Portraits of Turkey: Images of a land and its people.Portraits of Turkey: Images of a land and its people.Portraits of Turkey: Images of a land and its people.Portraits of Turkey: Images of a land and its people.
 

Grants Awarded - Turkey - 2018

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
140journos
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “140journos Her.” This project aims to increase gender diversity in the field of journalism and encourage fair representation of women in media in Turkey. 140journos is committed to non-partisan, objective, and ethical reporting, and through this project, the organization will recruit female journalists to join the staff and create original documentaries exploring the obstacles, struggles, and opportunities faced by young women in today’s Turkey. The project will also include awareness-raising activities such as panels, workshops, and screenings.
 		 $60,000
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “The Memory of Sur and Diyarbakır: Archive and Portal.” This project aims to archive and disseminate information on the multicultural structure and history of Diyarbakır. By collecting, digitizing, and storing available historical documents, the archive and its online portal will sustain the memory of Sur and Diyarbakır, which have faced significant pressure from armed conflict and urban transformation, and present narratives, people, and places both for the locals who live there and also for people who would like to visit the city virtually.
 		 $47,895
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Tandem Turkey V with Iran Component.” This project expands on the long-running cultural exchange program Tandem Turkey, which aims to strengthen civil society by providing cultural operators from Turkey with the opportunity to form cross-national partnership pairs, or “tandems.” Now in its fifth cycle, the program will expand to include participants in Iran for the first time. Because Turkey’s cultural scene has been heavily influenced by collaboration with the West, the inclusion of Iran in the program will open an entirely new avenue of cultural exchange by exposing Turkish cultural practitioners to the incredibly rich artistic traditions and cultural heritage of Iran.
 		 $66,638
Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Turkey and Russia: Context and Prospects.” This project aims to fully explore the complex dynamics of the relationship between Turkey and Russia by presenting expert analysis from the region on the multiple facets of the relationship, the cooperative and conflictual dynamics that they produce, and their bearing on Turkey’s transatlantic partnership. In addition to academic analysis, the project will also include a public opinion poll and expert community survey, culminating in four analysis papers and a final conference in Istanbul.
 		 $67,500
Filmmor Woman Environment Culture and Management Cooperative
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “International Filmmor Women’s Film Festival on Wheels ‘Rolling Forward No Return.’” This project aims to organize a film festival dedicated to sharing films made by women, rejuvenating the memory of women’s struggle for equality and freedom, recalling feminist history and experience, and curating and conveying women’s experiences in and via cinema. The festival will begin in Istanbul and continue through seven other Turkish cities. Alongside the film screenings, the festival will also include workshops, panels, exhibitions, forums, and talks.
 		 $50,000
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “23.5 Hrant Dink Site of Memory.” This project aims to transform the historical Sabat building, former home of the Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos and site of the assassination of Hrant Dink, into a site of memory. Once complete, the Hrant Dink Site of Memory will contain exhibitions and educational programs and will be a place where memory meets hope for a future when living together peacefully will prevail.
 		 $118,700
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “Armenia-Turkey Expert Dialogue Group Phase 2.” This project aims to continue the work of Phase I of the Dialogue Group project to provide a safe space for influential actors from both Armenia and Turkey to work on a comprehensive list of confidence building measures aimed at the normalization of relations between the two neighbors. In Phase II, group members will conduct in-depth work in specific thematic fields and intensify advocacy efforts to create constructive avenues of normalization.
 		 $67,598
Medyascope.tv/Scope Medya Trade and Marketing, Inc.
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Medyascope.tv News Hour (Third Season).” This project aims to continue Medyascope’s ongoing work to produce and broadcast independent, non-partisan mainstream news. Now in its third season, Medyascope will continue live, nightly broadcasts while also working to improve its technological infrastructure in an effort to reach a wider audience.
 		 $116,760
Sabancı University
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Transformative Activism: Rethinking Gender and Politics (Year 2).” This project aims to continue the work of the Transformative Activism project to be the first systematic and sustainable endeavor in Turkey that brings together gender activists to experience and spread the culture of well-being and healing. In the second year of the project, project leaders will expand the program to include a broader group of gender activists, focusing on those who want to disseminate the well-being culture in their own activist circles and who want to share their stories of transformation through creative methods.
 		 $73,958

Grants Awarded - United States - Criminal Justice Reform - 2018

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Café Momentum
Dallas, TX USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Restaurant Internship for Adjudicated Youth.” This project aims to increase stable employment and decrease recidivism by providing adjudicated teens with job and life skills training, mentorship, and employment in the context of a casual fine dining restaurant. Café Momentum also works to increase interns’ chances of reaching sustainable independence by providing wraparound services to address their core physical and emotional needs.
 		 $25,000
Equal Justice Initiative, Inc.
Montgomery, AL USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Center for Peace and Justice Operations.” This project aims to provide a critical space for visitors to reflect on the legacy of slavery, lynching, and segregation at the Center for Peace and Justice, which is located across the street from the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. EJI will launch a series of talks and performances at the center, and staff will use the space to conduct public education work and lead presentations about the need for criminal justice reform and the importance of confronting the United States’ history of racial inequality.
 		 $190,000
Girls Embracing Mothers
Dallas, TX USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Pearl and Diamond Programs.” This project aims to reduce the trauma suffered by girls as a result of maternal incarceration through monthly enhanced group visitation between the girls and their incarcerated mothers. Additionally, the program develops the girls’ character through monthly workshops that enhance self-esteem and instill leadership skills, life skills, and values. Ultimately, the organization aspires to empower girls with mothers in prison to break the cycle of incarceration and lead successful lives with vision and purpose.
 		 $60,000
Lone Star Justice Alliance
Austin, TX USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Capacity Building Support.” The project aims to redirect youth and young adults out of the Texas justice system and into community-based treatment programs, thus increasing public safety and saving taxpayer dollars. In addition to strategic litigation and community engagement, the organization will conduct a four-year pilot phase of a multi-disciplinary felony diversion program for youth and emerging adults that provides treatment and intervention aimed at mitigating the factors that contributed to their involvement with the criminal justice system.
 		 $100,000
Prison Entrepreneurship Program
Houston, TX USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Women’s Workforce Training and Entrepreneurship Development Program.” This project aims to transform the participants into ambassadors of hope who strengthen the communities to which they return after prison. The Women’s Workforce Training and Entrepreneurship Development Program is a 9-month, in-prison “mini MBA” program that serves approximately 60 women per cohort with two cohorts per year. In addition to entrepreneurship training, the project also includes character development and post-release services for the participants.
 		 $100,000
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Austin, TX USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Right on Crime: Advancing Texas Criminal Justice Reform in 2019.” This project aims to change the conversation on criminal justice from one of solely punitive focus, which leads to policies that increase recidivism and perpetuate poverty, to one with an emphasis on accountability, rehabilitation, and redemption. Ultimately, the organization seeks to enhance public safety, preserve families, empower victims of crime, control costs to taxpayers, and successfully reintegrate people with criminal records into the workforce and their communities.
 		 $100,000

Grants Awarded - United States - Environment - 2018

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Colorado Fourteeners Initiative
Golden, CO USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Lake City 14ers Trail Stewardship Project.” This project aims to conduct focused trail delineation and reconstruction to boost the trail condition scores of summit routes on five 14,000-foot peaks near Lake City, Colorado in the San Juan Mountains. Project partners include the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Southwest Conservation Corps, and targeted volunteer groups. Ultimately, the reconstructed trails will move climbers through sensitive alpine ecosystems while minimizing recreation-caused impacts.
 		 $60,000
Colorado Fourteeners Initiative
Golden, CO USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Mount Columbia Trail Construction Project.” This project aims to conduct the fourth of an anticipated five-year effort to build a new, sustainably located summit route on Mount Columbia, one of the most user-trampled summit routes in the state. The overall route involves approximately 1.75 miles of new trail construction and 0.66 miles of trail reconstruction up the southwestern flank of Mount Columbia. Once the new route has been installed, CFI will stabilize and restore the damaged native tundra on the old user-created route.
 		 $15,000
Groundwork Dallas
Dallas, TX USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Green Team Youth Environmental Education and Restoration of Elm Fork and Great Trinity Forest.” This project aims to provide hands-on environmental education to high school students in the Dallas ISD and Uplift school systems and conduct trail improvements and trash cleanups along the Trinity River in Dallas. The program will allow participating youth to gain hands-on skills for higher education or careers in environmental fields while improving the city’s environmental quality and enhancing and increasing access to Dallas’ urban green spaces.
 		 $75,000
Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation
Dallas, TX USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Grassland Restoration Incentive Program.” This project aims to enhance or restore up to 500 acres of grassland habitat on private lands in Texas and Oklahoma as part of a larger effort to restore over 13,000 acres of habitat over two years. By engaging private landowners on a voluntary basis, the project ultimately hopes to increase populations of focal grassland bird species and monarch butterflies by increasing the quality and quantity of the habitats they need to survive.
 		 $55,000
Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation
Dallas, TX USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Texas Outdoor Family: Dallas/Fort Worth Area Equipment Needs.” This project aims to create new stewards of Texas State Parks by increasing opportunities for individuals and families to experience camping, fishing, kayaking, and other outdoor recreational activities through Texas Outdoor Family workshops in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Funds will be used to purchase camping equipment needed to conduct overnight camping workshops that introduce new audiences to outdoor recreation in a supportive environment.
 		 $45,000

Grants Awarded - Turkey - 2017

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Roundtable to Explore Potential for Artistic and Cultural Collaboration between Turkey and Iran with a European Level.” The İstanbul roundtable aims to bring together cultural practitioners from Europe, Iran, and Turkey for discussions related to international collaboration in the artistic and cultural fields. The effort is an outgrowth of the pre-existing Tandem program, which is a cultural collaboration endeavor that seeks to strengthen civil society in Europe and its neighboring regions.
 		 $11,195
Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Surveillance and Freedom of Expression Online: Finding the Appropriate Balance in Democratic Countries.” The goal of the endeavor is to strengthen Turkish policymakers’ understanding of the legal and regulatory safeguards of democratic countries that limit their surveillance powers in the digital arena, in order to better protect freedom of expression online whilst executing surveillance practices. The project output will be an evidence-based report that will discuss themes such as what priorities may interfere with and restrict freedom of expression online; whether these primacies comply with the fundamental principles of legality, proportionality, and necessity; as well as the exploration of questions surrounding the national and international institutions that oversee the bodies involved in online surveillance operations. The report will conclude with a set of policy recommendations for Turkish officials to consider and its dissemination will coincide with a workshop to transpire in Ankara with applicable policymakers and administrators in attendance.
 		 $64,500
DEMOS Research Association for Democracy, Peace, and Alternative Politics
Ankara, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “(En)gendering Peace: Women's Involvement in Colombian Peace Process.” The project aims to research the Colombian peace process with a gendered approach. After researching and writing a report, DEMOS plans to conduct seminars with women’s groups in Turkey to share their findings.
 		 $26,028
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Adaptive and Creative Reuse of Sites of Memory.” The project expands upon a previous endeavor that mapped the multicultural heritage of Anatolia by researching sites of Armenian heritage. This project aims to strengthen local civil society and elicit its involvement in the adaptive and creative reuse of sites of memory in Kayseri, Adana, and Sivas. Activities to be completed include workshops, oral history research, and the creation of a memory platform.
 		 $55,586
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Armenia-Turkey Expert Dialogue Group.” The Dialogue Group seeks to provide a safe space for influential actors from both Turkey and Armenia to work on a comprehensive list of confidence building measures aimed at the normalization of relations between the two neighbors. At the conclusion of the project, a policy paper will be produced that will include a list of recommendations, confidence-building measures, policy options, and suggested steps for moving forward. The project is being conducted with the collaboration of the Berghof Foundation.
 		 $64,565
Medyascope.tv/Scope Medya Trade and Marketing, Inc.
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Medyascope.tv News Hour (Second Season).” This project aims to continue Medyascope’s ongoing work to produce and broadcast independent, non-partisan mainstream news. In addition to the live, nightly broadcasts, Medyascope will improve its technological infrastructure and launch new applications to reach a wider audience.
 		 $129,960
Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “20th Assembly of Women’s Shelters and Solidarity Centers.” Women’s organizations and social workers from municipalities and social service institutions from all over Turkey will meet to discuss ways to improve shelters and implement policies to overcome violence against women in society.
 		 $28,780
Sabancı University (Gender and Women’s Studies Forum)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Transformative Activism: Rethinking Gender and Politics.” The project plans to organize a series of workshops on contemplative and corporeal techniques that can deepen and enrich the culture of well-being and transformative awareness amongst activist groups, particularly those populations led by feminists and LGBTIs. The endeavor aims to contribute to positive social transformation by giving importance to personal welfare as a constitutive factor behind healthy and sustainable communities, which will provide the foundation for social justice and peace to be able to be realized.
 		 $63,310
Truth, Justice and Memory Studies Association
(Hafiza Merkezi)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Defending Peace in Difficult Times.” In-depth research and an analysis will be conducted and completed detailing the reasons behind the most recent failed peace process in Turkey. The endeavor seeks to suggest fresh approaches for future peace talks, which can contribute to the formation of a new ground for dialogue between actors.
 		 $123,195
Truth, Justice and Memory Studies Association
(Hafiza Merkezi)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Mapping Enforced Disappearances and the Missing in the Caucasus and the MENA Region.” The project aims to develop a comparative understanding of the unresolved past legacies and the contemporary manifestations of the crime of enforced disappearances and/or missing in the Caucasus and MENA region. The major output of the endeavor will be a printed publication on the topic that will be disseminated to regional NGOs working in this area, as well as to the international human rights community.
 		 $12,800

Grants Awarded - United States - 2017

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Equal Justice Initiative, Inc.
Montgomery, AL USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Racial Justice Project - The National Memorial for Peace and Justice; Report on the Legacy of Segregation in America.” The National Memorial for Peace and Justice structure is designed to memorialize victims of racially motivated lynchings and to incorporate these acts of terror into the United States historical narrative. The process from conception to completion of the Memorial will involve significant community outreach. The Report on the Legacy of Segregation in America aims to research resistance to the implementation of civil rights during the Civil Rights era. The Report will identify specific statutes that codified racial subjugation or hindered civil rights and commemorate individuals who fought for racial equity during this period. Upon completion, the Report will be widely disseminated to the public.
 		 $120,000
George W. Bush Foundation (George W. Bush Presidential Center)
Dallas, TX USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Forum on Leadership.” The 2018 Forum will bring together internationally recognized leaders to discuss a wide range of topics designed to foster discussion, debate, and independent thinking on a wide variety of contemporary social issues. Chrest funds will specifically go to panels related to the economy and the future of technology.
 		 $50,000
OneStar Foundation
Austin, TX USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Rebuild Texas Fund.” The project aims to support the process to recover and rebuild Texas communities damaged by Hurricane Harvey. The funds will be directed towards efforts to rebuild small businesses in areas affected by flooding. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation will match each two dollars donated with one dollar.
 		 $50,000
Rosedale Community Youth Center (Rosedale Freedom Project - RFP)
Rosedale, MS USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Peace Within Your Piece - Restorative Justice at the RFP.” The endeavor aims to create a semester long restorative justice curriculum for RFP Fellows. The concept of restorative justice will be introduced through a conversation surrounding the school-to-prison pipeline. Fellows will be challenged to analyze this real-world issue in the context of current forms of justice, and to propose potential solutions through a restorative justice model. As a culminating project, Fellows will develop and implement their own restorative justice policies at the RFP and at West Bolivar Middle School in Rosedale.
 		 $5,000
Youth Entrepreneurs, Inc.
Wichita, KS USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Youth Entrepreneurs Dallas/Fort Worth Project.” Funds will be used to support an extra-curricular program offered in underserved communities that introduces the concept of entrepreneurship and the importance of small business to local and national economies. Through a hands-on learning experience, students will gain knowledge of business ownership, economics, and finance they can carry with them the rest of their lives. Exposure to an entrepreneurial way of thinking will lead students to continually seek ways to solve problems and create value for themselves, which in turn will create value for the communities from which they come.
 		 $120,000

Grants Awarded - 2016

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Books and Games for Children on Syrian Cultural Heritage.” The project aims to support the integration of Syrian children into the educational system in Turkey, by developing and implementing a methodology that focuses on cultural heritage. Refugee children will be provided with information about Syria’s diverse cultural heritage, in order to ensure they remain connected to their own cultural roots. The books, games, and stickers used in the project will be developed by Syrian writers, illustrators, and educators. The use of the same tools by children from Turkey will provide a means of positive interaction between youth from the two countries, contribute to a better understanding between young peoples, and prevent the development of mutual predjudices in an ethnologically heterogeneous society.
 		 $50,900
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Emergency Preservation of Syrian Cultural Heritage.” The project aims to enhance Syrian people’s ties and connections to the land and places of cultural significance, by developing specific interventions that will increase their capacity to protect their own cultural heritage. The country’s ancient past as physically represented in ancient sites, can serve as a common denominator across ethnic, cultural, and religious boundaries. This commonality can aid in societal healing, reconciliation, and stabilization after the Civil War has ended. Funds will also be used for an exhibition titled “Homs, the Smile of Syria.” The display will shed light on the cultural heritage of the city, demonstrating its rich history and the diversity of its people, as well as revealing what’s being lost in the current conflict. The project is being conducted in cooperation with the Penn Cultural Heritage Center at the University of Pennsylvania and the Smithsonian Institution.
 		 $60,000
Center for Public Policy and Democracy Studies (PODEM)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “Future of Syria: Actor Analysis.” Research will be conducted that will provide an assessment and analysis of all major involved state and non-state actors’ positions regarding the future of Syria. Possible coming scenarios, potential areas of collaboration between actors, as well as challenges to overcome will be assessed and then presented in a series of reports, which will also include policy recommendations for the resolution of the conflict and/or transformation in Syria, accordingly. Non-state/local actors to be interviewed include Kurds, Arabs, Turkomans, Assyrians, Armenians, Iraqis, those in diaspora countries (the UK, Belgium, and the USA), and others. Policymakers/state representatives/opinion leaders in Russia, Iran, the Gulf, Turkey, the USA, the UK, Belgium (for the EU stance), and Germany will also be interviewed when possible. In addition to the publication of analysis and opinion reports that will be drawn from the fieldwork, a final synthesis report will be produced that will be disseminated to all interested parties.
 		 $100,000
Communities Foundation of Texas
Dallas, TX USA		 Funds were gıven to establish the Chrest Foundation Fund at Communities Foundation of Texas. Resources disbursed to the Fund will be used to support social endeavors in the United States.
 		 $145,000
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “General Support 2016-2018.” The project aims to support the Hrant Dink Foundation as it conducts day-to-day operations as well as lend support for the development of three major ventures. The first undertaking, the Armenian Research Institute, will host a library, archive, conference hall, workshop spaces, and an exhibition area designed to serve the needs of researchers, civil society organizations, and universities interested in Armenian history, language, and culture. The second endeavor, the ASULIS Laboratory, will develop methods to combat both discrimination and discriminatory discourses. The Laboratory will also aid in the development of democracy and the implementation of pluralistic justice by fostering dialogue and serving as a platform for a wide variety of intellectuals, artists, and activists. Finally, funds will be used to establish a site of memory and conscience at the former Agos newspaper office, where Hrant Dink was assassinated ın 2007.
 		 $100,000
Medyascope.tv/Scope Medya Trade and Marketing, Inc.
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “Medyascope.tv News Hour.” Medyascope.tv’s purpose is to become the first source of information audiences prefer when it comes to obtaining news, non-partisan commentary, and analysis. Medyascope.tv uses technologies not usually utlized by traditional media such as the Internet and Periscope to broadcast news content. Funds for the endeavor will enable the live transmission of news covering local and international developments, provide a platform for non-governmental organizations to showcase their work, and provide a place where journalism students can perfect their craft under the tutelage of first-class, professional journalists adhering to international reporting standards and ethics. Medyascope.tv was awarded the International Press Institute’s (IPI) Free Media Pioneer Award in 2016.
 		 $99,960
Sabanci University
(Gender and Women’s Studies Forum)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “Curious Steps: Gender and Memory Walks.” The effort aims to enable youth to connect in alternative ways to the historical and political geographies they inhabit, by becoming aware of and giving voice to different living spaces as sites of memory. The young people that become guides, as well as those who attend the walks, will contribute to the making of what may be called “positive peace” as active participants, empowered, and inspired by stories of survival and struggle. The Gender and Memory Walks are a powerful tool to engage young people in a positive and creative peace-building process that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of all individuals in the making of İstanbul into a global, multi-cultural city, that encourages the active imagining of a peaceful future. New routes will be added to the already existing itineraries based on particular themes such as “Women and Literature”, LGBTI Rights”, and “Women’s Movement”. In collaboration with the İstanbul Policy Center, a series of public meetings will also be held on topics such as “Gender and Memory”, “Gender, Urban Space, and Transformation”, and “Storytelling and Performance”.
 		 $37,650
Truth, Justice and Memory Studies Association
(Hafiza Merkezi)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds will be used for the project titled “Workshop on Documentation, Memorialization, and Litigation Efforts for Enforced Disappearances and the Missing in the MENA and Caucasus Region.” Representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) across the MENA and Caucasus Region will meet in İstanbul to discuss the various aspects of enforced disappearances and the missing. Areas to be covered include the struggles of the victims’ relatives and human rights organizations in the establishment of truth regarding the disappeared; truth seeking mechanisms CSOs employ to fight against impunity; memorialization activities; and policy and reform proposals. The Workshop will also provide a space to share experiences, discuss best practices, and explore the possibility of future collaboration in order to face the challenges victims and human rights organizations encounter in this work.
 		 $9,850

Grants Awarded - 2015

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “European School of Politics.” Participants will learn about European norms and institutions; consider merits of a liberal democracy; and practice inclusive deliberations. The effort is aimed at over 35-year-old individuals living in İstanbul. The School is carried out in cooperation with Boğazici University and the Council of Europe.
 		 $23,380
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Support to the Education of Ezidi Refugees in Turkey.” Math and reading textbooks will be provided for educational programs for children living in refugee camps established after the Islamic State attacks on Sinjar and Kobane. Workshops will also be organized for the support of teachers implementing the two endeavors.
 		 $56,250
Columbia University
New York, NY USA 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Mapping Mesopotamian Monuments.” The overall project aims to document all standing monuments and historical architecture that is endangered in the region of Iraq, eastern Anatolia, and eventually, Syria. During the 2016 season, seven rock reliefs in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan, which have not been well recorded or assessed for condition and conservation needs, will be documented. Organizers also plan to teach a course on the methods and technologies of conservation, so local students and colleagues may continue the work going forward.
 		 $35,000
Diyarbakır Institute for Political and Social Research (DİSA)
Diyarbakır, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “International Round Tables in Diyarbakır - How to Restore the Peace Process (RTP) and Prevention of Violations and Abuses Committed Against Children in Conflict Zones (RTC).” The RTP aims to analyze the main shortcomings of the conflict resolution managment between January 2013 and June 2015, as well as to explore the paths to revive the peaceful dialogue. The endeavor will also include contributions from international organizations on areas such as methods of conflict transformation, role of third parties in dialogue-building, and world-wide examples of frequent failures in peace-building. The RTP is being organized in cooperation with Bilgi University’s Center for Conflict Resolution. The RTC will bring together experts from international institutions working on the protection of children, western Turkish civil society organizations, local child protection units, and local associations, in order to define a common denominator for child protection during the conflict, based on internationally accepted criteria and conventions.
 		 $29,500
Diyarbakır Institute for Political and Social Research (DİSA)
Diyarbakır, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “The Religious Dimension of the Kurdish Issue in the Context of Middle Eastern Conflict Dynamics; Conflict-provoking or Peace-building Potential of Religious Values in Turkey.” The research effort aims to reveal the evolution and diverging understandings of Islam in regard to questions such as “peace-building”, “state secularism”, and “living together peacefully”. As part of the project, four workshops will be organized with scholars, religious leaders, and academic researchers in Diyarbakır, İstanbul, Van, and Adıyaman. Findings from the seminars will be included as an annex to the research report. The final publication will also contain recommendations for having a peaceful dialogue and mutual tolerance amongst various religious groups, primarily for the sake of conflict resolution in the “Kurdish Question”. DİSA will collaborate with DİYANET (Directorate of Religious Affairs), academics from various faculties in Turkey, and others on the endeavor.
 		 $55,200
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “Developing and Improving the History Program of the Hrant Dink Foundation.” The main components of the endeavor include support for an international conference, expanded research on the multi-cultural heritage of Anatolia, and the development of an information center comprised of a library and archive section. The international conference will focus on the wealth of non-Muslims in the late Ottoman period and the early Republican era. The program will seek to understand the ramifications to the Armenian community of the “Islamization/Turkification” of the Ottoman economy following the Turkish War of National Liberation. The aim of the multi-cultural heritage endeavor is to increase dialogue, understanding, and respect amongst various cultures, religions, and belief systems, by revealing and then advocating for the preservation of structures that are symbols of common life in Anatolia. The information center will provide a venue for academic research, space for the development of innovative solutions to age-old problems, and a locale for cooperation between the many fragments of the greater Armenian community.
 		 $100,000
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “Refurbishment of the Anarad Hığutyun Building.” The building was renovated, in order for working space to be increased for activities to be implemented by the Foundation, in the fields of minority rights, history, culture and arts, and Turkey-Armenia relations. Moneys will be used to cover some of the remaining costs of the overhaul, such as archive boards and small constuction work.
 		 $14,000
International Middle East Peace Research Center (IMPR)
Ankara, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the undertaking titled “Perceptions and Expectations of Alawi and Arab Communities: Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic Rights, Peace Process, Syrian Crisis, and Democratization.” The project will consist of two separate research efforts on issues related to the Alawi and Arab populations. The Alawi study aims to understand the differences between Alawite groups, as well as their distinctive views on topics such as the peace process, the crisis in Syria, and the Islamic State. The Arab inquiry will focus on how the Arab community views subjects such as Arab rights, the peace process, the Islamic State, and democratization efforts. The overall aim of each research endeavor is to determine how to create an inclusive framework based on democratic values, so social peace can be built in the society.
 		 $29,270
Sabanci University
(Gender and Women’s Studies Forum)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the undertaking titled “Twin Conferences: Hrant Dink Memorial Workshop 2015 - Genocide of the Ottoman Armenians in Art, Theater, Cinema, and Literature; Gender and Women’s Studies Forum - International Symposium on Gender and Aesthetics - Art, Film, and Literature.” The Workshop and Symposium are both focusing on the social and political dimensions, contexts, and potentials of literary and artistic production. The Workshop will focus on the representations of the genocide of the Ottoman Armenians in art, literature, theater, and cinema. The Symposium will explore the interrelations of gender and aesthetics in the same media. A common panel, keynote speech, and social and artistic program will transpire on one afternoon and evening, which will bring the participants of the two events together for a mutually energizing exchange. The occasion will also provide a good opportunity for networking for future projects.
 		 $18,750
Truth, Justice and Memory Studies Association
(Hafiza Merkezi)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the endeavor titled, “Core Funding Application”. The Association is partnering with Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights to develop a regional network of academicians, civil society representatives, journalists, and policymakers to pursue historical dialogue and accountability in the MENA region. The network will address the political ramifications of the historical legacy of conflicts, as well as the role and impact of the memory of past violence on contemporary politics, society, and culture. Resources will also be used to provide core support for the Association’s activities, which are organized around the themes of memory, accountability and redress, public advocacy, youth, and development.
 		 $89,910

Grants Awarded - 2014

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the effort titled, “Renovation of a New Building towards the Hrant Dink Armenian Research Institute and the Conference on the Sealed Turkey-Armenia Border.” Funds will be used to renovate the Anarat Hığutyun Armenian Primary School, in order for working space to be increased for activities implemented by the Foundation, in the fields of minority rights, history, culture and arts, and Turkey-Armenia relations. The renovated building will house a library, an archive, a multi-purpose hall, and an exhibition space. The ultimate goal of the endeavor is to develop the Hrant Dink Armenian Research Institute, which will build collaborations with various universities and civil society institutions around the world.

Funds will also be used for a conference to be held in Ankara that will address the political, economic, social, and regional aspects of the closed border with Armenia, as well as offer a platform for cross-border policy dialogue. The Conference will be live streamed on the Internet, and its proceedings will be published in Turkish and English.
 		 $314,675
Sabancı University (Gender and Women Studies Forum)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “History in the Present: Remembering Women, Coming to Terms with Past Violence, Reimagining the Future.” The effort brings together three sets of activities around gender, conflict, memory, and activism, with related deliverables:  book, research report, and gender and memory tours.
 		 $73,760

Grants Awarded - 2013

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Diyarbakır Institute for Political and Social Research (DISA)
Diyarbakır, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the endeavor titled “DISA - Capacity Enhancement for Mother Tongue and Conflict Resolution Programs.” The purpose of DISA is to conduct in-depth research and analysis on economic, social, and cultural challenges in Turkey, especially those related to the “Kurdish Question.” The resources for this project will be used for two staff members who will implement the goals, objectives, and activities of DISA’s Mother Tongue and Conflict Resolution programs.
 		 $50,000
Diyarbakır Institute for Political and Social Research (DISA)
Diyarbakır, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the endeavor titled, “Transitional Justice; Creating Space for Participatory Peace Building in Diyarbakır and the Surrounding Region.” The effort strives to increase knowledge production on transitional justice mechanisms, in order to contribute to the formulation of forward-looking policies on mediation and sustainable reconciliation regarding the “Kurdish Question.” The findings of the research will be disseminated to the public, as well as to decision and opinion makers, so that a basis for the solution of social problems can be established.
 		 $34,964
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the effort titled, “Conference on Islamized Armenians.” The project seeks to address the following issues: the experiences of Islamized Armenians and the social consequences of these happenings; the long silence on Islamized Armenians; and recent forms of un-silencing. By doing so, the undertaking strives to contribute to both the historical debates on 1915 and its aftermath, as well as to answer contemporary questions of ethnic/national identification, gender, responsibility, and justice. The undertaking also endeavors to discuss the role of research and scholarship in the difficult processes of facing historical and present forms of violence, discrimination, and injustice.
 		 $19,890
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the effort titled, “Revealing and Advocating the Multicultural Heritage of Anatolia.” The general aim of the endeavor is to create an alternative look at history by tracing the cultural and social structures that are symbols of common life in Anatolia. The names and locations of churches, schools, monasteries, and hospitals built by the Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian peoples will be located and placed on an interactive map that will be displayed on a website. Doing so will be an important means to refresh, as well as to keep alive memories of these peoples’ existences in history and to build a common future. The collected data will also become the basis on which awareness on the protection of Anatolian cultural heritage will increase and play an important role in mobilizing society to protect the surviving edifices.
 		 $19,692
International Middle East Peace Research Center (IMPR)
Ankara, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled, “Perceptions and Suggestions of Kurdish People in the Middle East on the Kurdish Question.” IMPR will conduct a comparative analysis of Kurds’ perceptions of the “Kurdish Question” in Iran, Iraq, and Syria, as well as ascertain their proposed solutions to the problem. The research will also seek to determine the political and social actors in Kurdish groups in the region that have the ability to impact the negotiation process that is currently transpiring. Project outputs include digital access to the completed research on IMPR’s website; publication of a project report; and a workshop where the results will be discussed with experts in the field, as well as with regional Kurdish groups.
 		 $35,789
Sabancı University
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Semiha Es - Women Photographers International Symposium.” The effort aims to make visible and critically evaluate the contributions of women photographers in the 21st century. The undertaking commemorates Semiha Es (1912-2012), Turkey’s first female travel and war photographer. The endeavor is being collectively organized by the Gender and Women’s Studies Forum at Sabanci University, Koc University’s Center for Gender Studies (KOC-KAM), and the Women’s Museum of Istanbul.
 		 $18,425
Truth, Justice and Memory Studies Association
(Hafiza Merkezi)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the endeavor titled, “A Gender-Based Research and Analysis of Enforced Disappearances.” The objective of the research is to unveil the truth about violence that took place in the Kurdish region in the 1990s, with a specific emphasis on women. The gender aspect will demonstrate the extent of the aggressions that transpired through concrete experiences of people. It will also assist in understanding gender based inequalities and oppressions, both during the war and in peacetimes, which is mostly neglected by the mainstream peace studies.
 		 $15,040
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Assessing the Obstacles and Opportunities for Police Reform in Turkey - Phase 2.” The overall goal of the project is to contribute to Turkey’s ongoing democratic process through the establishment of democratic policing. TESEV will conduct a survey that will be representative of Turkey’s population that aims to understand society’s perceptions of and experiences with the police, in order to identify problematic issues and areas that need reform. The survey will also strive to analyze the socio-cultural and ideological environments that shape these perceptions and accordingly attempt to understand public perceptions and experiences of security, law and order, ethics, and threats. A report will be produced and will also be made available electronically through TESEV’s website.
 		 $98,090
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled, “Turkey-Israel Relations in a Changing Middle East.” TESEV believes both Turkey and Israel continue to play vital roles in the region, which necessitates dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. Continuing to repair ties through non-official discourse is in the interests of both. The project aims to initiate a discussion between the two societies through the formation of a working group of eminent Turkish-Israeli professionals, so that alternative means of cooperation can be determined and reconciliation between the two societies furthered. Workshops will transpire in Istanbul and Tel Aviv and a comprehensive policy report detailing findings will be produced.
 		 $35,187

Grants Awarded - 2012

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the effort titled “1915 Film Project.” Resources will be used for scriptwriting for a film dealing with the social and political developments that transpired at the end of the Ottoman Empire during the period between 1908 - 1915. The film will be a serious attempt to contribute to the discussion and interpretation of 1915 by showing various audiences different aspects of historical facts.
 		 $60,000
Diyarbakır Institute for Political and Social Research (DISA)
Diyarbakır, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the “DISA Village Guards Research Project.” The Institute will conduct research to better understand complexities of the village guards system. Policy solutions will then be developed to contend with challenges resulting from the current security approach. Afforded support will cover the costs of translation, editing, and printing of the research into Turkish, Kurdish, and English.
 		 $17,527
Helsinki Citizens’
Assembly (hCa)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the “Encouraging & Empowering Teachers as an Actor in Peace Building and Democratization” project. The endeavor aims to equip and provide support to education professionals who must wrestle with polarization and confrontation in the community due to the decades-old Turkish-Kurdish conflict. Teachers in Muş, Van, and İstanbul will acquire new skills for conflict resolution and peace-building, as well as learn about new pedagogic approaches, educational technology, and models in order to render them effective in contending with the complex problems arising from the ongoing struggle. The project also aims to develop policy proposals for the democratic transformation of curriculum in the field of education.
 		 $45,100
Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for an international conference on “The Social and Economic History of Mardin and the Region.” The main objective of the undertaking is to understand and analyze the social and economic transformations that occurred in the Mardin province from the late 19th through the early 20th centuries. The HDF wants to promote and publicize academic research on this theme in order to raise awareness on a controversial topic that has long been neglected and under-examined. The seminar will also provide an opportunity for researchers and academicians from different disciplines, cultures, and points of view to meet, discuss, as well as create a network that will facilitate dialogue on contentious subjects. The workshop’s proceedings will be published and distributed to academicians and other interested parties.
 		 $44,220
Sabancı University
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the “Hrant Dink Memorial Workshop (2012): New Forms of Social Protest” endeavor. Hrant Dink’s memory and his trial have become focal points for a new wave of community action that has been transpiring in Turkey for some time now. Concomitantly, there has been a surge in political activism in the Mediterranean basin from the “Arab Spring” countries to those in economic crisis in the “European South.” The aim of this year’s workshop is to acquire a better understanding of what is occurring at the intersections of these social protests, as well as to explore how these movements can contribute to the pursuit of democracy and justice in the Region. Another objective of the effort is to establish networks amongst participants for further dialogue and collaboration.
 		 $15,000
Social Sensitivity Association
(DUY-DER)
Diyarbakır, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the “Project for Training Children Against Mines and Abandoned Ordnances - City of Şırnak, Cizre District.” The project’s aim is to decrease the number of explosions impacting children due to encounters with undetonated mines and ordnances through educational training programs. Students will be informed of areas susceptible to blast and asked to share this information with their family members. The project is being conducted in cooperation with the Governorship of Şırnak and the Cizre Education Directorate.
 		 $30,700
Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the “Civil Society Monitoring Project.” The endeavor’s major objective is to analyze and assess the current strength and overall viability of Turkey’s non-profit sector. The undertaking will emphasize advances and setbacks in sectoral development, while also allowing for comparisons over time. Four major areas related to the field will be examined including law reform, international relations, institutional capacity, and research. Conclusions will be published on TUSEV’s website and disseminated to CSOs, the media, academia, policy makers, consulates, and donors.
 		 $40,920
Truth, Justice and Memory Studies Center Association
(Hafiza Merkezi)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for a project entitled, “A Documentary about the Unspoken Truth.” The endeavor’s goal is to initiate discussions in the media and amongst the public about the unspoken truth surrounding the “Kurdish Conflict,” so that a process of national mourning, healing, and reconciliation can begin. The completed film will be presented at international film festivals, on various on-line platforms, and social networks.
 		 $51,700
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the “Turkey-Egypt: Relations in a Changing Region” project. TESEV believes the current composition of players in Egyptian politics and society should be better understood so that Turkish-Egyptian cooperation can be consolidated for a more democratic, stable, and prosperous Middle East. The Foundation aims to interact with different change agents across the Egyptian spectrum, so their opinions can be reflected to Turkish policy-makers and society, in general. The effort also intends to connect a range of actors in both Egypt and Turkey with the purpose of initiating a dialogue between the two countries. The venture will consist of a study trip, workshop, and publication of a policy paper, which will be disseminated to the public.
 		 $12,150
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the “Turkey, Iran, Arab Relations: A Region in Flux” project. The effort’s goal is to establish a dialogue amongst prominent Iranian, Arab, and Turkish thinkers, academics, and advisors with the intention of acquiring a Gulf perspective on the future of the region and Turkey’s role within it. In doing so, the effort aims to diffuse tension in the area and to explore how a prosperous and peaceful future can be formed for all. The venture is being organized in cooperation with the Carnegie Middle East Center - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
 		 $12,150

Grants Awarded - 2011

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for “Phase II” of the project titled “Towards a Blueprint for Reconciliation: Engaging the Civil Society and Capacity Building.” The project will build on the base that was established during year one of the initiative through the realization of three major activities: the organization of two workshops on Truth Commissions and Memorials/Monuments/Museums; the translation into Turkish of international case studies on peacebuilding for publication on the initiative’s website www.hakikatadalethafiza.org; and a project team site visit to Argentina to share experiences and acquire knowledge from local organizations working on issues of truth, memory, and justice. These activities aim to further build the capacity of civil society on issues related to dealing with the past, peacebuilding, and reconciliation, for the peaceful resolution of the “Kurdish Conflict.”
 		 $52,200
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for “‘Remembering’ through Photographs: Photography Workshops with Youth in the Southeast.” The documentary workshops will be organized around the theme, “remembering through photography” and will be composed of visuals accompanied by stories/memories of what the youth are experiencing/have experienced in their lives. The project will take place in the five Southeast cities/provinces of Şirnak, Yüksekova, Mardin, Batman, and Van. The overall objectives of the project are as follows: to support the artistic potential of the youth who suffer from the tense political situation; to develop the youth’s life skills to cope with everyday problems; and to open a channel for youth to communicate and express their own stories by creative means. Activities of the project will include a three-day training of the trainer’s workshop in İstanbul, a blog, the publication of a photography book, and an exhibition of the participants’ photographs.
 		 $28,395
Cappadocia Women’s Solidarity Association
Nevşehir, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the “14th Assembly of Women’s Shelters and Support/Information Centers.” The Assembly will bring together women’s organizations from around Turkey to share experiences and develop strategies that will enhance their work on combating violence against women. The responsibility for coordination of the annual Assembly alternates between associations each year.
 		 $30,072
Diyarbakır Institute for Political and Social Research (DİSA)
Diyarbakır, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the endeavor titled “Capacity Building Project.” The purpose of the undertaking is to conduct in-depth research and analysis on economic, social, and cultural challenges in Turkey, especially those related to the “Kurdish Question.” Solutions to the thematic area investigated will be suggested and then shared with all segments of society including government officials, NGOs, universities, and libraries. The second subject to be examined by the Institute is the “Village Guard System in Turkey.” The founding members of DİSA belong to various NGOs, foundations, chambers, research institutes, and universities in Diyarbakır, İstanbul, and Ankara. Together they believe the peaceful settlement of the “Kurdish Question” is only possible through the scientific discussion and exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experiences among scholars, political decision-makers, civil society, and the public.
 		 $51,917
Grantmakers
Without Borders
San Francisco, CA USA 		Grantmakers Without Borders (GWoB) is a funders’ network committed to increasing grantmaking for international societal change. The Chrest Foundation made a donation to GWoB for general purposes use.
 		 $2,000
International Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the youth activities portion of a greater project titled “Grandchildren are Talking - Restoration of the Fountains at HABAP.” The purpose of the project is to restore two fountains in Habap, an Armenian Village established prior to the Turkish Republic, as well as to “restore the souls” of the people living there, thereby contributing to the “restoration model” that the IHDF aims to achieve via this undertaking. Participating youth from different parts of Turkey and from abroad will join the residents of Habap to discuss the past, as well as to directly contribute to the renovation work being completed on the fountains. The project participants will also engage the village residents in discussions about the history of Habap, its fountains, culture, and the future of the community. It is expected the realized restoration of the fountains, and the functional and symbolic power of the running water, will help enhance a culture of peace and reconciliation in the village. The project will document its activities through video, photographs, and audio recordings. The Turkish Ministry of Culture is also supporting the project.
 		 $50,426
International Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for a workshop titled “The Social and Economic History of Diyarbakır and the Region.” The major objective of the project is to understand and analyze in detail the social and economic transformations that occurred in the Diyarbakır province between 1838 and 1938. While academic interest to study these developments has been quite substantial regarding western provinces, academic curiosity regarding eastern ones has largely lagged behind. The IHDF believes that a conference on the subject will assist both the people in the region and academic circles to better understand the transformations that occurred during this time period. The program of the workshop will be shaped by a committee composed of distinguished academicians from Turkey’s top universities. In addition, a book will be published on the workshop’s findings and distributed to academicians and other interested parties.
 		 $18,120
Social Sensitivity Association
(DUY-DER)
Diyarbakır, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the “Project for Training Children Against Mines and Abandoned Ordnances - City of Hakkari, Yüksekova District.” The project’s aim is to decrease the number of explosions impacting children due to encounters with undetonated mines and ordnances through educational training programs. Students will be informed of areas susceptible to blast and asked to share this information with their family members. The project is being conducted in cooperation with the Governorship of Hakkari, the Governorship of Yüksekova, and the Yüksekova Education Directorate.
 		 $30,000
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Assessing the Obstacles and Opportunities for Police Reform in Turkey.” The main goal of the project is to contribute to the ongoing democratization process in Turkey by improving transparency and accountability of the police at various levels of governance; by enhancing the institution’s openness to civilian oversight and monitoring activities; and by identifying outstanding issues in recent reforms towards civil rights and maltreatment practices. Supported activities of the project include the publication of a policy brief on the current state of police reform in Turkey, a research meeting to be held in Ankara with the major actors involved in this issue, and capacity building for the research team on police reform.
 		 $52,544
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
İstanbul, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “TESEV Commission on Constitutional Reform in Turkey.” TESEV’s Commission will produce a report encompassing a set of principles that will serve as a guide for policymakers to consider as they formulate a new constitution for Turkey. TESEV will also utilize the work of the Commission to provide input to the civic discussion surrounding the new constitution, as well as offer the public a well-designed structure of issues and values the document should embody. The Commission will consist of Turkish citizens who are renowned scholars, journalists, a former state minister, businessperson, and psychiatrist. The report will be published on TESEV’s website and disseminated to policymakers, civil society organizations, the media, universities, local administration units, and the international community.
 		 $14,755

Grants Awarded - 2010

 
Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for “Towards a Blueprint for Reconciliation: Engaging the Civil Society and Capacity Building.” The project aims to increase civic actors’ knowledge of the tools and techniques of peacebuilding and reconciliation, as well as to encourage civil society organizations to cooperate and coordinate their initiatives for the peaceful resolution of the “Kurdish Conflict.”
  		$49,080
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey		 Support was provided for the project titled “Cultural Cooperation with Syria.” The project aims to establish cultural bridges between Turkey and Syria, which have recently undergone positive developments in their relations. The endeavor is significant because it will create dynamism in the cultural sphere of the region through increased contacts and shared experiences. Activities planned for the undertaking include three photography exhibitions, which will provide excellent opportunities to introduce renowned photographers from Turkey to art lovers in two cultural capitals - Aleppo and Damascus. In addition, the planned publication of Ara Guler’s photography book in Arabic will make his art better known in Syria, as well as other Arabic-speaking countries.
  		$14,770
Boğaziçi University Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey		 Support was provided for the project titled, “Increasing Intellectual Knowledge of Ottoman Foundations and Philanthropy, as well as Medieval European History at Boğaziçi University; Philanthropy Center Establishment.” Funds for this project will enable two prominent scholars from Tel Aviv University to join the academic ranks of Boğaziçi University, Istanbul. One of these distinguished historians, Amy Singer, is arguably the leading scholar on Islamic philanthropy in general, and on Ottoman philanthropy in particular. Professor David Katz is an eminent historian of medieval Europe. Professor Singer is also expected to make a major contribution in the establishment of a “Center on Philanthropic Studies” at Boğaziçi University.
  		$40,000
Development Centre Association
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the final phase of the Project for “Capacity Enhancement in Rural Areas,” a multi-year rural development initiative managed by the Development Centre. Four low-income villages in the immediate vicinity of Diyarbakır are the sites of an extensive program combining technical assistance, coaching, and training towards developing a sustainable model to improve quality of life in rural areas.
  		$34,200
Diyarbakır Institute for Political and Social Research
Diyarbakır, Turkey 		Funds were provided for the project titled “Settlement of Peace and Think-Tank.” The purpose of the project is to conduct in-depth research and analysis on economic, social, and cultural challenges related to the “Kurdish Question.” Solutions to the thematic area investigated will be suggested and then shared with all segments of society including government officials, NGOs, universities, and libraries. The first subject to be examined is “Mother Tongue: Language Politics, Bi-lingual Education - National and International Experiences.” The founding members of the Research Association belong to various NGOs, foundations, chambers, research institutes, and universities in Diyarbakır, İstanbul, and Ankara. Together they believe the peaceful settlement of the “Kurdish Question” is only possible through the scientific discussion and exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experiences among scholars, political decision-makers, civil society, and the public.
  		$50,000
Grantmakers Without Borders
Boston, MA USA		 Grantmakers Without Borders (GWoB) is a funders’ network committed to increasing grantmaking for international societal change. The Chrest Foundation made a donation to GWoB for general purposes use.
  		$2,000
İlhan Koman Foundation for Arts and Cultures
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the İstanbul arts/science workshops portion of the “Hulda Festival, a Journey into Art & Science.” The Festival uses M/S Hulda, a historical centennial sailing ship, as an attractive infrastructure for coordinating events to be attended by youth, the public, universities, civil society, and science centers, with the goal to bridge the sciences, arts, and daily life. The basic concept of the project is to reveal the overlap between art and science and use it as an additional means of extra-curricular science education, attracting a wider public to reflect and debate on science and technology, thereby broadening the perspectives of the citizens towards a more creative society. The Festival, which is being implemented in city ports in ten European countries, aims to create a poetic symbolic link, as well as a physical collaborative one between varied organizers of science and art events of different scales in all visited cities.
  		$20,100
International Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “Armenian Architects of İstanbul.” The major activity of the project will be an exhibition held at the İstanbul Modern Art Museum titled “Armenian Architects of İstanbul in the Era of Westernization.” The aim of the exhibition is to display and make known the historical contributions of Armenian architects to İstanbul in the 19th and 20th centuries. The exhibition is being curated by architect Hasan Kuruyazıcı.
  		$29,640
Moon and Stars Project
New York, NY USA		 Support for the project titled “A Tribute Concert for Hrant Dink: Arto Tunçboyacıyan featuring Yash-Ar,” presented by The American Turkish Society and Moon and Stars Project. In this unprecedented gathering, world-renowned percussionist Arto Tunçboyacıyan and Turkish rock artist Yaşar Kurt, who together formed the musical collaboration Yash-Ar, will share the stage with musicians from the Armenian Navy Band to perform Tunçboyacıyan’s timeless songs, as well as works from Yash-Ar’s debut album Against Hatred and Animosity (Nefrete Kine Karşı). This special program represents a genuine effort to follow in the footsteps of the late Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in embracing peace and fostering dialogue between the peoples of Turkey and Armenia and their respective communities around the world. The Concert comes at a time of renewed reconciliation efforts between the two countries, despite a troubled history and ongoing political, social, and cultural hurdles to mutual understanding. Proceeds of the event will benefit the International Hrant Dink Foundation.
  		$5,000
Sabancı University
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the 2010 Hrant Dink Memorial Workshop. The goal of the Workshop is to enable interdisciplinary academic dialogue across borders and to explore narratives and possibilities of empathy, co-existence, interaction, and interdependence among peoples, societies, and worldviews, which are often considered in isolation. In so doing, the Workshop aims to help the societies and peoples of Turkey and neighboring regions reconcile their histories and find peaceful pathways to develop a mutual understanding. To these ends, each year the organizers choose a particular theme for academic and cultural exchange among individuals from different countries and intellectual and artistic orientations. The theme of this year’s workshop is “Silenced but Resilient: Language and Memory in Anatolia and Neighboring Regions.” In keeping with Hrant Dink’s legacy of struggle for greater freedom of expression, the commitment to linguistic heritage and interaction, the enhancement of social communication, and a rigorous engagement with the past, organizers hope to shed light on language and memory as dynamic dimensions of society.
  		$15,000
Social Sensitivity Association
(DUY-DER)
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the “Project for Training Children Against Mines and Abandoned Ordnances - City of Hakkari, Şemdinli District.” The project’s aim is to decrease the number of explosions impacting children due to encounters with undetonated mines and ordnances through educational training programs. Students will be informed of areas susceptible to blast and asked to share this information with their family members. The project is being conducted in cooperation with the Governorship of Hakkari, the Governorship of Şemdinli, and the Şemdinli Education Directorate.
  		$25,400
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “Disarmament and Reconciliation: Towards a New Chapter in the Kurdish Question.” A report will be produced that will comprise a set of guiding principles and policy suggestions for Turkish officials to consider when designing, implementing, and evaluating Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) as well as Transitional Justice programs for the peaceful resolution of the “Kurdish Question.” International experience has shown that DDR programs and Transitional Justice measures may have their respective short-term objectives and each might call for different guiding principles, legal frameworks, and political strategies depending on the nature and scope of the conflict in question and the political culture of the country; however, systematic coordination between DDR and Transitional Justice processes is needed for the successful transition from conflict to a sustainable and just peace. The report will be electronically launched through email, TESEV’s website, and disseminated to a comprehensive list of senior officials of relevant state departments, academicians, politicians, diplomats, representatives of international institutions, and the international media.
  		$40,101
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the project titled “Structural Obstacles to Due Process in the Criminal Justice System in Turkey.” TESEV will conduct three simultaneous studies within the scope of this project: Human Rights Cases, Access to Justice for All Citizens, and Safeguards and Obstacles to the Protection of the Right to Fair Trial. The reports will comprise a set of guiding principles and legal reform policy proposals for the elimination of legal/procedural gaps that might give way to structural obstacles to due process in the criminal justice system in Turkey. The reports will be written in Turkish and translated into English and will be electronically launched through email and TESEV’s website. The reports will also be disseminated to a comprehensive list of lawyers, academicians, politicians, diplomats, representatives of international institutions, and the international media.
  		$26,319
 

Grants Awarded - 2009

 
Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Development Centre Association
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the third year of the Project for “Capacity Enhancement in Rural Areas,” a three-year rural development initiative managed by the Development Centre. Four low-income villages in the immediate vicinity of Diyarbakır are the sites of an extensive program combining technical assistance, coaching, and training towards developing a sustainable model to improve quality of life in rural areas.
  		$49,800
Grantmakers Without Borders
Boston, MA USA		 Grantmakers Without Borders (GWoB) is a funders’ network committed to increasing grantmaking for international societal change. The Chrest Foundation made a donation to GWoB for general purposes use.
  		$2,000
International Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey		 Support for “Conscience Films - ‘Let’s Take a Look Through Our Conscience.’” The project will use the format of film and online participation to encourage the public to examine, rethink, and express the importance of conscience in today’s world. The project is based on Hrant Dink’s words “In fact, it’s up to each person’s conscience to accept the reality, and this conscience is based solely on our shared common denominator called humanity - our identity as ‘human.’” Through the films and the discussion around them, conscience as a force that enables empathy, understanding, self-awareness, and critical self-reflection will be given voice.
 		 $33,000
International Peace Research Institute, Oslo-Cyprus Centre (PRIO)
Nicosia, Cyprus		 Support for the “Critical Historical Studies Initiative,” which aims to investigate how divisive historical narratives have emerged on Cyprus, how they are reproduced, and what questions might be asked about the production of these narratives that would help re-orient history writing from a form of division to a form of dialogue. Outputs of the project include the launch of an on-line journal, six workshops on critical history, the publication of a bi-communal book, and the completion of preparatory work on a documentation center for conflict-related violence.
  		$40,958
Sabancı University
İstanbul, Turkey		 Support for the 2009 Hrant Dink Memorial Workshop titled: “Gender, Ethnicity, and the Nation-State: Anatolia and Its Neighboring Regions.” Drawing on Hrant Dink’s legacy of highlighting existing human connections and imagining new ones across physical and imagined borders, Hrant Dink Memorial Workshops seek to initiate and encourage interdisciplinary academic dialogue among scholars working on Anatolia and its neighboring regions. Gender and ethnicity have been key categories of differentiation and conflict in nationalisms and nation-states, interacting with each other in multiple ways. Hrant Dink Memorial Workshop 2009 focuses on the ways in which constructions and transformations of gender and ethnicity in and beyond nation-states have shaped Anatolia and its neighboring regions in the 20th century.
  		$15,000
Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TUSEV)
İstanbul, Turkey
 		 Support for “Civil Society Index (CSI) Turkey.” The CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) is a participatory needs assessment and action planning tool for civil society around the world, with the aim of creating a knowledge base and momentum for civil society strengthening initiatives. In addition to providing an assessment of civil society, the project aims to strengthen the potential role that civil society can play in development by improving its capacity to effectively generate, analyze, and utilize knowledge.
 		 $13,333
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
İstanbul, Turkey
 		 Support for “Stepping Stones or Stumbling Blocks: Judicial Reform, Minority Rights, and Constitutional Citizenship in Turkey’s Democratization Process.” The project is a combination of three individual studies that TESEV is planning to undertake within the realm of its Democratization Program activities for the 2009-2010 period. Each study: “Beyond 1915: Hearing Armenians of Turkey,” “Problems of Minority Foundations: Greece and Turkey,” and “Judicial Reform Policy Proposals and Workshops,” has its own distinct set of goals and objectives, but together they correspond to the overall aim of making an informed and research-based contribution to Turkey’s democratization processes.
 		 $51,406
 

Grants Awarded - 2008

 
Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Amargi Women’s Cooperative
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds will be used for the meeting of “Women Readers and Writers”, a project with the aim to raise the visibility of feminist authors and scholars and to strengthen their connection with the women’s movement. The Amargi bookstore will serve as the site for nearly 18 meetings of Turkey’s leading writers and scholars, resulting in three publications under the following headings: literature, feminist research and scholarship, and writers of the past.

 $26,050
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey		 Support for “A Glance at History Films of Turkey and Armenia: How Cinema Deals with History,” a collaboration between Anadolu Kültür and the Yerevan-based Golden Apricot International Film Festival. A group of young filmmakers and cultural critics from Turkey and Armenia will participate in a series of seminars and workshops during the İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts Film Festival in April 2008, to be followed by a corresponding program in Yerevan.
 		 $18,090
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey		 Support for the 2008 program of the Diyarbakır Art Center (DAC), organized under the theme of “Squeezed Dialogues,” which calls into question the conditions of multi-lingualism, co-existence, and cultural production in areas facing socio-cultural, economic, and political difficulties. The program includes activities in a range of areas: photography and art exhibitions, theater and film productions, film and creative writing workshops, and a series of seminars on the theme of “Squeezed Dialogues.”
 		 $25,570
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds will used to host a meeting of arts organizations from the Balkans, Middle East, and Caucasus. This group will serve as the Steering Committee for the Tobacco Warehouse, a new arts centre being established by Anadolu Kültür in İstanbul, with the aim to intensify and deepen dialogue with cultural actors in the region and serve as a point of facilitation, coordination, information, and knowledge for cultural groups seeking to engage on a regional basis.
 		 $7,117
Association for Sustainable Rural and Urban Development (SÜRKAL)
Ankara, Turkey 		Support for an international convening on rural development held in Kars during October 2008. The aim of this meeting is to understand Turkish and European experiences in rural development in order to develop and foster new strategies on addressing the needs of rural areas.
 		 $12,150
Association of Contemporary Performing Arts Initiative (ACPAI)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Support for a series of capacity building workshops during which issues of cultural management and arts education will be addressed. ACPAI is an independent network of performance artists that aims to establish the appropriate conditions for the production of “works” that investigate contemporary means of expression, to participate in the structuring and implementation of cultural policies at a public level, and to make use of the transformative power of arts as means of social and community development; therefore, contributing to the development of civil society.
 		 $6,712
Children Under the Same Roof Association (ÇAÇA)
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Support for the “Ben-u-Sen Community-Based Rehabilitation Project” to consolidate ÇAÇA’s work with children and families at the grassroots level and to establish a network of children’s organizations at the regional level. The intended outcome is to develop a sustained and vocal presence of civil society on addressing the needs of disadvantaged children through systemic approaches and policies.
 		 $28,708
Development Centre Association
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Additional funds for the second year of the Project for “Capacity Enhancement in Rural Areas,” a three-year rural development initiative managed by the Development Centre. Four low-income villages in the immediate vicinity of Diyarbakır are the sites of an extensive program combining technical assistance, coaching, and training towards developing a sustainable model to improve quality of life in rural areas.
 		 $20,813
Development Centre Association
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Support for an international convening on rural development to take place in Diyarbakır in March 2008. The aim of this meeting is to understand Turkish and European experiences in rural development in order to develop and foster new strategies on addressing the needs of rural areas.
 		 $9,562
Grantmakers Without Borders
Boston, MA USA		 Grantmakers Without Borders (GWoB) is a funders’ network committed to increasing grantmaking for international societal change. The Chrest Foundation made a donation to GWoB for general purposes use.
 		 $2,000
International Hrant Dink Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey		 With dialogue, peace, and empathy forming the basis of all its activities, the International Hrant Dink Foundation seeks to perpetuate the dreams, struggle, and language of Hrant Dink. Funds will support the “Hrant Dink Archive”, which will collect and digitize the written, audio, and visual materials of Hrant Dink.
 		 $44,920
International Peace Research Institute, Oslo-Cyprus Centre (PRIO)
Nicosia, Cyprus		 Support for PRIO’s Annual Conference titled “One Island, Many Histories: Rethinking the Politics of the Past in Cyprus.” The conference brings together scholars to investigate how historical narratives have emerged, how they are reproduced, and how to re-orient history writing from a form of division to a form of dialogue.
 		 $25,000
İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İFCA)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Support for an “Evaluation and Assessment of Anadolu Kültür (AK) for the Years 2002-2008.” This evaluation will measure both the organizational and programmatic dimensions of AK’s work over the last six years, helping to establish the extent of AK’s impact.
 		 $10,425
Van Women’s Association
Van, Turkey		 Support for the “11th Assembly for Shelters and Solidarity Centers,“ which will bring together women’s organizations from around Turkey to share experiences and develop strategies that will enhance their work on combating violence against women.
 		 $21,775
Women for Women’s Human Rights-New Ways
İstanbul, Turkey		 Support for the coordination of the “Human Rights Education Program for Women,” which is being carried out in partnership with the General Directorate of Social Services in Community Centres throughout Turkey. Funds will be used for the 2008 Training of Trainers meeting, a series of regional meetings to be held with trainers at the local level, and a 10th anniversary conference celebrating New Ways’ work in the field, as well as calling attention to women’s rights issues.
 		 $50,000
Women’s Solidarity Foundation (KADAV)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Support for the “Platform on Women’s Labor and Employment“ (KEIG). KEIG is a network of Turkey’s leading researchers, academics, and women’s organizations whose aim is to raise the visibility of women’s labor and draw attention to the causes of low rates of women’s employment. Through research, networking, and advocacy, KEIG hopes to generate proposals for measures that will enable women to take part in the workforce on an equitable basis. Funds will be used for Coordination and General Assembly meetings, the KEIG website, and monitoring of and participation in the EU negotiations process.
 		 $49,349
 
 

Grants Awarded - 2007
 
Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds will be used to support Anadolu Kültür’s continued work with the Caucasus. Two exhibitions will be held in İstanbul, both in partnership with organizations in Armenia. “Art Without Borders: An Exhibition of Contemporary Art from Armenia, Georgia, Iran, and Turkey” will be hosted by Karsi Sanat in partnership with the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art. The exhibition was directed by Edward Balassanian and curated by Sonia Balassanian. BM Suma Contemporary Art Center will host “Soviet Agitart: A Poster and Photography Collection from Armenia” in cooperation with Samvel Baghdasarayan and Armine Hovhannisyan. Funds will also be used to continue the capacity building trainings for the Diyarbakır Art Center.
 		 $44,165
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the circulation of the exhibition titled “Ebru: Reflections on Cultural Diversity in Turkey” to nine cities throughout Turkey. Artist Atilla Durak’s work consists of nearly 180 large scale photographs and a 450-page book which offers a vast and impressive presentation of Turkey’s cultural diversity. In each of the nine cities, a panel of the contributors to the book will take place, providing an opportunity for direct discussion and dialogue concerning the concepts undertaken by the exhibition.
 		 $25,200
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds were provided to support “The Time is Now / Vakit Geldi,” a meeting of women activists from around Turkey concerned with developing a humane and tolerant response to increasing violence and polarization in society.
 		 $2,000
Children Under the Same Roof Association (ÇAÇA)
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Funds were provided for Phase 2 of ÇAÇA’s activities to promote the participation of women and children in public life in the town of Mazidağı. Women will participate in a training program intended to increase their job skills. At the same time, seminars on women’s rights and business development will also take place, along with arts workshops for children.
 		 $20,054
Development Centre Association
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the second year of the Project for “Capacity Enhancement in Rural Areas”, a three-year rural development initiative managed by the Development Centre. Four low-income villages in the immediate vicinity of Diyarbakır are the sites of an extensive program combining technical assistance, coaching, and training towards developing a sustainable model to improve quality of life in rural areas.
 		 $49,800
Development Centre Association
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Funds will be used for the project titled, “Improvement of English Language Skills in Non-Governmental Organizations.” The project aims to enhance the capacity of Chrest grantees in Diyarbakır through building competency in the English language. It is hoped that through this effort, local groups will be better able to engage with a wider range of actors in developing their programs and in sharing knowledge and expertise.
 		 $26,488
Development Centre Association
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Funds were provided for the first year of a three year rural development initiative managed by the Development Centre. Four low-income villages in the immediate vicinity of Diyarbakır will be the sites of an extensive program combining technical assistance, coaching, and training towards developing a sustainable model to improve quality of life in rural areas.
 		 $49,800
Filmmor Women’s Cooperative via Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGİDER)/Women’s Fund
İstanbul, Turkey		 Funds will be used to distribute “STOP- Violence Against Women/A Film on Violence Against Women” produced by Filmmor during the “No to Violence Against Women” week beginning on November 25th. 12,000 copies of the film were distributed through mass media, while additional copies will be used by women’s organizations throughout the country.
 		 $6,800
KAMER Foundation
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Funds were given for a project to establish five sustainable childcare centers, which will promote an alternative model of pre-school education based on equality and non-violence. The overall aim is to influence childcare and teaching practices in order to break the cycle of punishment and neglect, and lift up a new generation of conscientious citizens. Madeleine Sann also contributed funds for this project.
 		 $51,000
Light of Hope Women, Culture, Environment, and Management Cooperative
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Funds will be used to continue second year support for the programs of the “Light of Hope children’s center in the Fatihpaşa neighborhood of Diyarbakır,” an area marked by extreme poverty, lack of services, and incidences of violence. In addition to providing pre-school education to children, mothers in the neighborhood receive counseling on reproductive health matters, while a smaller group of women receive leadership training. Women will also receive literacy training. Light of Hope centers rely on mobilizing the energy and leadership of women in the immediate community, demonstrating that the most important resources more often that not, come from within the community.
 		 $20,800
Social Development and Gender Equality Policies Center (SOGEP)
Ankara, Turkey		 Funds will support a research effort evaluating the women’s movement and its efforts in influencing policies. Throughout the course of the research, meetings with women’s organizations will take place in the following cities: İstanbul, Ankara, Adana, Mersin, Çannakale, Diyarbakır, Van, and Urfa. The final report and conference will enable the women’s movement to develop more effective strategies around promoting policies for gender equality in Turkey.

$36,920
The Tides Center/Grantmakers Without Borders
Boston, MA USA		 Grantmakers Without Borders (GWoB) is a funders’ network committed to increasing grantmaking for international societal change. The Chrest Foundation made a donation to GWoB for general purposes use.
 		 $500
 

Grants Awarded - 2006
 
Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey		 Provided funds for the “Evaluation and Assessment of KA-MER Project titled ‘An Opportunity for Every Woman’ in the Southeast and East Anatolia Regions.” The evaluation assessed, among other factors,  the organizational, financial, and monitoring procedures of KA-MER with the aim to enhance the impact of its expansion effort.
 		 $9,930
Bingöl Social, Cultural, and Economic Development Association (BİN-DER)
Bingöl, Turkey
 		 Provided funds to research the musical traditions of the Dengbej (troubadours who wander from village to village improvising musical verses, which often reflect the important issues of the day - love, revenge, social struggles, etc.). The BİN-DER team will seek out Dengbej who live in the Bingöl area, documenting through visual and sound recordings, their interviews with them. This material will form the basis of a publication composed of profiles of the Dengbej and examples of their verses. The Project will make a long-term contribution to the knowledge and appreciation of this important cultural tradition.
 		 $18,000
Children Hand-in-Hand Association
Diyarbakır, Turkey
 		 Provided funds for the second year of the “Volunteer Big Brother-Big Sister Project,” which targets a critical group of young people in Diyarbakır with a view to keeping them out of the streets and in school. With this year’s program, Children Hand-in-Hand will be reaching 250 children between the ages of 7 and 15. The goals of the Project are to strengthen communication skills of the participating children, to transform and change their perception and understanding of gender, and to alleviate their feelings of marginalization.
 		 $29,970
Children Under the Same Roof Association (ÇAÇA) and Children Hand-in-Hand Association
Diyarbakır, Turkey
 		 Provided funds for the “Volunteer Big Brother-Big Sister Project” based in the Ben-U-Sen neighborhood of Diyarbakır where there is an especially high concentration of children working on the street. The Project matches 10 volunteers with groups of at-risk children, who, through the course of various arts activities, develop their capacities to interact, express, and communicate in healthy ways with their environment.
 		 $12,690
Children Under the Same Roof Association (ÇAÇA) and Children Hand-in-Hand Association
Diyarbakır, Turkey
 		 Provided funds to organize a pilot project in the city of Mazidağı, a town of 15,000 where socio-economic conditions are particularly challenging for women. Literacy classes for women and art workshops for children will be carried out. The Project aims to enhance the self-confidence of the participants and their ability to express themselves, thereby enhancing their sense of empowerment.
 		 $18,670
Cyprus Academic Forum
Nicosia, Cyprus
 		 Provided funds for the Forum to host the “Cyprus Research, Translation, and Publication Project:  Modern Turkish-Cypriot Literature - Studies and Collections,” led by scholar Mehmet Yashin. The Project will result in an anthology of 150 key texts in the areas of poetry, plays, short stories, the novel, memoirs and travel writing, articles and essays, and criticism and studies from the 19th and 20th centuries. Since this will be the first major collection of Turkish-Cypriot literary works in both Turkish and English, not only does this effort make a significant contribution to the cultural heritage of Cyprus; but, it also will help to foster cultural understanding between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
 		 $19,372
Development Centre
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Provided two grants for the “Indigenous Development Personnel Training Project.” This comprehensive training program, implemented by the Development Centre and using a human-centered approach to development issues, will help build a group of qualified personnel to take part in the implementation of development projects in the Southeast Region of Turkey.
 		 $45,039
IPS Communications Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey

 Provided funds to enable journalists from around Turkey to attend IPS’s “İstanbul International Independent Media Forum“ to be held in November 2006. The Forum will bring together media activists from around the globe to reflect on their experiences working in the field of independent journalism and provide an opportunity to strengthen regional and international networks of independent media actors. The Forum will also bring attention to the issue of the media sector in Turkey, with the aim of increasing the quantity and quality of balanced and independent media in the country.
 		 $24,017
İstanbul Bilgi University
İstanbul, Turkey

 This grant will support and expand upon an ongoing partnership between Bilgi University, Anadolu Kültür, and İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts on cultural policy in Turkey. Research will be carried out on existing policy frameworks and challenges influencing cultural life in cities across Turkey, leading to an English/Turkish publication on key aspects of cultural policy. The European Cultural Foundation is co-funding this grant in partnership with the Chrest Foundation.
 		 $18,863
İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İFCA)
İstanbul, Turkey

 Provided funds for various activities that aim to strengthen dialogue and interaction between the arts community in Cyprus and counterparts in the region. An international convening will be held in İstanbul on the state of autonomous artistic initiatives in Europe, Cyprus, and Turkey. This convening is being called together in cooperation with Platform Garanti Art Gallery. Monthly seminars, organized by the European Mediterranean Arts Association (EMAA), will be held in Cyprus, during which cultural operators and scholars from the fields of cultural heritage, contemporary arts, photography and film will be invited to Cyprus to give talks about their work.
 		 $7,581
Light of Hope Women, Culture, Environment, and Management Cooperative
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Funds will be used to support the programs of the “Light of Hope children’s center in the Fatihpaşa neighborhood of Diyarbakır,” an area marked by extreme poverty, lack of services, and incidences of violence. In addition to providing pre-school education to children, mothers in the neighborhood receive counseling on reproductive health matters, while a smaller group of women receive leadership training. Women will also receive literacy training and a separate course will be provided for fathers as well. Light of Hope centers rely on mobilizing the energy and leadership of women in the immediate community, demonstrating that the most important resources more often that not, come from within the community.
 		 $24,800
The Tides Center/Grantmakers Without Borders
Boston, MA USA		 Grantmakers Without Borders (GWoB) is a funders’ network committed to increasing grantmaking for international societal change. The Chrest Foundation made a donation to GWoB for general purposes use.
 		 $500
Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGİDER)/Women’s Fund
İstanbul, Turkey

 Funds will support the “Women’s Labor and Employment Initiative” composed of practitioners, academicians, and activists from the women’s movement who specialize in the field of women’s employment. Research will be carried out on legal frameworks between Turkey and the EU, a literature review of existing studies in the field will be done, as well as an evaluation of existing programs to increase women’s employment will take place. A high level conference will be held in early 2007 in order to draw further attention to the issue of women’s participation in the labor force.
 		 $34,275
Women for Women’s Human Rights-New Ways
İstanbul, Turkey

 Funds will be used to support the implementation of the “Human Rights Education Program for Women,” which is being carried out in partnership with the General Directorate of Social Services in Community Centers throughout Turkey. In the coming year, 50 sessions are planned to be held in 15 to 17 cities across Turkey reaching a total of 1,000 women.
 		 $35,000

Grants Awarded - 2005  

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Anadolu Kültür
İstanbul, Turkey		 The Chrest Foundation will support a wide range of activities at Anadolu Kültür including the following projects:
- Youth and Cultural Heritage - Kars;
- Intercultural Cooperation with Caucasian Countries;
- Film Workshops and Training - Kars and Diyarbakır;
- Exhibitions and Performances Circulation;
- Local Arts Groups;
- Diyarbakır Children’s Festival;
- Capacity/Cultural Management Training for Staff Members;
- Website Development.

$107,087
Development Centre
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Provided funding for the “Institutional Capacity Development Project” implemented by the Development Centre. The Development Centre will carry out studies for urban and rural development, develop and implement projects in the poorest rural and urban regions, and create realistic and sustainable models based on field conditions, which will provide long-term solutions for all concerned segments of the society.
 		 $14,500
Global Heritage Fund
Palo Alto, CA USA 		Provided funds for “Stage Three - 2005 Conservation and Planning for the Kars’ Kaleiçi District” based on the Master Conservation Plan completed in Stage Two. Specifically, funds will be used for architectural planning and management, as well as restoration for the Namık Kemal House and other Ottoman structures.
 		 $110,000
KAMER Foundation
Diyarbakır, Turkey
 		 A 3-year project grant for the establishment of a women’s center working for “Women’s Human Rights” in each of the 23 districts in the Southeast and East Anatolia Regions. The Centers will enable the opening of representative offices in the districts and shall in turn be instrumental in the structuring and strengthening of women’s initiatives to be carried out in the villages of all the provinces and districts encompassed by the project, the sum aim of which is to further the goal of women’s equal opportunity in the economical, socio-cultural, and political spheres. 
 		 $150,000
The Tides Center/Grantmakers Without Borders
Boston, MA USA
 		 Grantmakers Without Borders (GWoB) is a funders’ network committed to increasing grantmaking for international societal change. The Chrest Foundation made a donation to GWoB for general purposes use.
 		 $1,000
Grants Awarded - 2004 
Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Columbia University
(Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery)
New York, NY USA		 Provided funds for the exhibition - “Restoring Byzantium: The Kariye Camii in İstanbul and the Byzantine Institute Restoration.” The Kariye Camii is the best preserved monument of Late Byzantine art in modern day İstanbul.
 		 $5,000
Global Heritage Fund
Palo Alto, CA USA		 Funds for “Stage Two: Kars Heritage Conservation and Planning, Master Plan preparation.” Funding will help to rebuild Kars’ Kaleiçi District as a cultural and tourism center with authentic architecture, culture, performing arts, restaurants, crafts, and lodging.
 		 $30,000
İlhan Koman Foundation for Arts and Cultures
İstanbul, Turkey		 “Art For Our Town” Project brought together 100 children of very different cultural and social backgrounds, who, together with renowned artists, scientists, and specialized educators, built four monumental sculptures permanently installed in four İstanbul public areas in tribute to the children’s originating cultures.
 		 $30,000
İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İFCA)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Provided funds for the “Leaps of Faith” Project. The outcome of the Project was an exhibition of contemporary artwork produced by Greek and Turkish Cypriot artists as well as counterparts from other countries which have or are experiencing division. The exhibition bridged both sides of Nicosia, using public spaces in the city and within the Green Line itself.
 		 $40,000
International Women of İstanbul
İstanbul, Turkey
 		 Provided funds for purchase of a car for the use of Bakırköy Orphanage. The automobile will be used to transport girls to doctor/hospital visits, school functions, and education related activities; also, for any other official business concerning the students.
 		 $10,000
KAMER
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Two-year grant for “Women Look to the Future” Project. The Project’s goals were to strengthen and expand women’s rights in Mardin, Kızıltepe, and Urfa; and nine additional cities in Southeastern Turkey.
 		 $100,000
KAMER
Diyarbakır, Turkey		 Provided funds for the KA-MER “Foundation Establishing Project.” The Project’s objectives were as follows: 1) establish the KA-MER Foundation and position it as an umbrella organization for present and future women’s and children’s programs in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia; and 2) obtain professional support in financial matters to enable the KA-MER Foundation and its economic enterprises related to the Foundation to grow stronger.
 		 $42,545
Pediatric Respiratory Society
İstanbul, Turkey		 Provided additional funds for the purchase of a Flexible Bronchoscopy/Videobronchoscope System to be used at the Marmara University Hospital. Funds were also used to train pediatric pulmonology fellows and educate pediatricians and general practitioners about the clinical use of bronchoscopy, through four regional conferences in 2004.
 		 $20,000
The Tides Center/Grantmakers Without Borders
Boston, MA USA		 Grantmakers Without Borders (GWoB) is a funders’ network committed to increasing grantmaking for international societal change. The Chrest Foundation made a donation to GWoB for general purposes use.
 		 $1,000
Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TÜSEV)
İstanbul, Turkey		 Provided funds for a “Comparative Study Project of NGO Law Reform Initiatives.” TÜSEV’s Comparative Reports Project was an initiative of the NGO Law Reform Program. The desired impact of this project was to develop a succinct set of reports listing issues which merit reform, in order to inform key decision makers with comparative perspectives and international best practice.
 		 $27.500
Third Sector Foundation of Turkey (TÜSEV)
İstanbul, Turkey		 “Civil Society Index Project”. The Project aims to deliver a crucial needs assessment and action plan for civil society. Data and analysis accruing from the Project will provide civil society practitioners, governments, citizens, researchers, and the donor community with unique perspectives on the nature, values, environment and impact of civil society, the challenges faced by the sector, and aspects of civil society that can be enhanced.
 		 $50,000

Grants Awarded - 2003 

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Chrest Foundation Administered Project-Project managed on the ground by local community leaders Batman, Turkey “Women’s Economic Development” Project - Provided funds for skills training in typing, computer education, customer relations, and commercial accounting, for 40 women who came from low-income families; local businesses agreed to hire women after they completed the training course.
 		 $10,000
KDM, Women’s Consultation Center
Batman, Turkey
 		 Provided funds for the implementation of the “Women’s Human Rights Awareness Raising Program,” which was conducted at the Women’s Consultation Center in Batman.
 		 $49,500
Pediatric Respiratory Society
İstanbul, Turkey		 Provided funds for the purchase of Flexible Bronchoscopy/Videobronchoscope System to be used at the Marmara University Hospital. Funds were also used to train pediatric pulmonology fellows, educate pediatricians and general practitioners about the clinical use of bronchoscopy, through four regional conferences in 2004.
 		 $50,000

Grants Awarded - 2002 

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Chrest Foundation Administered Project-Project managed on the ground by local community leaders
Batman, Turkey 		Purchased and distributed school supplies to 5,200 low income, first through eighth grade, school age children in Batman.
 		 $30,000
Chrest Foundation Administered Project-Project managed on the ground by local community leaders
Batman, Turkey 		Purchased and distributed school supplies for 500 low income, pre-school age, children in Batman.
 		 $3,028
Turkish Family Health and Planning Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey		 Provided funds for the construction of a new health center in Batman, purchase of medical equipment, and for continued training of hospital personnel at Batman State Hospital.
 		 $54,690

Grants Awarded in Turkey - 2001 

Grant Recipient/
City Based In		 Project Description Amount
Contemporary Education Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey 		Provided funds for an educational and social improvement project in Batman; funds were used for the purchase of food, educational supplies, musical instruments, and award certificates.
 		 $31,160
Turkish Family Health and Planning Foundation
İstanbul, Turkey		 Provided funds for the construction of a new hospital annex, the purchase of medical equipment, and training and supervision of hospital personnel at Batman State Hospital.
 		 $75,880
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