Education Turkey Project #38797

Empower a First-Generation College Student

by Bridge to Turkiye Fund

Project Report | Feb 1, 2023
We Are Growing with over 1600 Scholars

By Sema Ala | Project Coordinator

BTF Scholar

As we end a year of much success in providing scholarships to college students, we begin a new one with over 1600 scholars and great hopes.

This past year we expanded our successful partnership with the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life (ÇYDD), a cooperative relationship dating back to 2005. We’ve expanded the bridge between our two organizations by increasing the number of ÇYDD scholars every year. In 2023 we will be providing BTF scholarships to 1000 university students from approximately 50 ÇYDD branches thanks to the contributions of our valuable supporters.

BTF support for scholarships provided through ÇYDD has exceeded $2 million over the past eighteen years, along with provision of personal notebooks to students in need. Computers have become essential to engage in distance learning, especially during the pandemic. Thanks to our generous donors who heeded the call of students unable to afford laptops, we were able to make dozens of machines available.

One of the segments most affected by the worsening economic conditions in our country is university students in big cities living apart from their families. We cannot thank you enough for listening to the appeals of these students and being there for them. Their needs are great, but those of you making these contributions to Turkish society are greater. Thanks to you, our hope for Turkey and its youth is ever alive.

On the 100th anniversary of our Republic, we are striving to meet the needs of many more students and to reshape a country worthy of Atatürk's legacy, where strong education can lead to continued prosperity.

Thank you!

With love and solidarity.

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Oct 5, 2022
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

By E. Sema Ala | Program Coordinator

The new academic year has begun in Turkiye. We share the excitement of our teachers, families, and, college students.

Due to the current economic crisis in Türkiye, the educational needs of students have grown tremendously. Especially in rural areas, families cannot afford to allocate any budget for educational expenses. University students need educational support more than ever.

As the new school year starts, you can make a difference by providing scholarships to university students. University students in Turkiye are struggling with dire economic difficulties to establish a promising future. Among them, the ones coming from low-income families, have accommodation, equipment, and transportation problems,especially in big cities.

We are pleased to report that we provided scholarships to 1,350 college students who can continue their education only with scholarship support thanks to your contributions in 2021-22. We are totaling our impact up to 7,300 scholars from underserved regions of Turkiye, who are mostly first-generation college students.

Our family is growing.

We are also happy to announce that our community is growing as we build new bridges with new partners to support more college students in need. Our new local partners are as follows:

1. BTF Friends of Bogazici Alumni Association:

https://bridgetoturkiye.org/btf-s-friends-of-bogazici-university-giving-circle/

2. BTF Friends of Istanbul Technical University Alumni Association:

https://bridgetoturkiye.org/btfs-friends-of-istanbul-technical-university-giving-circle/

3. BTF Friends of Lokman Hekim Saglik Vakfi:

https://bridgetoturkiye.org/friends-of-lokman-hekim-giving-circle/

On behalf of all university students who can attend university thanks to the scholarship you provide, we would like to thank you immensely.

It is so great to have your support!

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Jun 8, 2022
BTF Youth Contribute to Scholars' Education

By Sule Kivanc-Ancieta | Board Director and Project Coordinator

Dear Friends,

We are happy to announce a multicultural initiative led by our BTF youth members around the world. Participation continues to grow and now encompasses three continents. Joined with a common purpose to build relationships through cultural bridges and give back to our homeland, BTF youth members are helping BTF scholars in Turkiye develop working skills to communicate in the English language with confidence. The impact of their collective work has been life changing as evidenced by testimonials from both members and scholars.

BTF English Empowerment Program

In Turkey, English is highly valued in all areas of society, including business, technology, and medicine. Speaking English fluently can greatly improve quality of life and create new job opportunities. Most students and adults spend years learning English grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary. Unfortunately, due to a lack of access to native English speakers, students in Turkiye struggle to find opportunities to practice speaking and listening.

Turkey is the world 16th largest economy and globally connected, but English proficiency in Turkey is low compared to more developed countries. In 2020, Turkey ranked #69 of 100 countries in the EF (Education First) English Proficiency Index.

BTF English Empowerment Program is intended to be the modern equivalent of a “pen pal program”, but instead of writing to each other, the students talk to each other with the goal of improving the Turkish students’ English speaking. High school students in the US are paired up with one or more university students receiving a BTF scholarship through local NGO’s in Turkiye. The participants connect through video conferencing applications and schedule conversational video calls with each other once a week (2 sessions of 30 minutes or 1 hour a week). The students are paired based on career interests. As a result, the high school students in the US are also able to learn about a particular field of study by talking to a college level student in Turkey.

This might be the first time the students in Turkey hear a native person speak or talk to a native person in English. Native speaking English teachers are rare in Turkey and most families can’t afford private English lessons. Our weekly conversation classes are free and built on mutual engagement to help provide the same access to native speakers for everyone.

The BTF English Empowerment Program started in June 2020, with 10 participants in Chicago, US and 10 students in Kocaeli, Turkey. After a promising two quarters, BTF Program Sponsors have decided to expand it nationwide as it has garnered interest from Boston, San Diego, Seattle, New York, North Carolina, New Orleans BTF Youth. As of now, the program is running worldwide. There are currently 70 participants in the program. Thirty five BTF youth members in the US, Bolivia, and Switzerland and 35 scholars in Turkey.

Through this program, students in different countries also foster international friendships and cultural exchange. Most of the BTF Youth group members are Turkish-American, whether 1st or 2nd generation, or Americans interested in learning about other cultures and the program provides them an opportunity to learn more about Turkish culture and day to day life. This program has not only greatly benefited the Turkish students, also have fostered international friendships.

Kind Regards,

Links:

http://www.bridgetoturkiye.org

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