Ülker’s social responsibility approach
Ülker shapes its social responsibility initiatives mainly around children, inspired by the words of its founder Sabri Ülker: “Everyone has the right to a happy childhood, no matter where they live.”
Ülker’s social responsibility projects for youth mainly focus on two areas: culture and arts. To date, 272 thousand young people have participated in various sports activities, thanks to the Company’s “Football for Children” initiative, which is carried out in collaboration with the Turkish Football Federation, and the Basketball Festivals organized by the Turkish Basketball Federation. Ülker Children’s Film Festival, now an annual tradition, has opened the door to the magical world of movies for some 850 thousand youngsters. Ülker Children’s Art Workshop, which aims to introduce children to arts at a young age, debuted in 2011 as part of the Art Beat Istanbul contemporary art platform. In 2012, young visitors enjoyed the event “Fifty Years of Urban Walls: A Burhan Doğançay Retrospective and Contemporary Istanbul in years of 2012, 2013 and 2014.” To date, nearly 13 thousand children in 4 years learned about contemporary art thanks to the Ülker Children’s Art Workshop. In the future, Ülker plans to continue carrying out youth-focused social responsibility initiatives in the areas of sports, culture and arts.
Culture-Arts
Sociable individuals who can dream and express themselves
Ülker Children’s Film Festival
Ülker Children’s Film Festival, which was initiated in 2008, is the very embodiment of Ülker’s approach to social responsibility and its focus on the concept of “Children First.”
Ülker’s now annual Children’s Film Festival stems from the idea that large numbers of youngsters across Turkey should receive the same gift at the same time. As this gift is offered on a very special day, April 23rd National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, the Ülker brand becomes part of a festival memory for many of the country’s young people. Since 2008, the Film Festival has reached some 1 million people, of whom 850 thousand were youngsters, and has opened the doors to a new dream world every year.
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
33 cities,
123 theaters
|
49 cities,
133 theaters
|
50 cities,
158 theaters
|
55 cities,
157 theaters
|
62 cities,
157 theaters
|
63 cities,
158 theaters
|
62 cities,
144 theaters
|
1,300
screenings
|
1,345
screenings
|
1,580
screenings
|
785
screenings
|
785
screenings
|
785
screenings
|
720
screenings
|
125,000
children
|
130,000
children
|
140,000
children
|
110,000
children
|
155,000
children
|
155,000
children
|
100,000
children
|
80,000
gifts
|
130,000
gifts
|
140,000
gifts
|
110,000
gifts
|
135,000
gifts
|
40,000
gifts
|
125,000
gifts
|
The Environment
Ülker does not limit its relationship with society at large to production only, but also offers its resources to the public by implementing social responsibility initiatives that focus on environmental issues. The best example of these efforts is the “Prevent” project carried out in collaboration with TEMA Foundation. Ülker is one of the founders of TEMA Foundation, which was established to protect agricultural lands in Turkey against neglectful destruction. Under the “Prevent” initiative implemented by TEMA, Ülker contributed to the development of three villages in Turkey. The project was studied by a group of students from Yale University, and aims to bring Turkish villages to a level matching European standards through years-long efforts. The Holding was publicly recognized by TEMA Foundation for all of its efforts in fighting erosion, primarily under the “Prevent” project.
Environmental education to 272 thousand children
Ülker integrates environmental protection into its social responsibility efforts. For example, to date, 272 thousand children have been provided with environmental education at several events, including the “Football for Children” initiative, which is carried out in collaboration with the Turkish Football Federation, and the Basketball Festivals organized by the Turkish Basketball Federation. The Holding aims to raise the environmental awareness of future generations.
Ülker and Football Infrastructure Projects
More physical activity, more vigor, more health for the younger generation
Through its football infrastructure initiatives, Ülker aims to:
• Increase physical activity in the lives of the country’s youth and make a significant difference in their general welfare,
• Contribute to the physical, social and cultural development of young people,
• Enhance sports investments in a way to touch children’s lives, as part of the Company’s social responsibility approach.
More physical activity, more vigor, more health for the younger generation
Since 2007, the Company has reached some 272 thousand children through several social responsibility projects carried out in collaboration with relevant federations.
Project
|
Duration
|
Number of Children Reached
|
Football Training Centers
|
7 years
|
79,000
|
Football Villages
|
8 years
|
4,500
|
Football Festivals
|
5 years
|
162,000
|
U20 Grassroots Festivals
|
2 months
|
1,700
|
Grassroots Day
|
5 years
|
17,300
|
Basketball Festival
|
8 years
|
8,000
|
TOTAL
|
|
272,500
|
Football Villages
The TFF-Ülker Football Villages project aims to bring together talented children from across the country in a football-focused social environment in order to support their social, cultural and personal development.
More physical activity, more vigor, more health for the younger generation
A total of 52 Football Villages have been held over an eight year period:
• 2007 - Van
• 2008 - Sinop, Isparta, Bolu and Sivas
• 2009 - Malatya, Sakarya (2), Sinop, Trabzon, Erzincan, Kütahya, Zonguldak
• 2010 - Kocaeli, Trabzon, Malatya, Sakarya, Sivas, Sinop and Erzurum
• 2011 - Sinop, Gümüşhane, Bolu and Karabük Ovacık (2)
• 2012 - Sinop, Sakarya, Kocaeli, Isparta, Erzurum, Nevşehir, Gümüşhane and Riva
• 2013 - Izmir, Sakarya, Rize, Balıkesir, Sinop, Erzurum, Nevşehir, Elazığ, Isparta and Yozgat
• 2014 - Erzurum (2), Isparta, Nevşehir (2), Balıkesir, Elazığ, Ödemiş Gölcük and Sinop
Five children from the Van Football Village, the first ever Football Village, were selected for the National U15 Football Team.
Ten players from the 2008 Sinop Football Village were selected for the U15 Girls’ National Team, which represented Turkey at the First Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore in 2010.
Enes Ünal (born 1997), who received training at the 2009 Sakarya Football Village, became the youngest goal scorer ever after he scored for Bursaspor versus Galatasaray.