The Cekul foundation is an unusual non-for-profit organization in that it does not have a roster of donors and does not actively recruit volunteers. “For us a volunteer is a proactive person who comes to us and expresses her or his genuine willingness to work with us,†says Deniz Ozesmi, Project Coordinator of the Cekul foundation. The Cekul foundation’s ‘work’ consists of educating the public about the environment and culture through hands on participation. It does this through community outreach and organized projects in which community members play an active role.
Cekul’s ongoing activities are organized around five core programs: natural environment, cultural environment, education, promotion and community outreach. But the organization’s most important mission, according to Ozesmi, is “Building a national awareness about the pressing and urgent need for natural and cultural preservation; protecting our identity and our future, and mobilizing all available resources to do so.†For example, since 1993, Cekul, with the help of 700,000 volunteers, has planted 2.5 million trees throughout Turkey under its “Seven Tree Forests†program. The program, which derives its name from the fact that each person during his or her lifetime consumes seven trees, aims to increase awareness about deforestation and desertification. The environmentally conscious gift-giver can purchase a 'gift certificate' for seven trees and each year gift receivers and givers may visit forestation areas which are located in Istanbul, Marmaris, Antalya and Urfa-Harran.
The “Beriköy - Communities Building Communities†project is developing 50 homes and 3 community centers in the earthquake ravaged city of Adapazari, Turkey.
The primary aim of this project is empower the disenfranchised, creating jobs and promoting future sustainable development. Beriköy is a pilot project to create permanent and sustainable communities while empowering its members.
Ultimately, the “Beriköy - Communities Building Communities†project in Adapazari will sow a seed that will grow into a realistic, obtainable, well balanced community development concept for all of Turkey
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