On August 28, Özlem and Onur joined the in-person TCEF Steering Committee meeting in Bodrum. The day began with selecting 6th-term beneficiaries and reviewing updates on the current status and future plans of the Fund.
In the second half, participants had the privilege of meeting grantees of the previous term in person — hearing directly from them about their conservation efforts across Türkiye. Their passion and dedication made the session especially meaningful.
This round of the Earthquake Fund, organized in collaboration with Turkish Philanthropy Funds, Türkiye Mozaik Foundation, STDV, and Conservation Collective, received 15 applications. From this pool, 6 projects were shortlisted, and through collective review and voting, 5 projects received funding.
The meeting concluded with a shared lunch — and for Onur, with a humbling new responsibility: he was announced as the next Chair of the Turquoise Coast Environment Fund. It is a true honor to step into this role, and we look forward to continuing to support the incredible conservation work being carried out across our coasts and communities.