Since 1990

For better livelihoods

Established in 1990, the Hüsnü M. Özyeğin Foundation is dedicated to promoting social and economic development by working in the fields of education, rural development, girls’ empowerment, health, and culture.

Establishing institutions for social change has been a key strategy of the Foundation, encompassing educational facilities in deprived regions, including girls’ dormitories, rehabilitation centers, and major restoration projects to preserve cultural heritage. The Foundation has built and maintained 64 such facilities to date.

In a country with a significantly large young population, investment in education is crucial. Since its establishment, the Özyeğin Foundation has provided financing for the construction of 26 girls dormitories, 1 university dormitory, 18 primary schools and 7 high schools which serve more than 30,000 students each year. The Foundation funded the structural reinforcement of 4 primary schools in Istanbul following the Marmara earthquake in 1999 and procured 4,000 computers for schools.

The Foundation created 3 rehabilitation centers both in post-earthquake regions and areas of social deprivation. Recognizing the importance of preserving Istanbul’s treasured cultural heritage, the Foundation also invested in the restoration of the Galata Mevlevi (Sufi) Lodge.

The Özyeğin Foundation has provided over 13,000 scholarships to underprivileged students who demonstrated academic success. It has supported the personal and academic development of 8,500 young girls living in disadvantaged social and economic conditions, with targeted programs including scholarships, life skills training, and enriching projects including robotics programming.

Rural development is another area which the Özyeğin Foundation regards as critical for the social and economic development of Turkey. The Foundation initiated a comprehensive rural livelihoods program in Kavar (2008) and Bitlis (2012) provinces of Turkey, reaching 14 villages and 5 hamlets to improve the overall wellbeing of 4,000 rural inhabitants through an integrated rural development program. The Foundation has now become a knowledge hub in this field, bringing together civil society, academic and public actors to exchange knowhow, disseminate best practices, and collaborate on new local development initiatives.