Sample Volunteer Abroad Projects — Turkey
Social and Welfare Services - Education - Assisting People with Disabilities - Environmemt
Following the orientation program you will start your volunteer program. Some available volunteer projects: Working as assistant to teachers in an orphanage, public education centers, public school or kindergarten; social work for the elderly, handicapped or street kids; working for environmental NGO's; providing help to the staff for cooking or distributing donations to those in need; helping in public medical centers; community work in rural areas such as constructing playgrounds or working in a village primary school, agriculture and field work with villagers.
Founded in 1959, EIL-Turkey has many connections and partnerships with host organizations that are open to receiving volunteers in Turkey. Available host projects vary due to time of the year and the needs and priorities of those associations. From a number of host organizations and projects, we try to do the most appropriate placement that best matches your preferences and capabilities.
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 language skills might be needed. One example is for volunteers to do some organizing for future volunteers at a site. In additional to work in the field, this type of organizational work is a very important part of many of the projects.
Sample Projects:
WOMAN, ENVIRONMENT, AND CULTURE IN BIGA
Their main philosophy is to increase local women's involvement in economic development processes to improve the quality of their lives and their communities. The women in the community have taken courses in cooperation management, wood painting, and jewelry making. They run two restaurants where they produce and serve traditional local food and they have established a dairy production plant. They have opened a children center to expand early childcare and education services to low income families, which is under threat of closing down because of insufficient funds.
Project district: Canakkale- the province Canakkale lies on both sides of the dardanelles which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean Sea. Its shores touch both Europe (with the Gallipoli peninsula) and Asia (with the big peninsula). Canakkale is a historically and mythologically rich area, homeland of many widely known legends. The legendary citadel of Troy, the ruins of Assos where the famous temple of Athena was build and the battlefields of Gallipoli are all in this province. There are also many Ottoman structures still standing; castles, bridges, mosques, mansions and Turkish baths. In the villages and towns centuries old crafts, cooking, and styles of dressing can still be seen. Canakkale can be reached by car or bus and ferries are working regularly between the two sides.
Discrict: Biga is 90km away from the center. It has a population of 30.000, together with it's surroundings and villages population would come to 80.000 people. Their main income is from agriculture and cattle-dealing.
Volunteer's task: Volunteers are expected to work/help in various works of the cooperation; for example, food processing, packaging, selling or help in the cooperation restaurants, help to improve the conditions of dairy products center by building stools, tables etc. assist/teach handicraft workshops or teach English.
Working hours: Flexible hours and days according to the workplace and task.
Project is available all year long.
RESPECT OF THE HISTORY
This project's goals include building new roads, painting, restoration of buildings like schools and museums, establishing cultural centers and playgrounds, and landscaping to improve the conditions of the villages in Gallipoli peninsula. Through the restoration work and the education of the local people, the historical heritage of the area is to be preserved, and respect shown to the soldiers who have lost their lives in the battlefields of the district.
Project district: Canakkale- the province Canakkale lies both sides of the dardanelles which connects sea of Marmara to the Aegean sea. Its shores touch both Europe (with the Gallipoli peninsula) and Asia (with the big peninsula). Canakkale is a historically and mythologically rich area, homeland of many widely known legends. The legendary citadel of Troy, the ruins of Assos where the famous temple of Athena was build and the battlefields of Gallipoli are all in this province. There are also many Ottoman structures still standing; castles, bridges, mosques, mansions and Turkish baths. In the villages and towns centuries old crafts, cooking, and styles of dressing can still be seen. Canakkale can be reached by car or bus and ferries are working regularly between the two sides.
Discrict: Gallipoli peninsula and it's villages. Gallipoli is the peninsula of the Europen side of Canakkale. The province has witnessed two very important battles in history: the mythological war of Troy and the battle of Gallipoli during World War I. To honor the 500.000 soldiers who gave their lives at Gallipoli this peninsula has been made a national park of remembrance.
Volunteer's task: Volunteers are welcome to work in any area of their choice to contribute to the project. They can work in development works or can teach English, handicrafts, and help with landscaping.
Working hours: Flexible hours and days according to the workplace and task.
Project is available all year long.
KIZILAY- TURKISH RED CRESCENT SOCIETY
Red Crescent Society (KIZILAY), founded in 1868, is the fourth largest aid organization in the world with the second largest capacity for helping people all around the world. It joined with the International Federation of Red Cross Societies in 1930. It has 584 functional branches in all over Turkey. Kizilay accepts all kind of donations like food, money, clothes, buildings and welcomes volunteers. The mission of Red Crescent is to help people without discrimination of race, language or religion. The international symbol of reversed red crescent represents neutrality and immunity during a war. This organization 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.
Project district: Bayrampasa is one of the largest administrative districts of Istanbul and is located on about 990 hectares area in the European side where the population is over 240,000 according to last census in 2000.
A volunteer can also work in Kizilay's Blood Center in Antalya as helper to the staff.
Task description in a typical day: Welcoming guests and patients and directing them to the right department; accompanying and helping to patients any time they need for instance during their medical tests etc. or helping the kitchen staff to prepare and serve lunch.
Working hours: 9:00 am-12:30 pm and 13:30-16:00 during the week days
All the Kizilay Projects are available all year long.
REST HOUSE AND DISPENSATORY IN ETILER
The purpose of this volunteer project is to provide physical and psychological care to people over 60 who get their salary from The Pension Fund for Civil Servants of The Republic of Turkey in The Istanbul Rest House and Dispensatory.
There have been 5 main departments which are providing Social Services, Psychological Counseling, Health Care, Technical and Administrative support. There are suites, and double and single rooms for 582 pensioners. The capacity of the health care unit is for 45 patients. The facilities include a kitchen, two dining halls, TV rooms, a concert hall, library, hairdressers for females and males, tailor, launderette, and a cafe in the rose garden.
Project district: Besiktas is a district of Istanbul, Turkey located on the European side of the city, by the coast of The Bosphorus with the population of 190,813 (2000 census). Besiktas is neighbour to the upmarket Bebek and Etiler areas where Bogazici University is located, and Mecidiyekoy which is one of the central business districts of European Istanbul.
Task description in a typical day: Helping the staff in daily basics such as serving in dining hall, having conversations and keeping company to pensioners, reading to them, playing musical instruments, escorting them during the excursions which are arranged by social service to the cultural centers, movie theatres, theaters, concerts, sightseeing tours in Istanbul or nearby cities.
Working hours: 9:00 am-12:30 pm and 13:00-15:00 during the week days
Project is available all year long.
WOMAN COORDINATION CENTER
The main objective of the Center is to organize activities and educational programs to help women adapt to big city life, and to give scholarships to female university students. The Center has departments such as education, archive and library, social aid and workshops. They organize educational and vocational programs for women, give financial aid to students, help and assist with health problems, give food and clothing to needy families, help women in prison and their children, and assist them to find psychological help. The workshop has recyling and hometextile production sections. They have yearly fair where products of both sections are on sale, and the profit from the sales to support the other projects.
Project district: CAGLAYAN is one of the bussiest district in Istanbul. It is mainly a business center and a residencial area. Residants are mostly low income families.
Caglayan is easy to commute by public transport since it is a junction of many areas in Istanbul and nearby to the centers Mecidiyekoy and Sisli.
Volunteer's task: The center collects mainly clothing donations from people. The volunteers are expected to work in classifying the clothes, washing, ironing, packaging and delivering them to the needy families with the center's cars accompanying staff.
Working hours: Monday to Friday 08:30 - 17:00 ; Lunch break 12:30 - 13:30
Project is available all year long.
DENIZ FENERI- LIGHT HOUSE ASSOCIATION
The Light House Association aims to help the needy people of the world in the context of fairness, neutrality, openness, responsibility, modesty, confidence, sincerity and universality.
Project district: Zeytinburnu is one of the most important connection points of Istanbul's European side housing many civilizations until today. Precious parts of the culture mosaic such as Yenikapi Mevlevi House, the lodge of whirling dervishes, Zoohodos Piyi Church in which many Orthodox Patriarchs rest, and sacred fountains are in this district. Surrounded by the water in the south, Zeytinburnu district is separated from the peninsula with city walls. The district which is considered as the leather center of Turkey is the place where you can buy the leather at the most economical price, which played an important role in its development.
Volunteer's task: Helping to prepare monthly food aid or any other aid boxes and help deliver them to families.
Working hours: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 17:30; Lunch break 12:30 - 13:30
Project is available all year long.
Education Services
While public schools in Turkey are free of charge and primary school is mandatory, education is a core issue to be dealt with. 60% of Turkey's population is younger than 26, therefore projects in teaching and education are much needed by the public. Although primary schools are mandatory, many children still could not get a proper education due to lack of teachers and schools in rural areas as well as cultural problems. Volunteers are needed to help ensure the education of young children.
EIL-Turkey is in cooperation with some village schools and poor schools of urban areas in projects concerning the development of school programs, construction of sports areas and courses on language. You can volunteer in a construction project for a village school or/and volunteer as a teaching assistant of a primary school teacher. Moreover, volunteers are needed to work to help with the education of orphans and street children.
Sample Projects:
BARIS MANCO DAYCARE CENTER
Main objective of the project is to look after and educate the children of the staff of the Bakirkoy Municipality following a contemporary curriculum on a daily basis for all year long. It is a community based and non-profit day care center which has a contemporary point of view about pre-school and primary school children's education. The service has been providing with an utmost care of educational and hygienic standards with a reasonable fee since 1999. There are 4 classes for 3-year-olds, 5-year-olds, 6-year-olds, and study-class for elementary school children and total number of the students is 80. In addition to the 4 pre-school teachers, a nurse, a cook and a psychologist who work full-time, there are also Arts and Crafts and English Language course teachers, and a dentist who work part-time.
Project district: Bakirkoy is one of the biggest administrative districts of Istanbul and is located on about 35 km2 area in the European side. The community has an important impact on Istanbul'sl economy both in production and consumption. The habitants are mostly bureaucrats, tradesmen, and retired persons. Bakirkoy was the military and political center of Istanbul during the Byzantine period. Turks have been living in this area since 15th century. It has several historical places to visit such as hamams, mosques, cisterns, waterside houses etc...
Task description in a typical day: Volunteers are welcome to assist to the teachers to teach English, music, painting, handcrafts…
Working hours: 8:00 am-16:30 during the week days.
Project is available all year long.
CHILDREN'S FRIENDS ASSOCIATION
This association has established a home for the homeless children who have not been registered as orphans such as children with missing parents and children whose parents/relatives refuse to look after them. The children live in the association's building and go to state schools. Main objective is to give disadvantaged children a safe, happy living atmosphere, to enable them to continue their education and have professions. They live in the association building as a big family (25 boys), share all chores, and go to their schools everyday. They run a coffee shop in the building for extra income. Donators take them to picnics, theatres or museums occasionally. Association depends on donations for its continuing operations.
Project district: MASLAK is one of the busiest downtowns of Istanbul European side known as "Mashattan" because of its business towers. Easy to commute, there are shopping and eating places nearby.
Task description: Volunteers are welcome at the association during school term September to June and they may work as educator on language/computer training, sports 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.
KADIKOY PUBLIC EDUCATION CENTER-(KHEM)Z
The center has been working in the sector of general public education since 1932. The center holds courses on 62 different subjects and all the courses are free of charge. The courses are on career, technical and adult education in general. They aim to give the public professional courses to help them find jobs or establish their own business, try to preserve Turkish traditional music, folkdance and handcrafts, to help young people learn foreign languages. They organize exhibitions on handcrafts; give performances of choir singing, folk dancing. The folkdance teams enter competitions abroad.
One of the most interesting courses of KHEM is Ornamented Glassware Workshop . It's aimed to teach and produce traditional and modern designs of glassware with designs of ancient Anatolian civilisations, and Turkish-Ottoman. The products have different selling points and the profit goes to a special project which is educating women and wounded veterans to have professions who have no social benefits, education or income.
Project district: Kadikoy is the main residential and business center of Asian side of Istanbul. Its population is about 1 million according to last census. Trade is the main economical activity. The Glassware workshop is in Atasehir, Kadikoy which is another branch of KHEM.
Task description: Volunteers are welcome as assistant to educators. The volunteer could work as a supplementary teacher especially in language classes (English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Arabic, and Turkish Ottoman. Volunteers will attend the courses to learn the special techniques to ornament glass and also help the staff to produce in glassware workshop.
Working hours: The center is open all day from 9am-9pm. The working hours will be scheduled according to the courses. The glassware workshop is open Monday- Friday 9am - 4pm .
Project is available all year long.
Assisting those with Disabilities
Sample Projects:
SIX DOT FOUNDATION FOR BLIND
Main objective of the Project is rehabilitating the blind, help their adaptation to community life as independent individuals and make them productive members of the society. Main philosophy of the foundation is strengthening the adaptation of the blind to society. To achieve their goal they are educating blind people from all over Turkey between the ages of 18-35. They offer room and board to 35 students at one time, as well as provide basic skills workshops and basic job training.
Project district: Emirgan is one of the oldest, residential areas by the Bosporus. There is a beautiful forest famous with its tulips and pavilions. There some architectural examples of the Ottoman Empire in the area. There are lots of open tea gardens and eating places by the sea.
Task description: Volunteer will educate blind according to his/her specialty so volunteer should have some experience working with the blind or have similar work experience.
Working hours: 9 am - 5pm including lunch break, weekdays. Tutoring is usually on one to one basis therefore working hours could be flexible.
Project is available all year long.
SCHIZOPHRENIA FRIENDS ASSOCIATION
Main objective of the project is to educate patients and their families about the illness, to overcome stereotypes in the society, and help patients to socialize. They have separate courses for patients and their families in the center. Also there are classes in singing, painting, and folk dances as well as daily excursions and summer camps.
Project district: Taksim Square is the heart of modern Istanbul of the European side laid out in the late 1800. The Independence Monument (Istiklal Aniti) in the circle is the southern end of the square.
Istiklal Caddesi formerly the Grand Rue de Pera, starts in Taksim Square and extends southwest to Galatasaray Square. Istiklal Caddesi is the main attraction of the square. It is the area of shopping, restaurants, bars, cafes, cinemas and theatres. Taksim Square and the surroundings area is easy to commute.
Task description: Educator (music, drama, drawing, language, handcrafts, dance). Males (25+) only, should have experience or willingness to work with this special group.
Working hours: 11am-6pm weekdays (including lunch break)
Project is available all year long.
Environment
Turkey holds a unique geographical position. It is also the genetic center or “diversity center” for a large number of plants. It is at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and Near East gene centers. 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 led 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 enchance the conservation of Turkey's biodiversity and promote the sustainable use of its natural resources.
Project district: Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and its former capital city till 1923. Under older names Byzantium and Constantinople, the city has been from the ancient times. It is facing on sea, and known as a large trade center with a seaport. Its population is about 13 million people and the city is therefore one of largest cities in Europe. Istanbul is located in the Western Turkey. It faces the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus strait, connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. WWF's Office is in Eminonu which is part of the old city and the most touristic place.
ADANA is the capital of Adana Province in Mediterranean region of Turkey. According to the 2000 census, it is the fifth most populous city of Turkey. The 2006 estimate of Adana's population is 1,271,894. 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. In Adana 65 large plotted site areas were declared by recording. In these site areas there are urban sites like center of Kozan and county center of Seyhan, archaeological sites like Misis, Magarsus, Anavarza, and natural sites like Agyatan-Akyatan Yumurtalik lagoons. 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: In Istanbul: Mainly office based work like updating content on the website, working in the archives, and other administrative tasks.
Working hrs: 5 hours per day, 4 days per week.
In Adana: Typical work day starts at 5am until 11am, the other shift is between 21:00 - 24:00. One day off per week. The position involves lots of walking along the 22km. beach. Volunteer tasks include marking turtle's nests, preserve them, help green baby sea turtles to find their way to the sea when they come out of the eggs. Volunteers will stay in shared tents(supplied by the WWF) with other volunteers (local&international), and will share cooking and other chores in camp. The camping site is an secure place under the supervision of Enviroment and Forestry Management. Volunteers are free to bring their own tent or sleeping bag if they wish.
Turtle Project is available June to September; office work is available all year long.
