History

Our first Education Park, Fındıkzade Education Park, comes into service with a ceremony attended by the then President Süleyman Demirel. Modern Textbooks Project is started. New event points start to be launched, whereby TEGV starts spreading across Anatolia. Works of the Foundation are shared with the public through the media, under the motto of “Better to Light a Candle than to Curse the Darkness”.

Concerts themed “Singing for the East” are organized for the Eastern and South Eastern Activity locations. TEGV has been selected as the most successful NGO by the Dünya Newspaper.

“Volunteers of Basketball” Project is put into practice in cooperation with Tofaş company. “Motivation Meetings for Volunteers” start, where all volunteers in Istanbul come together. The first “Firefly Learning Unit” goes into operation in Kastamonu province. The number of activity locations rises to 56 around Türkiye. “One Million Children Education Campaign” is launched.

The second “Telethon” broadcast is held for the “One Million Children” campaign. SMS donation system is used in Türkiye for the first time. “Classroom of Stars Year-End Show” is organized with the participation of numerous artists and business people. Our education programs are gathered under five main titles, with the concept of a rich learning environment. TEGV is granted the “NGO of the Year” award. An integrated management system is activated, making all the data related to the activities of the Foundation accessible and traceable simultaneously at the Headquarters and in the Field. “Read, Think, Do” education program is developed by TEGV.

Ferit Aysan Education Park, in memory of our donor from Bakırköy district of Istanbul, is opened. Within the scope of the Telethon Campaign, “Education Volunteers Joint Broadcast” is televised at the same time on 9 national television channels, for the first time in our country - Türkiye. TEGV is awarded a “Certificate of High Achievement” by the International Youth Foundation. Sponsored education programs are brought into action. Programs are started under the following titles: “I Can be Nourished” in collaboration with Nestle, “Young Inventors” with Eczacıbaşı and “Harmony of Hearts in Education” with Arçelik..

Incomes from the book titled “I Have Ideals Longer Than My Life (Turkish title: Ömrümden Uzun İdeallerim Var)” by Suna Kıraç, the Founder and Honorary President of our Foundation, are donated to the Education Volunteers. In order to make activities widespread, “Provincial Representation” practice is put into effect. The 1st International Volunteers Conference is held on 5 December. “I Read & I Play” program is started in collaboration with Yapı Kredi Bank and “Colorful Horizons” program with Visa Europe.

“Telethon” campaign is held on April 23. Within the framework of the “I Read & I Play” Education Program, “Street Theaters” project is put into practice and staged in 10 provinces, participated by 11 famous theatre artists. TEGV takes part in an REM concert. A survey is carried out about “Youth, Volunteerism and Social Capital in Türkiye”. “Knowledge is My Job” program is initiated in collaboration with Avea and “Young Uniforms” with Migros. The number of children we have reached since the day of our foundation exceeds 1 Million. An SMS Platform is established in order to enable online communication with volunteers. One of TEGV’s distinguished trustees, Nirun Şahingiray, who supported our Foundation since the day of its establishment, passes away, donating a large amount of his wealth to TEGV.

Our Foundation is granted the Golden Compass Award for the “You Have Never Seen Them Like This Before” Concert, given by the Public Relations Association of Türkiye (TÜHİD) at the Public Relations Awards event. A new record is broken with a donation pledge of TRY 4.7 million in Beyaz Show (a popular talk show program)! Under the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture scheme, our first thematic Firefly Culture Truck goes into action in collaboration with the Eruopean Capital of Culture Agency. Our first thematic website, “Our Home, Istanbul”, is established. TEGV celebrates its 15th anniversary.

TEGV is accredited for the European Voluntary Service Program and starts sending volunteers to Europe. Departing from Istanbul and heading to Macedonia, Culture Track commences its operations in Skopje. TEGV Culture Truck introduces the education programs of the Foundation to Macedonian children for 3 months. The number of Fireflies reaches 23, which covered a distance of 112,214 km and reached 720,098 children in 12 years. TEGV carries out an Impact Survey on the Children of Graduates.

Supported by Istanbul Development Agency, Dream Wanderer Firefly commences its activities, targeting the access of children at primary-school age to plastic arts. TEGV becomes a member of the executive board of National Volunteering Committee (NVC), which is a strategic advisory body promoting the recognition, strengthening and dissemination of volunteerism. TEGV is mentioned in the Harvard University’s curriculum as a “case study”. In the 100th anniversary of Turkish Cinema, “Movies with Songs” concert is organized, where the songs from unforgettable movies are performed by actors and actresses.

In 2016, TEGV is appreciated at national and international levels with the awards granted by Corporate Governance Association, Sabancı University, Vefa High School and the Global Compact. The Oral History project titled “TEGV; from Past to Present” is initiated in order to document the history of the Foundation. The new communication campaign, “Ever Asked Me?”, creates an impression around the country.

Tekirdağ Fibria Learning Unit of TEGV opens. The first Design and Skills Workshop is launched. As part of the Running Towards Education Project, Ahmet Uysal makes history by running for 1,645 kilometers from Artvin province to Köyceğiz town. TEGV performs the 2021 Strategy study with the participation of all employees.

TEGV leaves behind 25 years filled with love for education and pride. TEGV Virtual Museum website is launched. COVID-19 pandemic breaks out. TEGV Digital Education Platform is opened for all children in Türkiye, under the consultancy of Google.org and INCO Education Accelerator Group. The “New World” campaign is initiated in cooperation with the Former Arçelik Employees’ Association and tablet PCs are distributed to the children in the disadvantaged regions. Mobile version of Algo Digital is released. Our Integrated Annual Report for 2019 is awarded the first prize in 3 different categories at the International ARC Awards competition. The TEGV Virtual Museum has been deemed worthy of the Golden Spider award in 4 different categories, including the best micro website award.
We sadly bid farewell to our founder and Honorary President, dear Suna Kıraç.

Since the first day of our foundation, the number of children we have reached and prepared them for the future with quality education in our activity centers all over Türkiye has reached more than 3 million.

Van Nirun Şahingiray Education Park, named after our esteemed donor Nirun Şahingiray and constructed with a sustainable building concept, is opening its doors to provide education support to 4,000 children annually.

Since 2007, the electronic waste recycling project "Atma Bağışla" (Dont Waste, Donate) was awarded with the Sustainable Business Awards.

With the support of 778 runners and thousands of donors, we broke another record at the Istanbul Marathon and reached a donation amount that will provide quality education support to 6,766 children.

Our website, which was renewed with up-to-date technologies and a user-friendly interface, received 5 awards at the Golden Spider Web Awards.