Area of activity
The Nesin Foundation was established in 1973 by the writer Aziz Nesin to contribute to the development of children and young people with limited access to educational opportunities as independent-minded, productive and responsible individuals who can stand on their own feet.
The Foundation’s basic approach is not limited to meeting children’s accommodation and educational needs; it also seeks to support their growth in a safe, free and supportive environment, their discovery of their abilities and their access to opportunities to build independent lives.
With their families’ approval, children may begin living at the Nesin Foundation in Çatalca, Istanbul at an early age; they are supported throughout their education and may maintain their connection with the Foundation until they reach the maturity to establish their own lives.
At the centre of the Nesin Foundation’s educational approach is seeing the child as an individual. Alongside academic achievement, art, sport, culture, critical thinking, curiosity, creativity and social responsibility are regarded as integral parts of children’s development.
The Foundation aims to offer children not only a living space that meets today’s needs, but also a strong foundation on which they can make their own decisions in the future.
Continuing its work through royalties from Aziz Nesin’s works, income from Foundation-owned properties, and individual and corporate donations, the Nesin Foundation has developed a range of social and cultural projects alongside its educational activities over the years.
It operates in different areas, from scholarships and accommodation support for young people to cultural and artistic work, solidarity projects and initiatives that preserve social memory.
Since its establishment, the Nesin Foundation’s enduring core principle has been this: every child, regardless of economic and social conditions, should have access to quality education, an environment in which they can develop freely and the opportunity to build their own future.
Today, the Nesin Foundation continues not only to preserve Aziz Nesin’s legacy but also to develop it in line with the needs of new generations, contributing to a more equal and freer society through education, culture and solidarity.