Turkish Human Resources and Health Foundation (TIKAV) was founded by Akfen Family in Ankara, in October 15th, 1999 with the aim of carrying out the social responsibility projects of Akfen Holding. Akfen Holding invests in people by its social responsibility projects while it aims for sustainable success with strategies regarding public needs. Akfen Holding employees also have a high social responsibility awareness, they take part in and help with TIKAV’s several projects.
Investing in people, TIKAV works hard with the mission of creating projects for people to grow as socially responsible, environmentally conscious, respectful of social and global values and adaptable individuals in a rapidly changing world. With this mission, TIKAV has been carrying out various projects in different fields.
Individual Development Project (BGP)
Ever since its foundation, TIKAV has carried out many different projects and led the way in Turkey with its “Individual Development Project (BGP)” since 1999. With BGP, it has aimed to ensure equal opportunities for university students who face problems in getting access to educational, cultural, social and individual development activities. In this context, scholar students (from their freshman years till graduation) participate in a variety of computer and foreign language lessons, personal development trainings, cultural and art activities, public service programs, national and international interviews and vocational programs; hence they enrich their skills and gain valuable knowledge in social and business life.
Individual Development Project firstly applied to Elazig Firat University students in 1999. The project expanded to other universities over the years: Van Yuzuncu Yil University in 2003; Orta Dogu Teknik University, Hacettepe University, Ankara University and Eskisehir Osmangazi University in 2006. Embracing the goal of creating equal opportunities in having access to education resources, TIKAV turned towards 10-year universities in Eastern and Southeastern Regions of Turkey and started to apply the project in Elazig Firat University, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Sanliurfa Harran University, Kahramanmaras Sutcu İmam University and Erzurum Ataturk University. Since 2014, the project has been being applied to Elazig University students only. 300 students have been reached with this project since 1999.
National Projects
Projects in collaboration with MIP:
TIKAV carried out several social responsibility projects in Mersin, in partnership with Mersin International Port (MIP). These projects was coordinated by TIKAV and financed by MIP. In 2010, almost 150 students aged 7-14 and living in mountain villages of Mersin were provided with computer usage, hygiene and self-care training in “New Tradition to the Old Village Project”. In 2011, “School for Mothers Project” was organized for kindergarten parents of Akdeniz district, Mersin. “School for Mothers Project” was organized a second time for kindergarten parents living in villages in Toroslar district, Mersin. The project reached approximately 470 mothers. In 2013, 100 mukhtars benefited directly from “Hand in Hand with Mukhtars Project”. Mukhtars received seminars in Communication Techniques, Efficient Leadership, Formal Correspondence Rules and Computer Usage.
7 schools were renovated between 2012 and 2016 as part of TIKAV’s project. Schools in need and identified by Mersin Provincial Director of National Education were painted and completely renovated as part of TIKAV’s social responsibility projects. In addition, necessary school equipment and training materials were also covered with the project’s budget. Within the scope of the project: Mersin Kazanlı Elementary School with “Our Common Language is Colors Project” in 2012, Mersin Dikilitas Kindergarten and Mersin Halil Akgün Elementary and Secondary Schools with “Let’s Renovate Our Schools Project” in 2013 and 2014 were completely renovated. Other schools renovated with the same project were Mersin Toroslar Vali Sabahattin Çakmakoğlu ve Mimar Sinan Secondary Schools in 2015 and Kuvayi Milliye ve Kıbrıs Elemenrary Schools in 2016. “Challenges Within Project” in 2014 intended to raise awareness in people with disabled family members for spreading the idea that disability is not a disadvantage, encouraging the disabled engagement in social life and providing equal opportunities for the disabled. The project reached 900 families in total. In 2015, Panels about “Business Life and Women” and “Communication among Family Members” were organized for public benefit.
Projects in collaboration with TUGIAD Ankara Branch Office:
In partnership with TUGIAD Ankara Branch Office, TIKAV organized “Mom and Me Project” for children in treatment and their accompanying mothers at Ankara Child Health and Diseases Hematology Oncology Education and Research Hospital. The project reached 2500 mothers and 2500 children.
Projects in collaboration with Akfen Renewable Energy Inc. Co.:
In partnership with Akfen Renewable Energy Inc. Co., TIKAV organized “Education at Home Project” in 2017. The project aimed to inform parents about how to support their children between the ages 0 and 6 with their physical, psychomotor, social-emotional, mental and language development; and to spread awareness about the importance of pre-school education. “Education at Home Project” encouraged parents to spend quality time with their children and to not leave all responsibilities to schools in order to raise healthier individuals. With the project, women with children between the ages 0 and 6 were informed about medical screening and were given seminars about how to spend quality time with their children as well as how to support their development processes with activities they can do at home. The project was held in 15 various locations and 1000 people were reached.
“Health First Project” were organised in 2018 and held in 17 various locations in Turkey. These locations consisted rural regions where Hydroelectric and Solar Power Plants of Akfen Renewable Energy Inc. Co. are located. With the project, women over 18 and residing in rural regions were given practical seminars about first-aid, basic health, cancer screening, routine medical screenings, and organ donation. The Project aimed to increase the awareness of women who are core members of the family. Besides, it was also aimed to prevent incorrect health interventions by unprofessional people, to overcome prejudice about health examinations and to help take timely necessary precautions especially in gynecological diseases. After 17 activities held with the project, it reached 1500 people.
“Hygiene Equals Health Project” will start in 2019. It will be financed by Akfen Renewable Energy Inc. Co. which has Hydroelectric, Solar and Wind Active Power Plants at 26 various locations. Within the project, seminars will be held at 26 various towns/ villages where Akfen Renewable Energy Inc. Co. active power plant facilities are located. In these seminars, the goal will be to raise the awareness of women who labor and reside in rural areas about the necessary bodily hygiene, living space and food hygiene information they need to keep on living healthier.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award-Turkiye
Akfen Holding supports the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Program which is a youth achievement program, available to all 14-24 year olds and isworking actively in more than 130 countries. The Award Program first started in Great Britain in 1956 with the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip’s support. The Award aims to increase social awareness based on volunteering in an atmosphere free from competition and it became available in Turkey in 1995. TIKAV got the authorization as an Independent Authority to deliver the International Award Program (International Award for Young People) in Turkey in 2001.
Akfen Holding had supported the program until 2003 and later was the main sponsor of the Award within Gençlik Odulu Dernegi between 2003 and 2013. The Award Program has taken “The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award-Türkiye” as its official name; it has begun to be represented by TIKAV as a National Award Operator and to be delivered by the National Committee since June 1st, 2013. The Award has reached more than 8 million young people until now. In Turkey, it has reached more than 15.000 young people and today, it is being delivered in 114 active Award Units and more than 2.500 young people are doing their Awards.
