TEGV Has Reached Over 108,000 Volunteers in 30 Years

For 30 years, Turkey Educational Volunteers Foundation (TEGV), a civil society organization that carries out all its activities through the dedication of its volunteers, is celebrating 5 December World Volunteers Day with enthusiasm. Since its establishment, the foundation has reached more than 108,000 volunteers and continues to connect thousands of new volunteers each year with more children to provide quality education support.

One of Turkey's Largest Volunteer Networks
At TEGV, which works to raise children as contemporary and well-equipped individuals, volunteers gather with children at the foundation's activity centers and share their time, effort and knowledge.
Approximately 8,000 volunteers each year contribute to TEGV's quality education activities.

Many children return to TEGV years later as volunteers, and the volunteer culture continues to be passed from generation to generation.

30th Year Volunteer Ambassador: Ozan Akbaba
To bring this noble spirit of volunteering to a wider audience, actor Ozan Akbaba took on the role of "Volunteer Ambassador" as part of TEGV's 30th anniversary. Making his first visit to TEGV Mardin Midyat Learning Unit, Akbaba gathered with children and volunteers to experience the foundation's volunteer spirit.

"Our volunteers give their hearts to our children"
TEGV General Director Sait Tosyalı made the following statement on the occasion of World Volunteers Day:
"Our volunteers, who form our greatest strength, give not only their time but also their hearts to our children; they leave unforgettable marks in their lives. On World Volunteers Day, I thank all our volunteers for the love they bring to this great family."

Volunteer, Leave a Mark in the Future
TEGV aims to include more people in the volunteer ecosystem with the call "Be a volunteer, leave a mark in the future."
On 5 December, the foundation emphasizes the importance of equal and accessible education rights, drawing attention to the critical role of volunteers in creating an inclusive, safe and supportive learning environment.

Inspiring Experiences from Volunteers
As part of TEGV's 30th anniversary, volunteers shared their experiences in their own words:

-Eylül Ürgün – Van Nirun Şahingiray Education Park Volunteer:
"Volunteering is a discovery process for me. On this journey, in addition to being useful to society, I also discover myself. Each workshop at TEGV has a separate contribution to both the children and me. Thank goodness for TEGV."

-Berivan Özaydın – Diyarbakır Bank ABC Learning Unit Volunteer:
"I believe education should be accessible to everyone. Contributing to the development of young people and revealing their potential motivates me."

-Tülin Türk – Kocaeli Selma and Mesut Kavurt Learning Unit Volunteer:
"I met TEGV during the 1999 earthquake. As a child who lived through this process, I can say that my memories contain much more of the marks left by TEGV than the earthquake itself. That's why I'm glad TEGV exists."

-Ömer Baha Yılmaz – Ankara Semahat-Dr. Nüsret Arsel Education Park Volunteer:
"Children are our future. I have been volunteering for a year to be their hope, and I carry out each event with great joy."

How to Become a TEGV Volunteer?

To volunteer at TEGV:

-Be at least 18 years old,

-Have at least high school diploma.

Exceptionally, young people aged 15–17 can also volunteer with parental consent.

Applications are made via www.tegv.org. The "step-by-step volunteering" process then begins, which includes foundation introduction, basic volunteer training and program volunteer training.