Tema Vakfı Ankara temsilciliği

The TEMA Foundation Ankara Representative Office serves as the regional operational base for Turkey's foremost environmental and soil conservation grassroots movement, positioned directly in the heart of the capital. Founded on 11 September 1992, the Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA Vakfı) emerged in the wake of the global ecological awareness sparked by the 1972 Stockholm Conference and the landmark 1992 Rio de Janeiro United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Two prominent business figures and dedicated conservationists, Hayrettin Karaca—widely remembered as Toprak Dede (Grandfather Earth)—and Ali Nihat Gökyiğit—honoured as Yaprak Dede (Grandfather Leaf)—mobilized commercial leaders and citizens to create an organized civic front against severe land degradation under the historic rally cries 'Türkiye Çöl Olmasın' (Don't Let Turkey Become a Desert) and 'Umut Yeşertiyoruz' (We Grow Hope). Over decades of systematic advocacy, the foundation played an instrumental role in shaping public policy, including the enactment of Turkey's national Pasture and Soil Laws. Today, this Ankara branch translates that national mission into capital-wide civic engagement, organizing volunteer networks, ecological literacy curriculums, afforestation projects, and climate policy initiatives for local residents, schools, and civic institutions.

Programme and What's On

The foundation's structured agenda encompasses formal education curriculums, specialized environmental projects, diverse volunteering pathways, and practical donation channels. Rather than presenting static exhibits, the organization operates active community programmes designed for ongoing public participation:

• Nature Education and Student Grants: The foundation conducts comprehensive Nature Education Programmes (Doğa Eğitim Programları) across all primary, secondary, and high school grade levels to foster early ecological awareness. In higher education, academic support is extended through the Turan Demiraslan Burs Programı.
• Targeted Conservation Projects: Key specialized undertakings include the Climate Change Education and Awareness Project (İklim Değişikliği Eğitim ve Farkındalık Projesi) focusing on climate policies, and the A. Nihat Gökyiğit Biodiversity Project (A. Nihat Gökyiğit Biyolojik Çeşitlilik Projesi) dedicated to protecting living ecosystems. Dedicated volunteer achievements are honored through the Hayrettin Karaca and A. Nihat Gökyiğit Volunteering Awards.
• Structured Volunteering Streams: Joining the volunteer network (TEMA Gönüllülüğü) is completely free of charge and organized across specific units, including Organization (Örgütlenme), Fieldwork (Saha), Support (Destek), University Youth (Genç TEMA), and Graduate networks (Mezun TEMA).
• Donation Channels and Afforestation: Long-term conservation work is funded through regular monthly giving via the 'Az Ver Hep Ver' initiative, featuring an accessible minimum starting point of 100 TL alongside standard monthly tiers of 300 TL, 500 TL, and 700 TL. Direct land rehabilitation is supported through individual Sapling Donations (Fidan Bağışı), institutional Memorial Forests (Hatıra Ormanı), Solidarity Forests (Dayanışma Ormanı), quick SMS donations, bequest gifts, and used paper recycling contributions (Kullanılmış Kağıt Bağışı).
• Commemorative Products and Athletic Collaborations: Supporters can acquire purposeful occasion items including wedding cards and magnets (Nikah ve Düğün Davetiyeleri, Kartları ve Magnetleri), baby celebration stationery, and sympathy displays (Mutlu Gün Panosu). Active campaigns also include marathon charity runs (Yardımseverlik Koşuları) and creative partnerships, such as the KAFT apparel collaboration converting designer t-shirt sales into newly planted saplings.

Atmosphere and Who It Suits

The atmosphere at the Ankara representative office reflects a purposeful, civic-minded workspace dedicated to environmental science, education, and community coordination. It provides a tranquil, resource-rich environment where citizens and educators can gather information and coordinate real-world ecological action.

The facility features a specialized Environmental Library (Çevre Kütüphanesi), housing educational materials and reference texts for students, researchers, and nature enthusiasts. Beyond the physical office, the organization coordinates regional afforestation sites and educational outreach, creating an accessible civic ecosystem suited for several distinct visitor groups:

• Families with Children: Parents seeking meaningful extracurricular learning can tap into nationwide nature literacy initiatives that have directly engaged roughly 8 million children across Turkey.
• Students and Young Adults: University and high school students participate through Genç TEMA chapters, finding a welcoming community for environmental research, volunteer organizing, and peer education.
• Civic Volunteers: With an active movement counting over 1.3 million registered volunteers nationwide, the branch provides a structured entry point for individuals wanting to dedicate their time to field conservation and awareness campaigns.
• Institutions and Corporate Teams: Companies and public bodies collaborate with the branch to coordinate corporate tree planting drives, establish dedicated institutional woodlands, or source ethical event merchandise.

The scale of the foundation's broader operational impact provides solid ground for civic trust. Since its inception in 1992, the movement has planted more than 45 million saplings across land equivalent to approximately 55,000 football pitches and sown 700 million acorns across an area spanning 22,000 football pitches. Furthermore, donor solidarity has established at least one dedicated forest in all 81 provinces of Turkey, proving that localized engagement directly feeds into widespread national restoration.

Location and Practical Details

The TEMA Foundation Ankara Representative Office is situated in the central district of Çankaya. While the general headquarters of the foundation are based in the Şişli district of Istanbul, this specific branch serves as the official operational center for Ankara and its surrounding districts.

The office is located on Konur Sokak, specifically within the upper segment widely referred to in local navigation as Konur 2 Sokak, stretching between Meşrutiyet Caddesi and the Bakanlıklar ministerial quarter. This positioning places the venue within easy walking distance of Meşrutiyet Caddesi, Necatibey Caddesi, and the wider Kızılay transport network, making it conveniently reachable by foot or public transit.

Branch Contact and Practical Information:

• Official Address: Kavaklıdere Mah. Konur Sok. No: 52/7, Bakanlıklar, Çankaya / Ankara (Konur 2 Sokak)
• City / District: Ankara / Çankaya
• Telephone: (0312) 419 73 00 / (0312) 419 73 01
• Fax: (0312) 425 90 97
• Branch Email: [email protected]
• Provincial Representative: Nevzat Özer

Visitors wishing to consult the Environmental Library, drop off used paper for recycling, register as active field volunteers, or coordinate school visits are advised to contact the Ankara office via telephone or email during regular weekday business hours prior to their arrival. Registration for volunteering carries no charge, while donations and commemorative card orders can be processed both digitally and through branch guidance.

The Mio Angle: Meeting and Events

From the perspective of the Mio community, the TEMA Foundation Ankara Representative Office is a premier destination for socially responsible meetups and value-driven civic engagement. When users ask 'where can we meet to make a tangible impact in Ankara?', this branch stands out as a focal point for meaningful collaboration rather than commercial consumption.

The venue and its affiliated activities accommodate a variety of communal use cases:

• Youth and Student Project Circles: Members of Genç TEMA and university alumni in Mezun TEMA regularly gather to discuss conservation research, plan campus workshops, and study using the resources of the Environmental Library.
• Ethical Milestone Planning: Couples planning weddings or parents arranging birth announcements and celebrations frequently consult the branch to replace conventional party favors with custom sapling certificates, bespoke cards, and decorative magnets.
• Charity Sports Teams: Running clubs and amateur athletes preparing for national marathons utilize the foundation's charity running platform (Yardımseverlik Koşuları) to organize fundraising teams and train collaboratively around clear ecological goals.

From a financial standpoint, engagement with the branch falls into an economical and highly accessible bracket. Volunteer membership is entirely free, ensuring open access for students and community members. For those wishing to contribute financially, the 'Az Ver Hep Ver' regular support scheme offers an accessible entry tier starting at 100 TL per month, with flexible 300 TL, 500 TL, and 700 TL options suitable for varied budgets. For social sharing and community storytelling, visual highlights include personalized afforestation certificates, KAFT collaboration t-shirts, commemorative celebration boards, and real-time updates from regional tree planting sites across Turkey.