On twenty years AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 1

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2 On twenty years As AÇEV completes its 20th year, it has become one of the most reputable foundations in the country. Built on a foundation of scientific research and successful program implementation, it has progressed to serving as an example for national educational policies. Today AÇEV, as a leader in early childhood and family education, continues in earnest towards new goals, merging 20 years of experience in the field with new technologies and innovations in the area of education. The leadership of AÇEV has been made possible with the success of our programs, our reach and influence in the public arena, and our wealth of public and private partnerships and supporters. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has joined us on our journey and contributed to our efforts to strengthen the foundations of a society that looks to the future with confidence. We look forward to working together for many years in the future. AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 1

3 AÇEV in Brief AÇEV s educational programs target socioeconomically disadvantaged children, parents, and illiterate adults. Creating solutions that better prepare children for the future Since its foundation in 1993 AÇEV has been committed to the development and implementation of programs in the field of early childhood development and education. Through these programs, AÇEV aims to provide equal educational opportunities to underprivileged children and their families in order to create a more advanced society and give disadvantaged children the right start to life. All foundation sponsored activities relating to the development of personal, cognitive, social, and emotional skills during early childhood development are founded on and completed with local community support. AÇEV conducts research to determine the needs of the target group, then develops and implements scientific-based programs in collaboration with partners to meet those needs. Programs are then evaluated for their effectiveness, making a contribution to policy developments. AÇEV s programs are intervention programs. The purpose of intervention programs is to reduce risk factors and increase support systems in the lives of those in the targeted demographic. Specifically, early childhood education has been shown to improve the situation of disadvantaged and vulnerable children while also creating social and economic benefits. Making a difference toward a world defined by peace and equality. In order to support child development and life-long education, AÇEV has developed and implemented via partnerships, training programs in the areas of early childhood, parenting, literacy, and womens empowerment. All our educational programs are enriched with topics such as the promotion of peace, respect for diversity, gender equality, child protection and prevention of domestic violence, while also ensuring that our mission to guarantee equal opportunities for education is carried out. Today, AÇEV s vision is to be the first foundation that comes to mind on the topic of early childhood. Thanks to a strong network of national and international collaborations in the areas of early childhood education and development, AÇEV now operates in 81 cities in Turkey as well as 13 different countries abroad, with a focus on Europe and the Middle East. 2 AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

4 In the past twenty years, our education programs have reached 823,326 mothers, fathers, children and adults; a total of 400,000 families. Our Objectives To support children, starting from an early age, and those in their immediate environment by providing educational opportunities that allow them to reach their full potential Our target population Socioeconomically disadvantaged children, parents, and illiterate adults Our Programs Early Childhood Education Parent Education Adult Literacy Women s Support Rural Education Our Program s Core Values and Goals A lifecycle approach with a goal of creating long term behavioral and attitudinal changes Provide adult education to parents in recognition of their crucial role as child s first educators during early childhood, in order to support both the family and their children s development Raise public awareness for issues of gender discrimination prevention and women s empowerment Develop and implement scientific-based educational programs, generate support and awareness, and push for policy improvements in order to inform and educate the public Continually update and improve our educational programs in line with society s changing needs, and to expand those programs in parallel with our new themes of peace, child protection and the prevention of domestic violence. To develop technology based education programs that reach all segments in need by utilizing new models such as e-learning and mobile applications alongside television programming. Our Impact and Our Reach Education Programs Educational Television Programming Advocacy and Research Activities 823,326 Mothers, fathers, children, illiterate adults 10, Educators Middle East, Central American and European Countries 8,000,000 Viewers 50,000,000 People AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 3

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6 A Message from the President of the Board of Directors The impact of our work cannot be measured by numbers alone. In the pursuit of a better future, every individual whose life we touch is meaningful. As we reach people in need through our programs, we believe that we are creating a ripple effect in society, forming a stronger, more aware, and more hopeful society for future generations. Dear Friends of AÇEV, As we set out on our AÇEV adventure 20 years ago, we were inspired by scientific research in the field and formed a vision of contributing to a healthy and strong society through investing in the early years. We never lost sight of this goal and enriched it through the years with our offerings. Today the place we find ourselves serves as validation for our decisions and efforts and is a source of pride for the 200-person AÇEV family. The first six years form the foundation for a childs health, happiness and achievement and to ensure that every child reaches their potential we believe there are there are expanding spheres of influence from their immediate family to areas of public policy. As an NGO we play an important role in these spheres in connecting individuals with institutions, and we believe we are making a profound difference through our prevention-based, participatory, and deeply impactful intervention programs. The impact of our work cannot be measured by numbers alone. In the pursuit of a better future, every individual whose life we touch is meaningful. As we reach people in need through our programs, we believe that we are creating a ripple effect in society, forming a stronger, more aware and more hopeful society for future generations. As of 2013, in the 823,000 people we have reached through our face-to-face educational programs, and over 10,000 educators that we have trained, we ve seen the important impact we have made in their lives. Moreover, through the millions of people reached through our publications, television programs, and web-based educational channels we bear witness to the burgeoning desire for education. However, despite our efforts, in many regions of Turkey pre-school aged children do not have access to equal educational opportunities. We know that the ability for these children to become successful, happy and healthy adults is intimately related to support they receive in their earliest years. Thus, once again we must emphasize the importance of universal, free, high quality preschool education for every child. Furthermore, we know that in our country, many children do not live in the peaceful, supportive environments they deserve, are not sufficiently protected, and are not given enough attention or love. Parents are the single greatest influence in a child s life and for this reason we believe that the necessity and importance of our parent training programs will only increase from here onward. We know the depth of the problems, but with our prevention and support-based intervention programs, and with the unwavering support of our national and international stakeholders, we remain hopeful for the future. For we have seen the positive results of our work amongst the families and communities we serve, the impact we ve created, the transformation we ve witnessed. As we celebrate 20 years of success, we are equally conscious of the work not done, the work yet to be done for multitudes of children, families and women. However, we believe that our knowledge and experiences will continue to light the way forward. And thus, with our unwavering dedication to building a safer future - and together with you, our dedicated supporters and partners - we are all ready to take on the next 20 years ahead. I extend my deepest gratitude to the entire AÇEV family and to all of our AÇEV friends, Sincerely, Ayşen Özyeğin AÇEV President of the Board of Directors AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 5

7 : Twenty years of AÇEV In twenty years, we have developed expertise in the areas of early childhood and family education, adult literacy and women s support & rural education, while also gaining valuable skills in program development, trainer training, monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy The Mother & Child Education Foundation (AÇEV) is formally established, its logo designed, and its first office opened in İstanbul. Under the auspices of AÇEV, the Mother & Child Education Program (MOCEP) undertakes its first 25-week program in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education. Under the direction of AÇEP, a collaboration begins with Social Services and Child Protection Agency (SHÇEK) and social workers begin to implement the program in community centers. To help disseminate MOCEP, under the auspices of the Ministry of National Education and the Nonformal Education Project, the foundation begins to receive support from the World Bank. Erken Çocukluk Eğitiminin Önemi konulu sempozyum düzenlendi In response to observed needs among women with children, an adult literacy program is developed. A protocol dealing with this subject is signed between the foundation and the General Directorate for Apprenticeship and Nonformal Education. AÇEV collaborates with The Association in Support of Modern Living (ÇYDD), marking its first collaboration with another NGO. Together with the Van Leer Foundation, AÇEV holds its first scientific seminar, Human Development and Statistics at Bogazici University AÇEV, in addition to the educational departments, grows to incorporate Financial and Administrative Affairs and Communication departments. AÇEV opens offices in Ankara and in İzmir. The first courses in the foundation s Functional Adult Literacy Program (FALP) are launched. The foundation s corporate identity materials are updated and its logo is renewed. A symposium on the subject of The Importance of Early Childhood Education is held. 6 AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

8 1996 At the request from mothers in MOCEP, AÇEV begins developing its Fatherhood Support Program (FSP) and launches its first pilot program. In partnerships with other institutions, MOCEP is expanded to 23 provinces. Through university partnerships, MOCEP was incorporated into program curriculums as a class at Marmara, Ankara, and Gazi University. AÇEV begins collaborating with the Averroes Foundation in Holland to conduct courses for immigrant families Development and implementation of the FSP pilot program continues together with the Paşabahçe Glass Factory. AÇEV becomes a member of the Early Childhood Education Advisory Group and is designated as its Early Childhood Education Representative for Central Asia. 25 MOCEP-based educational films were prepared and were distributed to Public Education Center Ministries in 60 districts while being broadcast on TV. The first implementation of MOCEP s Cognitive Development Program is undertaken for Turkish immigrant families in the Belgian city of Ghent In response to requests from other countries, the Mother & Child Education Program is translated into English and is implemented for the first time in Bahrain. The research results of MOCEP are made into a book entitled Equal Opportunity by Prof. Dr. Sevda Bekman. AÇEV experts developed a series of seminars designed for parents and started implementing them in schools. A set of materials called Family Letters is created, intended for parents with children in the 0-3 age group. Along with SHÇEK and mother s graduating from the AÇEP program a Graduate Mothers project was created for children in day care. Together with graduate mothers from MOCEP the Graduate Mothers Program for SHÇEK day care children is started. Functional Adult Literacy Programs (FALP) are implemented in İzmir and, with the Sani Konukoğlu Foundation, in Gaziantep. AÇEV is designated the UNESCO Early Childhood Cooperation Center for Central Asia.. From this cooperation the slogan 7 is Too Late is created Work begins on the development of the Preschool Parent & Child Program (OVÇEP); the first pilot program is carried out and evaluated via research studies. AÇEV organizes the Central Asia Literacy Forum as part of its overall region-focused activities. As part of the Father Support Program (FSP) collaboration with Eğitim-Sen is established and the first trainer training pilot program is conducted. BADEP s first private sector implementation occured at the Mercedes Benz factory. A scientific council consisting of seventeen academicians is created at AÇEV. AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 7

9 : Twenty years of AÇEV 2000 A symposium on the subject of The Importance and Role of Fathers in Child Development was held. To provide psychological support in the aftermath of the disastrous Marmara earthquake of August 1999, AÇEV spearheaded the establishment of the İzmit Rehabilitation Center (İREM). In order to give information to students, a book entitled We prepare for Earthquakes Calmly was prepared and distributed to schools. AÇEV collaborates with the newspaper Hürriyet to conduct a literacy campaign. FALP is launched simultaneously in 10 different provinces. Mother & Child Education programs are launched in Belgium (Brussels) and France while a Mother Support Program is started in Germany. With participation from across Central Asia, AÇEV hosted the Development of Early Childhood Care and Development Indicators meeting in İstanbul. Research began for Preschool Education in Turkey: Need Assessment Survey and Evaluation of Language Competency which served as a foundation for the Southeast Anatolian Preschool and Mother Support Program AÇEV began developing its first TV program MOCEP is translated into Arabic in Bahrain, and into Flemish in Belgium. AÇEV joins the National Education Support Campaign and sets up a Literacy Information Hotline to respond to requests for information about the campaign. A seminar on the topic of Communicating with Children began to be implemented in many organizations and institutions for working mothers and fathers. AÇEV receives the National Female Health Commission of Voluntary Organizations Millennium Award and is also cited by the Yeni Olgu Arts and Activities Group as the year s most outstanding foundation After having cooperated since 1993 with the Ministry of National Education, implementation of the Mother & Child Education Program is formally turned over to the General Directorate for Apprenticeship and Nonformal Education. The Mother & Child Education Program is conducted in Bahrain in cooperation with the Bahrain Children s Society. With participation from undergraduate university students studying early childhood education, a Preschool Education and Teacher Training meeting was held. AÇEV s main office in İstanbul moved from Elmadağ to Mecidiyeköy. Benimle Oynar Mısın? ( Will you play with me? ), a TV program prepared jointly with the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) targeting preschool children and their families, began broadcasting. The Radio and Television Journalists Association awarded as The best children s program and it also received the Year s Best Children s TV Program Award from the YA-PA publishing house. 8 AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

10 With the Izmit Rehabilitation Center, (that serves those in need after earthquakes) a Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit was created and at the end of the year the responsibility for managing it was transferred from AÇEV to Kocaeli University. AÇEV opened an office in Diyarbakır. In Southeast Anatolia the Women s Support and Literacy program was improved upon and implemented. Pilot programs began in Diyarbakır, Mardin, Siirt and Şanlıurfa AÇEV became a founding partner of the Education Reform Initiative AÇEV received the Vehbi Koç Award from the Vehbi Koç Foundation for its contributions and efforts in education. Directed at families with children aged 0-3, the Family Letters project is launched via seminars in hospitals across İstanbul and Kocaeli. Undergraduate students studying early childhood education participate in the Early Childhood Education Policies: Proliferation and Governance meeting in Ankara. Using AÇEP s content as a base, a 10-week Mother s Support Program is developed and implemented. The AÇEV Mother & Child Education Center opened in the Alipaşa district of Diyarbakır. This is the first time that the foundation engaged in educational activities on its own premises. The foundation s Preschool Education Program and its ancillary Mother Support Program are conducted for the first time at the Summer Preschools in Diyarbakır. Education began in the Social Risk Reduction Program BADEP activities are extended to sixteen provinces in Turkey and are also introduced internationally for the first time in Germany. AÇEV sets up an in-house Institutional Development Unit. The International Early Childhood Education Consulting Group hold their annual meeting in İstanbul, hosted by AÇEV Following a call from the European Union for projects, as part of the Reproductive Health and Gender Equality programs, AÇEV prepared three projects, all of which were accepted and began to be implemented. AÇEV joined forces with six non-governmental organizations active in the area of education to launch the 7 is Too Late campaign, to create awareness and to garner public support for early childhood education, and to provide guidance on early childhood education policy formation. As part of the 7 is Too Late campaign, a Cost Benefit Analysis of Preschool Education in Turkey and The Effects of Early Intervention in Adulthood AÇEP Tracking Survey were published. As part of the 7 is Too Late campaign, AÇEV also launched the Nutrition Project in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education. With support from the EU, AÇEV partnered with many institutions, including the Grundtvig Program, on the Family Literacy project. 65 episodes of a literacy program called Our Classroom were broadcast on Kanal D. Universities working on early childhood education participated in a conference on the topic of, Quality Preschool Education: University s Role. The EU supported Ensuring Gender Equality in Social Participation project held the first national conference in Ankara. AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 9

11 : Twenty years of AÇEV 2006 In association with the Grundtvig Program, AÇEV is included in the continuing, Parenting Skills Development Project. AÇEV s programs are launched in Germany, Belgium, France, Jordan, Bahrain, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia. It s Good to Be a Father, a TV program is created with the support of NTV to promote the Father Support Program and focus on the importance of fatherhood education, began broadcasting. The first Information Day is held at AÇEV. At the gathering, attended by all of the foundation s field personnel, awards were given to those who have completed their tenth year of service. AÇEV conducted an international conference on the subject of Early Childhood Education for Social and Economic Development in conjunction with its 7 is Too Late campaign. An annual competition that rewards meritable and effective activities promoting literacy, FALP earns AÇEV the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize As part of the 7 is Too Late campaign, ads were published in newspapers, and on the TV and radio spots were broadcast about the benefits of preschool education. In order to suggest solutions and affect policy relating to early childhood education, a report entitled Early Childhood Education for Economic and Social Development: Importance, Benefits and Advice Dissemination was published. In the run-up to the July 22nd elections as part of the campaign, AÇEV conducted a round of media promotion activities, including publishing ads in the paper and distributing a lobbying report about desired actions to be taken concerning preschool education to political parties and partiless candidates as well as via postings addressed to the public. The website is launched alongside the foundation s corporate website to provide families and specialists with 7 is Too Late campaign information and support. Under the Being a Parent project, child-related information spots for parents are prepared in collaboration with Digiturk, a Turkish satellite television provider and Being a Parent seminars are held. FALP continues to grow with support from various cooperations and begins to be implemented in Kocaeli and Bursa. With the purpose of capacity building for educators, workers, and observers, academic consultants began providing in service trainings at the AÇEV Academy. AÇEV is invited to present its work by the Women s Leadership Board of Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. 10 AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

12 2008 New episodes of Will you play with me? began broadcasting on Turkish Radio and Television. In making new changes to the Mother s Support Program, the 3-6 and 7-11 age groups were split into two separate modules. A book written by professor and AÇEV founding board member Sevda Bekman, The Years of the Mother Child Education Foundation: A Story From Multiple Perspectives is published, providing a diversified account of the activities of AÇEV over the years. In collaboration with Digitürk, the To be Mother&Father... project is nominated for the Public Relations Association of Turkey s Golden Compass Award. Foundation President, Ayşen Özyeğin, is awarded for the Happy Kid s Preschool Work Award. AÇEV signed a protocol with the Harvard University Graduate School of Education Center on the Developing Child (HCDC), formalizing the collaboration in international strategies related to early childhood development and education. AÇEV takes Private Consultant Status of ECOSOC The Multidimensional Women s Empowerment Project is launched with the support of Sabancı Foundation Grant Programs. The First Step Ahead project is launched with the support of the Vodafone Turkey Foundation. The third round of information and communication activities of the 7 is Too Late campaign is conducted during May and June. took first place in the year s Golden Spider website awards. AÇEP began implementation a work in Lebanon, and BADEP began implementing programs in Bahrain. With the support of Fortis Bank, the Me Too! Me Too! project is launched. My Home School activities aimed at the women with children are carried out in İstanbul AÇEV received the World Innovation Summit Award for Education (WISE) for its Mother & Child Education Program (MOCEP). With the support of Türk Ekonomi Bankası (TEB), the My Web School ( website is launched as a part of the Me Too! Me Too! project. The Level-2 Functional Adult Literacy Program is further developed and relaunched as the Advanced Literacy & Access to Information Program. Targeted at women in rural areas, the Hill and Valley Women s Support Program is developed and inaugurated. The Father Training for Families without Violence project begins with the support of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). AÇEV attains Operational Partnership Status with UNESCO. Beş Ülkeden Anneler Anlatıyor: Anne Çocuk Eğitim Programı, a book in which mothers from five countries dıscuss the Mother & Child Education Program, is published In line with its new undertakings, AÇEV collaborates with the ZTV Bilgi TV channel to launch the Life is Better Reading TV literacy project. Read & Write with AÇEV, a computer-based literacy program, is developed in line with the foundation s objectives of encouraging computer-aided instruction. With the support of Vodafone Turkey s Foundation, the website, for the, First Step Ahead project goes live. AÇEV s second Information Day event is conducted in all provinces of Turkey with the participation of AÇEV team members. The foundation takes part in support activities in the aftermath of the October earthquake in Van. AÇEV becomes a member of the UNESCO NGO Consultation Collective on the subject of Everyone for Equal Education. AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 11

13 : Twenty years of AÇEV 2012 In order to support families in the city of Van following the earthquake, Ministry for Family and Social Policy, the Psychologic Trauma and Crisis Intervention Center and the Education and the Education and Research Association collaborated to create the Hüsrevpaşa City Container Traumatic Family Counseling Center. As part of the Father s Support Program, in existence since 1996, this year on Father s Day a new campaign, the You are My Father campaign began. Based on social needs for peace, respect for diversity, gender equality, and child protection, all education programs were revised to focus on these themes, work began to be transferred and was completed. In compliance with changing primary school legislation and in order to meet the developmental needs of children aged months, AÇEV updated its Child Education Materials. AÇEV was granted UNESCO s Consultative Status. As part of this, AÇEV began transferring its knowledge and expertise to UNESCO in order to improve studies in early childhood development and adult education. AÇEV began an academic collaboration with Yale University s Children s Studies Center and the MacMillan International Studies Center. As part of this cooperation, the connection between early childhood development and societal peace began to be researched in a scientific way and communication and advocacy activities were increased Based on the work done for young women s literacy, AÇEV received the EMPower Champions of Youth Award award. AÇEV training units were restructured and parental education programs were moved to the newly created Family Education Unit. After two years of ongoing collaboration between AÇEV, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education on the topic of Preschool Education Quality Standards, The Auditing System and Institutional Foundation Legislation Project was completed and presented to the Ministry. In collaboration with Yale University, AÇEV organized an Early Childhood Peace Consortium. The Van Post-Traumatic Family Consultation Center was handed over to Yüzüncü Yıl University Psychological Consulting, Research and Application Center through a protocol. Supported by UN Women, as part of the Fatherhood Education for Violence-Free Families project a panel entitled What it Means to be a Father in Turkey: Responsibilities in Gender Equality, Rights and Solutions was held. 12 AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

14 Board of Trustees, Board of Directors, Advisors Board of Trustees Board of Directors Senior Management Ayşen Özyeğin President Prof. Dr. Sevda Bekman Member Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı Member Dr. Ömer Arif Aras Member Hüsnü M. Özyeğin Member Süleyman Sözen Member Ayşen Özyeğin President of the Board of Directors Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı Vice President of the Board of Directors Ayla Göksel Vice President of the Board of Directors Prof. Dr. Sevda Bekman Member of the board Prof. Dr. Tosun Terzioğlu Member of the board Hüsnü M. Özyeğin Member of the board Oya Sener Member of the Board / Accountant Ayla Göksel CEO Nalan Yalçın General Manager Hilal Kuşcul Assistant General Manager Serkan Kahyaoğlu Assistant General Manager Advisors Prof. Dr. Aydın Yücesan Durgunoğlu Prof. Dr. Ayhan Aksu Koç Prof. Dr. Canan Ergin Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı Prof. Dr. Diane Sunar Prof. Dr. Güzver Yıldıran Prof. Dr. İlgi Ertem Prof. Dr. Sevda Bekman Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Esmer Assoc. Prof. Serra Müderrisoğlu Batuhan Aydagül Early Childhood Education Advisors Prof. Dr. Ayla Oktay Prof. Dr. Belma Tuğrul Prof. Dr. Berrin Akman Prof. Dr. Fulya Temel Prof. Dr. Gelengül Haktanır Prof. Dr. Nergis Güven Prof. Dr. Sevda Bekman Prof. Dr. Sibel Güneysu Prof. Dr. Tanju Gürkan Education Programs and Research Assistants/Advisors Prof. Dr. Aydın Yücesan Durgunoğlu Prof. Dr. Ayhan Aksu Koç Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı Prof. Dr. Diane Sunar Prof. Dr. İpek Gürkaynak Prof. Dr. Sevda Bekman Dr. Cengiz Çiftçi Dr. Meltem Aran Dr. Şule Yazgan Dr. Ulaş Sunata Splt. Psy. Con. Ayşesim Diri Deniz Şenocak AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 13

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16 With our education programs we support individuals in all stages of their life.

17 Our Core Partners Acting on its vision to be the first foundation that comes to mind on the topic of early childhood, AÇEV implements programs in the area of early childhood and adult education together with national and international corporate partnerships and the support of core partners. International Partners UNESCO, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNDP Harvard University Early Childhood Consulting Group Global Clinton Initiative World Forum Alliance European Commission, European Union Work Bank International NGOs Yale University National Partners Ministry of Education -General Directorate of Lifelong Learning -Basic Education General Directorate Ministry of Family and Social Policy Food, Agriculture and Livestock Ministry National NGOs Media Organizations (TRT, NTV, Kanal D, ZTV Bilgi) The AÇEV Team Academic Consulting Team Professional Department Volunteer Trainers Sponsors Local Power Partners National and Multinational Companies Individual Donations Multilateral Aid Organizations National and International NGOs Local and Multinational Organizations Local NGOs Local Media Local Governments 16 AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

18 With our deepest gratitude to all of our sponsors Corporate Sponsors AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 17

19 AÇEV in Turkey The expertise of our team, our competencies and 20 years of experience are reflected in our national and international activities. Today AÇEV s programs are present in 81 different Turkish cities Adana Adıyaman Afyon Aksaray Ağrı Amasya Ankara Antalya Ardahan Artvin Aydın Balıkesir Bartın Batman Bayburt Bilecik Bingöl Bitlis Bolu Burdur Bursa Çanakkale Çankırı Çorum Denizli Diyarbakır Düzce Edirne Elazığ Erzincan Erzurum Eskişehir Gaziantep Giresun Gümüşhane Hakkari Hatay Iğdır Isparta İstanbul İzmir Karabük Karaman Kars Kastamonu Kayseri Kırıkkale Kırklareli Kırşehir Kilis Kocaeli Konya Kütahya Malatya Manisa Mersin Kahramanmaraş Mardin Muğla Muş Nevşehir Niğde Ordu Osmaniye Rize Sakarya Samsun Siirt Sinop Sivas Tekirdağ Tokat Trabzon Tunceli Şanlıurfa Şırnak Uşak Van Yalova Yozgat Zonguldak Mother s Support Program (ADP) Father s Support Program (BADEP) Preschool Education and Parent Support Program (OVÇEP) Vodafone First Step Ahead project (AÇEV, TVV and the Ministry of Education) Literacy and Women s Support Programs Rural Women and Child Education 18 AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

20 AÇEV International Today AÇEV programs have been shared with 13 countries, and relations have been established with nearly 30 countries to explore implementation. The coutries that have implemented AÇEV programs Germany 2 Bahrain 11 3 Belgium 4 Bosnia-Herzegovina 5 France 6 Holland 7 England 8 Switzerland 9 Cyprus 10 Lebanon 11 Mexico 12 Saudi Arabia 13 Jordan International Education Activities Germany RAA- BADEP (Turkish) Lernmobil Viernheim-BADEP (German-Turkish) Bahrain MOCEP Bahrain- BADEP&AÇEP (Arabic-English) Belgium Intercultureel Netwerk Gent-ADP& AÇEP (Turkish) BTKD Interkulturale Netwerk Gent- ADP&AÇEP (Turkish) Lebanon Arab Resource Collective-AÇEP (Arabic) Saudi Arabia Riyad Türk Embassy-ADP (Turkish) Childcare Association-AÇEP (Arabic) International Partners AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 19

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22 With early childhood education, we are working to give every child the chance to reach their full potential.

23 Our Education Programs Face to Face Education Early Childhood Education Family Education Literacy & Women s Empowerment Programs Rural Women & Child Training Face to Face Education Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Education programs aim to support both the development of children and their environment in the early years. These programs offer low-cost alternatives to center based programs, provide support to achieve quality in preschool education and promote family participation. Mother & Child Education Program The Mother & Child Education Program is a scientific homebased education program that is designed for mothers and their children in the 4-6 age group who have not received preschool education. The program works directly with mothers, aiming to provide them support before their children start formal education, and to meet the needs of children in a home environment. Preschool Parent & Child Program The Preschool Parent & Child Program is a scientifically based program designed to support children s cognitive development and foster their verbal and numerical skills, while also preparing them for primary education. It aims to strengthen the cooperation between schools and families and ensure the smooth transition from preschool education to primary education. Preschool Education Program The Preschool Education Program is designed to develop the cognitive, verbal, social, emotional, and physical skills of children in the most disadvantaged regions of Turkey. It targets 5-6 year olds who have not yet had any early childhood education and is implemented in the months immediately before the child begins formal schooling in order to prepare them for school and ensure a smooth transition to their elemantary school. Family Education In recognition of the importance of the child s immediate environment and, in particular, the guidance and influence of their parents, the Family Education Programs were developed to elicit the support and participation of parents in the development and education of their children. Mother s Support Program The Mother s Support Program is an educational program that seeks to provide mothers with information and support on issues related to their child s development and education, and to strengthen the bonds between mothers and their children. The program takes the form of group activities in which mothers develop the parenting skills to enhance the child s overall wellbeing. Father s Support Program The Father s Support Program is a program aimed at contributing towards the multi-dimensional development of children by supporting their fathers. The program was prepared both to strengthen communication between fathers and their children and to promote democratic attitudes within the family. Parenting Seminars In addition to programs aimed at achieving long-term changes in behavior and attitudes, Parenting Seminars are conducted to enhance social awareness and inform people on a variety of issues related to parenting and child development. They are targeted at families with children up to 14 years of age. Family Letters Family Letters is a set of 30 letters that aims to provide pregnant mothers and families with children up to 3 years of age with the information about pregnancy and children s physical, cognitive, and social development. The manuals are complemented through seminars for parents. 22 AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

24 Early Childhood Education programs aim to support both the development of children and their environment in the early years. These programs offer low-cost alternatives to center based programs, provide support to achieve quality in preschool education and promote family participation. Literacy & Women s Empowerment Programs Functional Adult Literacy and Women s Empowerment Program The Functional Adult Literacy and Women s Empowerment Program was prepared to contribute towards systematic efforts aimed at solving illiteracy problem among adults (those aged 15 or more). The program is especially targeted at women over 15 years of age who have moved to urban areas and experience difficulty taking part in social activities because of their inability to read or write. Advanced Literacy and Access to Information The Advanced Literacy and Access to Information Program is intended for women (ages 15 and up) who are certified as literate and wish to further develop their literacy skills. In addition to developing such skills, the program also teaches ways to access information while strengthening women s social positions. Rural Women & Child Training Hill and Valley Education and Women s Support Program The goal of the Hill and Valley Education and Women s Support Program is to strengthen, through education, the life skills of women and girls who are living in the rural areas. Intended for girls and women aged 15 years or older, the Hill and Valley Program was specifically developed to be modular in its approach with a focus on video-supported visual elements. I am Having Fun Learning I am Having Fun Learning is a program developed for mothers of 3-6 year olds taking part in the Hill and Valley Program to enable them to provide educational opportunities for their children through daily exercises. Reading Groups for Children This program aims to inspire the love of reading in children ages 5-7 and improve their reading skills, in order for them to succeed in school with a joy of reading. Adult Reading Groups Adult Reading Groups were created to guide and support the development of reading habits of adults who have completed the FALP and Advanced Literacy Programs. AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 23

25 Our Education Programs Educational Television Internet Based Education Web Will You Play With Me? It s Good To Be A Father Our Classroom Life is Better Reading Educational Television Will You Play With Me? Will You Play With Me? is an educational and entertaining children s program that was prepared by AÇEV in collaboration with the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) and broadcast weekly. This program was designed to both support children s development and enhance parenting skills of mothers. It was broadcast in four series on TRT channels beginning in the first half of It s Good To Be A Father It s Good To Be A Father was a TV series prepared jointly by AÇEV and NTV to promote the foundation s Father s Support Program (FSP) and to draw public attention to the importance of fatherhood and related issues. Our Classroom Our Classroom was the first project that AÇEV undertook (in collaboration with Kanal D) to provide literacy education via television broadcasting. Our Classroom was broadcast five times a week from 27 June to 19 September 2005 as part of a daytime women s show. Life is Better Reading Life is Better Reading is an educational TV series AÇEV developed based on the Functional Adult Literacy Program. Currently in production in collaboration with ZTV Bilgi, the program is being broadcast all over Turkey on ZTV. Internet Based Education Web This website is a portal for adult literacy. All adults, even those who cannot read or write, can use this website for free to improve their literacy skills. This website was created for preschool teachers. The website features a detailed explanation of the Ministry of Education s preschool program, activity resource center, examples of different programs and appoaches. There are interactive apps on topics such as classroom management, family participation, orientation programs, daily and weekly planning for teachers, and daily and weekly activity suggestions from the pre-school program and a multimedia archive. This website provides information on the Vodafone Turkey Foundation backed First Step Ahead project. In addition to details about the project and its activities, the site also contains a social media platform that brings together teachers in the program. There is also an education module to support teachers in the project. Teachers can access all the Child Education Project trainings via this module on the site. 24 AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

26 Awareness and Advocacy Activities Awareness and Advocacy Activities 7 is Too Late Campaign You are my Father Campaign 7 is Too Late Campaign AÇEV s 7 is Too Late campaign focuses on providing a quality preschool education services to children aged 0-6. The foundation conducted this campaign from 2005 to 2010 to increase public awareness and knowledge regarding the importance of preschool education. When the program began, only 16% of children aged 4-6 were receiving the benefits of preschool education, with the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Education and an increase in public awareness, by the end of 2011 this number was up to 44%. However, since the program began in 2012, lowering the age of primary school to 5, these improvements in schooling have slowed down, and preschool education enrollment has decreased to 40%. Taking into consideration these new developments, AÇEV has continued to collaborate on the topic of quality in early childhood education in order to continue increasing and improving programs. You are my Father Campaign In 2012 AÇEV began a campaign to raise awareness on the topic of the importance and role of father s in a child s life and in the family. The program is also aimed at encouraging men to be democratic, responsible, and non-violent fathers, and to support gender equality. Another aim of the project was to raise awareness about the Foundation s Father s Support Program. In relation to this campaign, panels entitled Being a Father in Turkey: Responsibilities Regarding Gender Equality, Rights, and Solutions were held in Turkey to create public awareness about the issue. Awareness and Information Work As part of various projects, AÇEV conducts informational activities to increase awareness on the topic of disability. All education programs include public education seminars on topics of gender equality, child protection, domestic violence, and respect for diversity. AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 25

27 2013 Activities In 2013 we reached our numerical targets in 1,400 different locations in Turkey; with 3,277 courses, our education programs reached 67,579 people. Featured Programs and Activities in 2013 AÇEV is recognized and awarded for its success AÇEV won the EMPower Champions of Youth Award for its activities supporting young women s literacy. AÇEV was also nominated for two other major awards, one of which was the Humanitarian Award which is awarded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for trying to reduce the difficulties that people face, and the other was the United Nations Population Award, which is granted for the organizations that develop creative solutions to social problems. A Change in Management at AÇEV... Ayla Göksel, a longtime member of the Board of Directors who has led AÇEV for many years, assumed management of Fiba Holding s Özyeğin Social Investments, and as of July 2013 Nalan Yalçın been appointed over as the General Manager of the Foundation. AÇEV Advisory Board gains new members. Successful academics, Prof. Dr. Ayhan Aksu Koç, Prof. Dr. İlgi Ertem, Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Esmer, Prof. Dr. Canan Ergin, Prof. Dr. Güzver Yıldıran and Assoc. Prof. Serra Müderrisoğlu have joined our team of advisors. Preschool Education Quality Standards have improved In September AÇEV, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education have completed the Institutional Foundation Legislation, 0-2-year project to improve preschool education quality standards. AÇEV has supported the determination of these standards and ensured the functionality of those standards at the implementation level for all preschool educational institutions. Moreover, AÇEV has contributed to the capacity building efforts to increase the quality of preschool education. First Step Ahead Project continues to gain strength With the support of the Vodafone Turkey Foundation, the ongoing First Step Ahead project gained a brand new element, with the beginning of the Family-Oriented Development of Technological Tools project. This way, all families are included, regardless of their technological skills so that they can support and contribute to their children s education. Mother and Father Support Programs welcome new donors. With support from the UN Women and Swedish Consulate, projects as part of the Father Support Program were completed successfully. At the end of the year, the Fatherhood Education for Violence-Free Families Project, that aims to increase men s understanding of their role and responsibilities in achieving gender equality through advocacy activities, was extended for another six months. Also, as part of the Mother and Father Support Programs, a new European Union Project on the Prevention of Violence Against Women was started. In 2013 expansions begin in literacy-based activities In 2013, alongside family literacy work was done to create programs designed to support the acquisition of literacy skills in early childhood and primary school while providing the necessary flexibility and content to address daily needs. Preparatory work began on e-learning based advanced literacy programs to support the development of vocational skills for young people. 26 AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

28 2013 Our Education Programs 3,277 classes 25,935 41,644 adults children Collaboration with the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs develops In collaboration with the Ministry of Family and Social Policy on the topics of ensuring gender equality, peace, respect for diversity, and child protection, by organizing a widely attended panel on the topic of Being a Father in Turkey focused on discussing the male role and responsibilities in gender equality, an important first step was taken to promote this topic around the country. To increase internal capacity of the Ministry, education on the topics of domestic violence, gender equality, peace, respect for diversity and child protection was also given. Work in the International arena continues to develop In collaboration with academics from Yale University, as part of a project to examine the relationship between peace and early childhood development, in 2013 specific attention was given to building partnerships with international organizations and awareness raising efforts. As part of the partnership with Yale University, priority was given to explore the implementation of AÇEV programs abroad. Education programs continued to be implemented in Germany and Saudi Arabia. 588 people were training on various levels of capacity building education. In 2013 intensive capacity building activities were held for staff working at AÇEV s headquarters and field offices. A comprehensive inhouse training program was developed and delivered by a team of academicians and experts. AÇEV continued to invest in its core asset of human resources. By handing over the Van Post-Traumatic Family Consultation Center to Yüzüncü Yıl University s Psychological Consulting, Research and Application Center sustainability was ensured. The Van Post-Traumatic Family Consultation Center was handed over to Yüzüncü Yıl University s Psychological Consulting, Research and Application Center through a signed protocol. Accordingly, operations will continue under the auspices of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University while the partnership with AÇEV and Özyeğin University will provide capacity building and training for the Center staff. AÇEV, Yale University, UNICEF organizes Early Childhood Peace Consortium On September 20th, 2013 hosted by UNICEF in New York the Early Childhood Peace Consortium took place with attendance by a group of high profile delegates including academics from leading research and education institutions, representatives from charitable organizations, a global network of leaders in the field of early childhood and peace building, and senior delegates from the United Nations. AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 27

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30 Early Childhood Education 81 Cities 21,191 Mothers and Children Education Programs Early Childhood Education Corporate Support As part of the Early Childhood Education Programs, work continued on the Preschool Education Quality Indicators, in collaboration between the Ministry and UNICEF, as well as the First Step Ahead project, in partnership with the General Directorate of Basic Education and Vodafone Turkey Foundation. Via protocols set by the Provincial National Education Directorates in Mardin and Diyarbakır the Summer School Project continued. HSBC Bank sponsored the Summer School Project for 2013 and Education in Practice Preschool Education Quality Standards are Developed In 2013, as part of the Ministry of Education s Strengthening Preschool Education project, in the fourth of four activities under the project started in 2011 by the UNICEF Turkey Office and AÇEV, in the area of Capacity Building, the Strengthening of Preschool Education Quality Standards, Auditing System and Institutional Foundation Legislation work was completed, thereby finalizing all activities under the Program Cooperation Agreement. A rating system and a checklist including control list measurements for standards and all institutional stakeholders were implemented at 63 institutions in four cities (Ankara, İstanbul, Erzurum, and Hatay) in association with Ministry of Education, ASPB and other ministries. In 2013 by determining their validity and reliability the measurement items were re-evaluated in accordance with the pilot program results. In 2013 a workshop was organized for all relevant stakeholders, including Provincial/Ministry education controllers, school/institutional administrators, preschool teachers, Ministry of Education representatives, and staff members from UNICEF and AÇEV, and academics who develop quality standards and measurements, forming a total of 163 participants. A report concerning feedback on the organizational application of standards, the roles and responsibilities in the application of those standards, and legislative changes was put together and delivered to the Ministry of Education. To measure the quality of Preschool Education institutions, six standard principles were identified: 1. Educational Environment 2. Training Programs 3. Family and Community Involvement 4. Staff Numbers, Staff Qualifications, and Professional Development 5. Children s Health, Nutrition, and Safety 6. Management and Leadership AÇEV 2013 ANNUAL REPORT 29