Association for the Support of Contemporary Life

The Association for the Support of Contemporary Life, commonly known by its Turkish name Çağdaş Yaşamı Destekleme Derneği and the abbreviation ÇYDD, is a Turkish nonprofit civil-society organization focused on education and social development. Established in Istanbul on 10 February 1989 by a group of female Turkish academics led by Aysel Ekşi, the association works from the premise that access to modern, secular and effective education is central to social progress. Its activities have particularly emphasized girls and women, who face persistent barriers related to schooling, literacy and gender discrimination. The organization supports the modernization principles and reforms associated with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Its stated mission is to help build a contemporary society through contemporary education and to contribute to Turkey's progress toward a higher level of civilization. This orientation gives ÇYDD a distinctive place in Turkish civil society: it combines practical educational assistance with a broader public commitment to gender equality, civic development and the preservation of Atatürk's principles. Its motto is translated as “Future assurance of Modern Turkey.” Türkan Saylan became the association's chairperson in 1990 and was its best-known public symbol for many years. During her leadership, the association expanded beyond Istanbul and began opening branches in other Turkish cities. A subsidiary foundation was established in 1995, adding another institutional vehicle for supporting the association's educational and social objectives. After Saylan died on 18 May 2009, former Justice Minister Aysel Çelikel became chairperson the following week. ÇYDD's work has included scholarships, school and dormitory construction, book donations, library establishment, community facilities and human-rights education. The figures reported in the organization's reference material include scholarships for 117,147 students, comprising 54,657 girls at primary and secondary levels and 63,497 university students. It has also been credited with commissioning 130 schools or dormitory buildings, donating 319,000 books and establishing 20 libraries. Following the 1999 İzmit earthquake, the association established 17 rehabilitation and community centers aimed especially at women and children. Another initiative, Human Rights Training at Coffee Houses, received support from the European Union. The association's principal office is in Istanbul and its network has been described as comprising 103 branches across Turkey. Its offering is not a commercial product portfolio; rather, its recognizable “services” are scholarships, educational infrastructure, learning resources, community support and civic education. The official website remains the primary source for current programs, governance and operational details.

The Association for the Support of Contemporary Life was founded in Istanbul on 10 February 1989 by a group of Turkish female academics headed by Aysel Ekşi. Its creation reflected a belief that education was a principal instrument for strengthening Turkish society, expanding women's opportunities and sustaining the country's modernization tradition. From the beginning, the association combined direct assistance to students with advocacy for contemporary education, literacy and gender equality. In 1990, Türkan Saylan was elected chairperson. She subsequently became the association's best-known representative and a central symbol of its public identity. During this period, ÇYDD began opening branches in cities outside Istanbul, creating a nationwide structure for administering scholarships and other education-related programs. The association's work was directed especially toward girls and women, with the objective of reducing gender-based barriers to schooling and improving access to education in underserved communities. A subsidiary foundation was established in 1995. This broadened the institutional base available for educational and social initiatives while preserving the association's central mission. ÇYDD's activities came to include support for students, construction or commissioning of schools and dormitories, distribution of books, creation of libraries and community-based educational work. Its stated principles link these practical programs to the modernization reforms of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and to the goal of taking Turkey toward a contemporary level of civilization. The association also responded to social emergencies. After the 1999 İzmit earthquake, it established 17 rehabilitation and community centers, with particular attention to women and children affected by the disaster. Its human-rights programming included Human Rights Training at Coffee Houses, a project supported by the European Union. These activities illustrate the organization's expansion from scholarship provision into wider community support and civic education. Türkan Saylan died on 18 May 2009. In the following week, Aysel Çelikel, who had previously served as Turkey's Minister of Justice, became chairperson. ÇYDD's publicly reported achievements include scholarships for 117,147 students, with separate totals given for girls in primary and secondary education and for university students; 130 schools or dormitory buildings commissioned; 319,000 books donated; and 20 libraries established. The association has been described as operating from Istanbul through 103 branches nationwide. Its current programs, leadership and activities should be confirmed through its official website, because the available reference material does not provide a complete present-day governance listing.

• 2009

  Leadership transition after Türkan Saylan's death

  [1]Association for the Support of Contemporary Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  After Saylan died on 18 May, Aysel Çelikel became chairperson the following week.

• 1999

  Post-earthquake community centers

  [1]Association for the Support of Contemporary Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  After the İzmit earthquake, the association established 17 rehabilitation and community centers, particularly for women and children.

• 1995

  Subsidiary foundation established

  [1]Association for the Support of Contemporary Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  A foundation affiliated with the association was established to support its broader educational and social mission.

• 1990

  Türkan Saylan becomes chairperson

  [1]Association for the Support of Contemporary Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  Türkan Saylan was elected chairperson and later became the association's best-known public symbol.

• 1990

  Branch expansion begins

  [1]Association for the Support of Contemporary Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  ÇYDD began opening branches in Turkish cities outside Istanbul.

• 1989

  Association founded in Istanbul

  [1]Association for the Support of Contemporary Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  Aysel Ekşi and a group of Turkish female academics established the Association for the Support of Contemporary Life on 10 February 1989.

A Turkish education-focused civil-society organization positioned around contemporary education, girls' schooling, gender equality, literacy, civic development and the protection of Atatürk's principles.

• Education support

  Educational scholarships

  Scholarship assistance is a central ÇYDD activity. The association has focused particularly on helping girls remain in primary and secondary education and on supporting students at university level. Reported historical totals include 117,147 scholarship recipients, although the reference material does not establish the current annual number of beneficiaries.

• Education infrastructure

  Educational infrastructure projects

  ÇYDD has commissioned schools and dormitory buildings as part of its effort to expand access to education. The reported historical achievement is 130 school or dormitory buildings. These projects complement scholarships by addressing the physical availability of educational facilities.

• Learning resources

  Books and libraries

  The association supplies learning materials to schools and communities. Reference material credits it with donating 319,000 books and establishing 20 libraries, supporting literacy and educational access beyond direct financial assistance to individual students.

• Community services · 1999

  Community and rehabilitation centers

  After the 1999 İzmit earthquake, ÇYDD established 17 rehabilitation and community centers, with a particular focus on women and children. The initiative demonstrates the association's role in combining education-related work with community recovery and social support.

• Civic education

  Human Rights Training at Coffee Houses

  This civic-education project brought human-rights training into coffee-house settings. The reference material identifies European Union support but does not provide a launch date, geographic scope or current status.

1. 1Association for the Support of Contemporary Lifeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official website of the Association for the Support of Contemporary Lifecydd.org.tr