Education is Power

Dear Friends,

Every year, the Buldan Education and Solidarity Foundation receives messages from young women who are determined to continue their education despite significant financial and social challenges. These messages often describe both the difficulties they face and the dreams they hope to achieve through education.

Below are examples from some of the students who have reached out to us:

“I am 19 years old and this year I will begin medical school. It has been a very difficult journey to get here. I lost my mother when I was only 15. Becoming a doctor was the biggest dream we shared together. I kept the promise I made to her and earned my place in medical school. My greatest wish now is to become a doctor who can help people and make a difference in the world.”
— Sevde

“About a month and a half ago, a fire started in the shop next door and spread to ours. My father and I have been going through a very difficult time since then. The cost of getting to university is very high for me, and I try to buy my books second-hand whenever I can. Despite everything, my only goal is to succeed in my profession and build a better future.”
— Enise

“My studies are the most important thing in my life, because they are my only path forward. Becoming a doctor is my only way out. My biggest dream is to one day help children who grow up in poverty.”
— Zehra

“I grew up in Mardin and I am now a medical student. My dream is to become an obstetrician and open my own clinic. I also want to spend some time in Africa working as a volunteer doctor to gain experience. After that, I hope to return and provide free health screenings for women who cannot afford them.”
— Esra

These stories reflect the determination of many young women who are striving to continue their education and build a better future.

At the Buldan Education and Solidarity Foundation, we work to support students through scholarships and additional educational assistance. However, our available resources are not always sufficient to reach every young woman who requests support.

In many cases, relatively small forms of assistance can make a meaningful difference, such as:

a scholarship contribution

educational materials and books

transportation costs for attending university

To further expand our support for students, the Buldan Education and Solidarity Foundation is participating in GlobalGiving’s Little by Little Campaign, which will take place from March 17 to March 20, 2026.

During this campaign, donations up to $50 will be matched at 50% by GlobalGiving while matching funds last, allowing contributions to create an even greater impact for students in need.

The campaign begins on March 17 at 10:00 AM EDT and will continue until March 20 or until matching funds are fully allocated.

We are grateful for the continued support of our donors and partners who help make educational opportunities possible for young women.

Regards,
Çigdem N. Kordon
Buldan Foundation

Dear Friend,

On November 27, Buldan Foundation was honored to receive the Jury Special Award at the Dünya Newspaper Social Benefit Awards for our project, “Our Daughter Will Go to School - Education is Power”

This honor belongs to you.

This award is not only a recognition of a project, but of a shared journey—one shaped by young girls who continue their education despite obstacles, by parents who insist that their daughters deserve an education, and by a community that chooses to stand beside them.

We accepted this award on behalf of 16,127 donors, including you, and 457 volunteers, who believed in a hope that began in a small Anatolian town and grew through solidarity and trust.

We work toward a world where no woman or girl depends on anyone’s mercy—a world where education and dignity allow young women to build their own lives freely. Every step we take on this path is strengthened by collective belief and support.

Receiving this award reminds us that we are on the right path. And we know that this path is not walked alone.

Thank you for being part of this journey, for supporting young women’s academic dreams, and for contributing—quietly and meaningfully—to a future shaped by opportunity.

May the hope we have built together open the door to many more stories in the year ahead. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, with our sincere thanks for walking this road with us.

Regards,
Çigdem N. Kordon
Buldan Foundation

Links:

• Education is Power