Ensar Vakfı

Ensar Vakfı is an established civil society organization operating across Turkey with an expansive organizational network that delivers educational initiatives, student housing, academic scholarships, publishing services, and social aid projects. Officially granted public-benefit organization status through the Council of Ministers decision dated August 16, 2012 (Decision No: 2012/3582), the foundation maintains an active national footprint encompassing 72 branch offices across 54 provinces. Under the broader institutional leadership of President Dr. Şener Ağaç, the foundation implements structured public welfare initiatives ranging from higher education dormitories and cultural centers to thematic publishing houses and civic support networks. Between 2012 and 2020, the foundation accomplished 147 formal projects—including 20 managed directly through its central headquarters and 127 orchestrated across provincial branches, such as regional civic meetings led by figures like Ağrı Branch President Murat Şam—with grant support from institutions such as the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Turkish National Agency, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, regional Development Agencies, and the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB). While administrative coordination and specialized academic hubs like the Değerler Eğitimi Merkezi and İstanbul Tasarım Merkezi operate centrally, local branch units serve as contact hubs for communal engagement and regional coordination. This branch profile connects local participants with the foundation's wider resources, serving students, educators, and volunteers who seek access to educational programs, youth development schemes, and nationwide institutional projects.

Programme and What's On

The educational and cultural programming of Ensar Vakfı is distributed across specialized centers, academic institutes, and media channels designed to support lifelong learning. Through the Değerler Eğitimi Merkezi (Center for Values Education), the organization arranges specialized seminars, thematic training courses, structured workshops, panel conferences, and dedicated text reading and discussion groups (Okumalar & Müzakereler). In parallel, the İstanbul Tasarım Merkezi provides creative development through interactive design programs and online workshops accessible to participants across various provinces.

Academic and intellectual engagement is heavily anchored by the Ensar Publishing Group, which operates seven distinct thematic publishing imprints including Ensar Neşriyat, Gülhane, Vefa, DEM, İSAV, and İstanbul Tasarım Yayınları. The catalog features diverse scholarship and literature, highlighted by major multi-volume works such as the five-volume Müslüman Kadının Tarihi Seti and extensive theological translations from the Te'vilatü'l Kur'an Tercümesi Serisi (specifically volumes 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8). Specialized linguistic and historical works include Sarf Ve Nahiv Açısından Kısa Surelerin Tahlilleri, Bütün Yönleriyle Asr-ı Saadette İslâm, and DEM Yayınları's academic release Osmanlı Yüksek Din Eğitimi Anlayışının Değişimi. For younger readers and general audiences, the catalog spans interactive texts like Dini Bilmeceler; Bilenler Söylemesin, inspirational titles such as Gülhane Yayınları's Kendi Yıldızını Yakala; Sıra Dışı Motivasyon Öyküleri and Kristal Kelebekler, alongside biographical works like En Sevilen Öğretmen Hz. Muhammed(s.a.v) ve Eğitim Metotları and Aydınlıklara Doğru; Peygamber Efendimizin Hayatı-2.

In digital media and international opportunities, the foundation delivers free multimedia resources through Ensar TV, featuring regular instructional video series by speaker Kerim Aytekin. For youth mobility and professional development, the foundation acts as an accredited Eurodesk Contact Point within the Erasmus+ Eurodesk Turkey Network to advise young people on European opportunities, while the Career and Internship Office (Kariyer ve Staj Ofisi / OIC Intern) provides university students and new graduates with professional mentorship, internship placements, and career readiness seminars.

Atmosphere and Who It Suits

Ensar Vakfı creates a community-oriented, supportive environment structured around student welfare, continuous education, and academic mentorship. The atmosphere within the foundation's residential network is designed to blend structured living with intellectual growth. Operating 44 student dormitories nationwide—comprising 29 female residences and 15 male residences with a collective capacity of 4,706 students—the living spaces offer far more than accommodation. Residents participate in extensive orientation cycles, non-formal educational series, academic seminars, and career development ateliers that foster an active campus-style community.

A defining element of the student experience is creative and intellectual expression, prominently showcased through B12 Dergisi, a student-produced periodical featuring essays, artistic drawings, poetry, and research pieces written by dorm residents. Furthermore, the organization is distinguished among non-governmental organizations by its dedicated Psychological Counseling and Guidance Unit (PDR Birimi). This specialized service provides residents with individual therapy sessions, practical psychology workshops, thematic film analysis discussions, and vocational readiness training, ensuring emotional well-being alongside academic progress.

The institution suits a broad demographic profile across multiple stages of education and civic life:

• University Undergraduates: Students seeking safe residential housing, extracurricular development, and career guidance.
• Postgraduate Scholars (Master's & PhD): Researchers pursuing advanced academic studies through research fellowships and thematic projects.
• Teacher Candidates: Education faculty and theology majors seeking targeted pedagogical training.
• High School Youth & Volunteers: Students participating in Genç Ensar youth activities, mentorship programs, and local civic clubs.
• Women & Community Groups: Participants joining educational programs and community workshops coordinated via the Hanımlar Komisyonu.

Location and Practical Details

For direct contact with this specific branch, visitors and local applicants can reach the administration by telephone at (0252) 262 55 25. As a local street address is not recorded in the official branch entry, direct phone correspondence is recommended for local office visits, regional meeting schedules, and regional educational activities. While national administrative offices and academic hubs are situated in Istanbul's historic Süleymaniye district near the Süleymaniye Mosque and Istanbul University, provincial branches serve as decentralized points of local civic coordination across Turkey's 54 provinces.

Accessing the foundation's institutional services follows strict application protocols. Prospective applicants must note the following operational procedures:

• Scholarship Applications: Applications for undergraduate, postgraduate, and specialized bursaries are open exclusively during September and October. Submissions are accepted solely through the foundation's official online portal; applications submitted in person, via postal mail, email, telephone, or messaging channels are strictly ineligible.
• Dormitory Placements: Registration for the 44 student residences is managed through the centralized online registration system prior to each academic term.
• Civic and Social Aid Facilities: In addition to student housing, the foundation's social responsibility division runs the Bağcılar Zeliha Hatun Aşevi in Istanbul, which provides free hot meals to 3,000 individuals daily, alongside humanitarian campaigns such as Her Yurdun Bir Yetimi Var Projesi and Gülümseten Emek Projesi supporting vulnerable children.
• Infrastructure Initiatives: Major educational building projects executed under institutional oversight include the 20,000-square-meter, three-block campus of the Yalova Sabri Ekşinozlugil Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, as well as mosque construction projects such as Hz. Aişe Camii and Ateştuğla Camii.

The Mio Angle: Meeting and Events

From the perspective of Mio community members seeking purposeful gathering places and structured development networks, Ensar Vakfı stands out as an institutional hub centered on education, volunteerism, and youth support. For students and young professionals asking where to find academic peer groups, career guidance, or civic engagement opportunities, the organization offers structured pathways rather than conventional commercial venues. Its spaces and programs bring together students from diverse faculties to collaborate on academic readings, design ateliers, and community welfare initiatives.

Financial accessibility is one of the foundation's core pillars, making its services accessible across various socio-economic backgrounds. Key financial assistance and developmental grant programs include:

• Ensar Vakfı Lisans Bursları: Provides undergraduate university students studying in Istanbul with a 9-month cash stipend running from October through June, accompanied by up to a 10% book purchasing subsidy.
• Araştırma Bursları: Multi-term research grants lasting 12, 18, or 24 months for Master's and PhD candidates serving as researchers and assistants on Değerler Eğitimi Merkezi projects.
• Öğretmenlik Yolunda Projesi (ÖYP): A specialized three-year pedagogical development and scholarship curriculum for students enrolled in preschool teaching, primary school teaching, and theology faculties.
• Cevher Bursu: A volunteer-centered scholarship initiative orchestrated by Genç Ensar for İmam Hatip High School students.
• Free Public Amenities: Essential community services, including daily hot meal distribution for 3,000 individuals at the Zeliha Hatun Aşevi and online educational broadcasts on Ensar TV, operate entirely free of charge.

For Mio users documenting their educational journey, the foundation provides meaningful moments to share—from collaborative features in B12 Dergisi to participation in Erasmus+ Eurodesk youth mobility exchanges and community outreach programs.