations of money as well as goods, and prepare monthly food aid boxes for delivery to the needy.

Volunteer's Task: Volunteers will work in the Friendly Hands Shop, accepting and organising donations of food, clothing, or other donations, preparing the donation boxes, and going out into the community to assist with deliveries.

KIZILAY- TURKISH RED CRESCENT SOCIETY

Red Crescent Society (KIZILAY), founded in 1868, is the fourth largest aid organisation in the world. It joined with the International Federation of Red Cross Societies in 1930 with over 500 branches all over Turkey. Kizilay accepts donations of food, money, and clothes, and also welcomes volunteers. The mission of Red Crescent is to help people without discrimination of race, language or religion. The Society's international symbol of a reversed red crescent represents neutrality and immunity. This organisation is active in all kinds of community service projects related to social welfare issues.

Bayrampasa Kizilay is one of the large branches of Red Crescent in Istanbul. There is Bayrampasa Medical Center which serves as a full capacity hospital to the local citizens with very reasonable prices on a sliding scale. In addition to the health care unit, there is a Cookhouse as well. Bayrampasa Cookhouse serves hot meal for almost 600 poor and some homeless people once a day free of charge. All facilities have been built by donations.

Volunteer's Task : Welcoming guests and patients and directing them to the right department; accompanying and helping patients during their medical tests, or helping the kitchen staff to prepare and serve lunch. A volunteer can also work in Kizilay's Blood Centre in Antalya as helper to the staff. All the Kizilay Projects are available throughout the year.

Education Services

While public schools in Turkey are free of charge and primary school is mandatory, many children still do not get a proper education due to lack of adequate facilities, a shortage of teachers in some rural areas, as well as political and cultural obstacles.

Sample Projects:

BARIS MANCO DAYCARE CENTER

The Baris Manco Daycare Centre is a community based and non-profit centre established in 1999, which has a contemporary point of view about pre-school and primary school education. The centre is located in Bakirkoy, one of the largest districts in Instanbul, where there are many historical sites such as mosques, and historical homes.

There are 4 pre-school classes, and a study-class for elementary school children. The total number of students in the school is about 80. In addition to the 4 pre-school teachers, a nurse, a cook and a psychologist who all work full-time, there are also part time Arts and Crafts and English Language course teachers.

Volunteer's task: Volunteers may assist the teachers to teach English, music, painting, handcrafts and in lesson planning. The project is available year round.

CHILDREN'S FRIENDS ASSOCIATION

The Children's Friends Association has established a home for orphans, and for children of missing parents. The children live in the association's building and go to state schools. The main objective is to give disadvantaged children a safe, happy living atmosphere, to enable them to continue their education and to go on to have productive and healthy lives. The association depends on donations of money, food, clothing and of volunteer work for its continuing operations.

Task description: Volunteers are welcome at the association during the school term from September to June and they may work as language teachers, at computer training, coaching sports, or teaching music (teaching to sing, introducing instruments), drawing, handcrafts, ceramics etc. Working hours are flexible depending on the school schedules. Project is available from September to June.

Traditional Turkish Arts and Crafts

Sample Project:

The Yildiz Porcelain Factory was established on the grounds of Yildiz Palace in 1894. It was built to make traditional Turkish porcelain and to protect them against imports from porcelain industries of European countries. Since 1995 Yıldız Porcelain Factory has been a not for profit museum-factory operating under the auspices of the Department of National Palaces. As well as producing wares in traditional designs with the object of keeping the art of Turkish porcelain alive, the factory produces limited edition reproductions of originals in Turkey's National Palaces Porcelain Collection.

Task description: The volunteer will work as an assistant and learn the technical and decorative aspects of porcelain and tile production in the traditional style.

Assisting those with Disabilities

Sample Projects:

SIX DOT FOUNDATION FOR BLIND

The main objective of the foundation is to help blind people adapt to community life and become productive members of society. They offer room and board to 35 students at a time, from the ages of 18-35, as well as provide basic skills workshops and basic job training.

The centre is located in Emirgan, one of the oldest residential areas by the Bosporus. Volunteers should have some experience working with the blind. Tutoring is usually on a one to one basis therefore working hours can be flexible. The project is available all year long.

SCHIZOPHRENIA FRIENDS ASSOCIATION

The main objective of the project is to educate patients and their families about schizophrenia, to overcome stereotypes in their society, and help patients to socialise. They have separate courses for patients and their families in the centre. There are also classes in singing, painting, and folk dances as well as daily excursions and summer camps.

Task description: Educator (music, drama, drawing, language, handcrafts, dance). Males (25+) only, should have experience or willingness to work with this special group. Hours are 11am-6pm weekdays (including lunch break). The project is available all year long.

Environment

Turkey holds a unique geographical position as the genetic center or “diversity center” for a large number of plants. It is at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and Near East gene centres. Because of its position between Asia, Europe and Africa, Turkey has flora and fauna comprised of elements of all these continents. The 120 species of mammals living in Turkey reflect its central geographic location. As in any rapidly developing country, Turkey's enormous population growth destroys habitats and displaces many species of animals. Turkey's concerns about biodiversity often take a backseat to the more pressing issues of development and growth. Booming industrial production also lead to higher levels of energy consumption, imports, air and water pollution, and greater risks to the country's environment. Therefore, Turkey's most pressing needs are for water treatment plants, wastewater treatment facilities, solid waste management, and the conservation of biodiversity.

Sample Project:

WWF-TURKEY/Sea turtles

The main aim of the Project is to enhance the conservation of Turkey's sea turtle population, and to promote the sustainable use of its vast natural resources. The project area is located in Adana Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Adana is the gateway to the Cukurova plain, the large stretch of flat and fertile land which lies to the south-east of the Taurus Mountains. The lakes and the linked lagoons are the places where unique land and sea creatures, especially green sea turtles and birds reproduce and shelter.

Volunteer's Task: The position involves lots of walking along the 22km beach. Tasks include marking turtle's nests, preserving them and helping baby sea turtles find their way to the sea when they hatch. Volunteers will stay in shared tents(supplied by the WWF) with other volunteers (local & international), and will share cooking and other chores in camp or are free to bring their own tent and sleeping bag. The Turtle Project is available June to September; office work is available all year long where administrative and website work is needed.