Cagdas Yasami Destekleme Dernegi

CYDD is a non-profit organization established in 1989. It has 110 branches all over Turkey and over 14,000 members. Each branch has its Management Committee who is responsible and accountable for their activities and they all work for reaching a modern society through contemporary education and contribute to achieving equal opportunity for children and youth. Main activities are in the area of education; mobilizing corporate and individual funds into supporting improvement of educational environment and achieving gender equality in access to schooling. (Namely opening classrooms for preschoolers, improving boarding and regular schools, establishing libraries, summer and winter schools, tutoring and distributing scholarship to the economically disadvantaged youth with positive discrimination to economically disadvantaged girls. - Presently our association is providing scholarships to over 65,000 girls in elementary and high school and to over 33,000 university students. - Development of various competencies of children are encouraged through various activities of the Children's Club with Non-formal Education Projects, . - Implementing a mentorship program with graduates as trained mentors to contribute to the personal and social development of university students (mentees) The association also has its own youth group who organizes various events, camps etc. among themselves. The youth projects details can be found in the link: http://www.cydd.org.tr/pages/youth-projects-107/ The branches organise their own projects according to the local needs of the area they function in such as equal opportunities, children’s rights, women’s rights, human rights and democracy; activities to increase community sensitivity on environmental issues and cultural heritage; running children'sclubs for disadvantaged children and creating opportunities for disadvantaged youth through creative activities and training in personal development.