Portfolio of Solutions: Turkey
Hello Europe in Action
As part of Ashoka’s Hello Europe efforts in the field of migration and integration, Turkey launched its engagement through the Innovative Solutions for Refugees Conference, the first gathering of its kind in the country bringing together international social entrepreneurs and local stakeholders.
The conference aimed to highlight the role of social entrepreneurship in addressing migration challenges, while equipping local actors with new tools, approaches, and perspectives. It created a space to inspire action, strengthen local capacity, and shift the narrative toward solutions and collaboration.
By convening actors across sectors, the initiative catalyzed a growing, action-oriented ecosystem focused on co-creation and long-term impact. Ashoka Turkey continues to support this momentum by fostering connections, enabling partnerships, and strengthening collaboration between stakeholders working in the field.
Ecosystem of Solutions
ÇAÇA – CHILDREN UNDER THE SAME ROOF | Founded Azize Leygara (Ashoka Fellow)
THE PROBLEM
In Southeast Anatolia, years of displacement, poverty, and limited social services have left many families unable to adequately support their children. As a result, children are often forced into labour, exposed to exploitation, and excluded from education.
THE SOLUTION
ÇAÇA takes a holistic approach to child protection and development by working closely with both children and their families. Through regular home visits, education support, and coordination with public institutions and civil society, the initiative helps children stay in school while strengthening family resilience and reducing exposure to violence and poverty.
THE IMPACT
ÇAÇA has significantly contributed to reducing child labour in Diyarbakır, with the number of children working on the streets decreasing from 3,000 to 700 between 2009 and 2014. The initiative reaches around 1,500 children and 200 families annually and has built a strong regional network of organisations supporting children and youth, amplifying its long-term systemic impact.
GENÇ ENGELLİLER GENÇLİK VE SPOR KULÜBÜ | Founded by Celal Karadoğan (Ashoka Fellow)
THE PROBLEM
Children with disabilities often lack access to inclusive education and opportunities in sports, limiting their social development and participation in shared experiences with peers.
THE SOLUTION
The club promotes inclusive education and social integration by bringing together disabled and non-disabled youth through sports and collaborative projects. It creates an environment where young people can build skills, confidence, and relationships while challenging societal perceptions of disability.
THE IMPACT
More than 1,000 children and young people have participated in the programme, benefiting from inclusive sports and development opportunities. The initiative also shares its model with other organisations, contributing to broader systemic change and influencing inclusive practices at a national level.
DREAMS ACADEMY | Founded Ercan Tutal (Ashoka Fellow)
THE PROBLEM
People with disabilities face multiple social, cultural, and physical barriers that limit their participation in everyday life, reinforcing inequality and exclusion.
THE SOLUTION
Dreams Academy provides a wide range of multidisciplinary activities—including sports, arts, and creative programmes—designed to enable people with disabilities to fully participate in society. It creates inclusive spaces where individuals can develop skills, express themselves, and connect with others.
THE IMPACT
The initiative has engaged over 7,000 individuals with disabilities, working alongside 250 organisations and 1,000 volunteers globally. Its model, including the “alternative camp,” has been replicated across Turkey, establishing a sustainable and scalable approach to inclusion and social participation.
KA-MER | Founded Nebahat Akkoç (Ashoka Fellow)
THE PROBLEM
In parts of Turkey, systemic violence against women persists, reinforced by social norms, economic dependency, and limited access to support services.
THE SOLUTION
KA-MER provides comprehensive support to women through counselling, legal assistance, childcare, and employment opportunities. By raising awareness of women’s rights and challenging the normalization of violence, the initiative empowers women to achieve independence and actively reshape their communities.
THE IMPACT
KA-MER has expanded to 23 centres across Eastern and Southeastern Turkey, reaching women in both urban and rural areas. Its work has contributed to shifting perceptions around gender-based violence, strengthening women’s autonomy, and influencing broader social and cultural change at both local and international levels.