Social Impact and Social Finance Conference

Social entrepreneurship has become increasingly important in solving social problems in recent years. It is observed that the business approach is an effective tool for solving social problems and increasing positive social impact. Although the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Turkey is quite new, social enterprises have difficulties accessing finance. At the same time, there is a lack of information and tools for managing and increasing social impact. At this point, Koç University Social Impact Forum started the “Know Your Impact Social Impact Measurement Tools for Young Social Entrepreneurs” project in October 2015, in partnership with Mikado Sustainable Development Consultancy, Estonian Social Entrepreneurship Network, and Social Value UK, and funded under the European Union Erasmus + program. The goal of the project is to ensure the skills and capacity development of young social entrepreneurs regarding social impact management. While implementing this project, social entrepreneurs should focus not only on social impact management; It has been determined that social enterprises also need support regarding their business model and access to social finance. At the same time, it emerged as an important need during our project that the financial sector and the public should take a role in this new market formation to develop the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Turkey.

Based on these reasons, two main topics were determined to be discussed at the closing conference of the Know Your Impact project: Social Impact and Social Finance. Within the framework of these two topics, it was aimed to bring together stakeholders working on social impact and social finance. In order to discuss different financing mechanisms and models in the social entrepreneurship sector, it was desired to create a sharing area where institutions supporting social entrepreneurs, intermediary institutions, and experts from the financial sector would participate.

On September 22, 2017, the Social Impact and Social Finance Conference was held at Koç University Anatolian Civilizations Research Center (ANAMED) in cooperation with Koç University Social Impact Forum, Mikado Sustainable Development Consultancy, and Ashoka Turkey.

Social Impact and Social Financing Conference in cooperation with Ashoka Turkey and Mikado Sustainable Development Consultancy; It was implemented with the support of the European Union Erasmus + Program, UniCredit Foundation, and Vehbi Koç Foundation.

Social Enterprise Fair

The Social Enterprise Fair was designed to create a space for social enterprises, organizations supporting them, potential investors, and everyone interested in social entrepreneurship to meet, get to know each other, and learn about the work of social enterprises in Turkey.

The list of organizations participating in the Fair:

Açık Açık

Açık Açık platform aims to bring together Turkish CSOs and donors and help them to develop a sustainable relationship. We aim to do this by encouraging the CSOs to develop their performance criteria, try to meet them and measure their impact.

Simultaneously we aim to direct donors towards smart giving (researching, comparing CSOs). Through Açık Açık we also want to increase the number of transparent and accountable rights based CSOs who measure their impact and respect the rights of donors. A network of NGO’s that are supporting transparency and accountability criteria will increase that indispensable change in the society.

Açık Açık also aims to be the a pool of transparent and accountable CSO’s for platforms and companies looking for partners.

Chapputz

While there is a recycling option for well-conditioned clothes, there is no systemic way to recycle the worn ones. With the help of Chapputz, people realize that they do not have to throw out their clothes any more. We transform worn clothes to stylish handmade kilim products while using “çaput kilim” weaving culture of Turkish Nomads as an upcycling method. Plus to its environmental function, Chapputz employs villager women in its production process and empower them. Thirdly, Chapputz brings outmoded weaving culture and modernization mindset together, produces Ipad cases, clutches, backpacks etc and sells them in designer stores. Therefore, Chapputz helps this extincted Turkish culture to live even today. As a result, Chapputz means protecting environment and culture and empowering weaver women.

Doğa Akademisi (The Nature Academy)

The Nature Academy is a community formed by the universal consciousness of academia and the solidarity of people who have the consciousness of working with social responsibility and who are turning towards nature. Being an international living space that guides the understanding of the improving and developing aspects of nature is the cause of existence. It is a primary field of study to perform treatment and therapies in nature in children suffering attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder and developmental retardation.

The Berisler Farm, an organic farm run by the Nature Academy, is 45 minutes from the center, 30 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from the sea; It is 200 acres and connects to the forest. In the farm, agricultural production is done; There are 27 different kinds of fruit trees; 7 different species are being cultivated. It has a closed area of ​​750 square meters. The mentioned fields have been applied abroad and the scientific scale has been successfully demonstrated and designed according to the nature treatment and therapy programs. Programs with the ability to be privatized according to the child’s needs are determined by educational experts, teachers, doctors and pedagogues; are implemented and followed.

The Nature Academy is the first and only institution operating in Turkey for this purpose.

Düşler Mutfağı (Dreams Kitchen)

Dreams Kitchen is a non-profit social business model that was developed as the sub-project of AYDER’s Dreams Academy project, which aims at providing equal access for disabled and socially disadvantaged individuals into social life through arts, music, and other creative activities.

Dreams Kitchen is designed as an income-generating model and aims at providing disabled and socially disadvantaged young people the opportunity for independent living. Special trainings, chef skills, and food sector’s hints&tips are provided to young people with disabilities by specialized volunteer trainers. Currently, Dreams Kitchen is providing food products and services, especially in the pastry field. Now, Dreams Kitchen is building its production strategy on healthy nutrition to contribute socially to individuals and society. The target is to produce sugar/flour/gluten etc. free nutrition options, increase the employment of socially

disadvantaged people and create a ‘good’ business model from its production methods to sales strategies.

Elektronik Atıkların Geri Dönüşümünü Destekleme Derneği (EAGD – Supporting Organisation for Recycling Electronic Waste)

We are an NGO focusing on civil contribution to the e-waste problem by generating projects for the sustainable life cycle of electronic waste, pointing out continuous innovation and social benefit as key factors, and working closely with recycling companies, municipalities, NGOs, universities, and vendors.

We are doing it:

– by providing stability in the supply chain of recycling companies,

– awareness-raising studies with consumers about the dangers of e-waste,

– helping vendors to achieve e-waste collection targets.

EAGD is at the center of a win-win operation and is becoming a platform where all partners can contribute to solutions.

E-Bursum

E-bursum is a social initiative aimed at minimizing opportunity inequality in education. E-Bursum, which transforms the manually operated scholarship system in Turkey into a digital system, on one hand, facilitates the students reaching the necessary financial resources required for their education and, on the other hand, enables the scholarship providers to work with a more systematic and fair scholarship process. In addition to systemizing the scholarship system, E-Bursum aims at maximizing the influence of the scholarship providers by providing them with the necessary tools for education, covering essential finance literacy, measurement of social effects, and online mentoring.

Gelecek Daha Net (The Future is Brighter Youth Platform)

The Future is Brighter Youth Platform exists to lesson youth unemployment by linking professionals and youth aged 15-29 through an accessible online and offline community. With an ongoing struggle for youth to find work, this initiative allows youth to take responsibility for their futures by providing them with concrete advice and connections. It encourages youngsters to be self-determined and make informed life, education, and career choices.

Köpekle Yaşam Derneği (Life with Dogs Association)

Köpekle Yaşam Derneği is a non-profit organization founded in late 2016 that promotes a society in which people that live with dogs are mindful of their responsibilities and informed of their legal liabilities and contribute to the welfare of both people and animals. In light of written and unwritten rules, we want to transform the culture of living with dogs into a healthy and peaceful joint existence.

Through workshops oriented at children and their parents initially, we want to help create generations that have embraced the culture of living with dogs, and we aim to reduce physical injuries and accidents that are a result of the irresponsibility/error of dog parents through the education and activities we provide. We also offer consulting services to individuals who want to have a dog in their lives. We share our knowledge, experience, and activities that can be of use to everyone and contribute to dogs and humans living together by respecting the right to live of all living creatures.

Önemsiyoruz (We Care)

Önemsiyoruz (We Care) is an Istanbul-based social initiative whose 20 active volunteers aim to design specialized play items for children ages 0-6 who are raised under vulnerable circumstances. Our main objective is to develop products that support children’s self-awareness and interactions with their environment. Önemsiyoruz also develops training manuals that help adults learn to interact with these specialized products and at-risk children successfully.

Önemsiyoruz believes all children deserve to “play” regardless of their conditions, and we would like to improve our operations regarding product design and expand the reach of our services to create vital connections between the community and children.

Önemsiyoruz has developed strategic partnerships with NGOs public and private sector entities to design new products and offer new services. Our innovations include the production of textile prints without using water and handmade sewing processes carried out by women’s cooperatives. Önemsiyoruz believe ”Givers create givers”.

Small Project Istanbul (Zeytin Ağacı Derneği)

Small Project Istanbul (Zeytin Ağacı Derneği) is an NGO working to bring social and economic integration to displaced Syrians in Istanbul using the community environment as a vehicle for education and livelihood programs that transfer mainstream skills that can be used in all aspects of their lives.

Our Women’s Skills Development program is at the core of what we do, providing personal and professional skills development whilst the women run a handicraft collective that produces and sells mainly wearable accessories and goods to conscious consumers worldwide.

In preparation for attending an international craft fair in Berlin on November 8, 2017, the women have increased production of their new expanded product range entitled ‘Muhra.’ The personal accessories and wearables are created around the theme of nature, tradition, home, and storytelling to convey a sense of unity between the makers and their customers in a way that breaks down stereotypes.

Sorty App

Sorty app provides an accessibility map for its users. Sorty users can find places and locations according to their individual needs. Sorty runs a filter algorithm so that users can find the places with services such as accessible toilets, disabled parking permits, accessible entrances, wheelchair ramps, menus, and signs with the Braille alphabet. Users can also see the list of top accessible places near them.

On a wider perspective, the Sorty app aims to spark a motto called ‘Let’s go outside.’ There are nearly 9 million disabled people in Turkey. The more people use the app, the more places will seek to be a part of Sorty, and the more spots will become accessible. And more people will go outside, enjoying life.

SS Harmoni Kadın Girişimi Üretim ve İşletme Kooperatifi (Harmony)

Harmoni would like to wake up to a better world. Harmoni started with the idea of integrating women into the workforce to ensure societal development. Harmoni would like women to work compatible with human dignity, to create economic value, and to contribute to the national economy. Harmoni embodied working, producing, friendship, cooperation, and hope as Harmoni (harmony). Now Harmoni wakes up with hope regarding our children and our future. Harmoni is working for productive women and modern society.

Yuvarla

Yuvarla is the digital upgrade of the traditional donation box, designed to fit with the new economy and cashless payment habits. Yuvarla lets people round up spending amounts to the nearest whole Turkish Lira and then donate the difference to a charity of choice. Yuvarla can be used via web or mobile apps.