As the SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers platform, which we established with the voluntary participation of nearly 500 employees to support the community, the environment and all living beings around us, we have initiated many value-adding projects since February 2021.

Through our participation in projects and collaborations that will benefit our country and society economically, we not only contribute to societal awareness and development but also value the development of our employees' social responsibility consciousness. Engaging in projects in education, environment, health, sports, animal welfare and social areas, as SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers, we outline a vision and roadmap parallel to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), continuing our efforts with an understanding aimed at contributing to the global endeavors of the UN.

We hit the road with diversity and inclusivity

With our “Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Policy ” we continue our journey with a perspective that embraces diversity within the framework of our sustainability efforts. We believe that in a system that is adapted to the times, operates in an equal and fair manner and fosters a spirit of solidarity, beautiful deeds of the future will emerge from individuals who are working without prejudice. Through the "Diversity and Inclusion Roadmap" embraced within our project, we prioritize innovative steps in our social responsibility projects within the framework of an approach parallel to the “Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs)” to which we are signatories.

Celebrating December 5th World Volunteers Day

Volunteerism is one of the most important resources for addressing social, economic and environmental issues worldwide. The United Nations General Assembly decided to celebrate December 5th as World Volunteers Day in 1985 to raise awareness of volunteer work and its benefits worldwide and to increase participation in volunteer programs. Türkiye has been one of the 123 countries celebrating World Volunteers Day since 1985. This year's theme for World Volunteers Day is “The Power of Collective Action: If Everyone Did” .

As SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers, we align with the idea that the world would be a better place if everyone volunteered. We support societal development through volunteerism by implementing corporate responsibility projects both in the regions where we operate and on a national scale. We value the concept of volunteerism for solidarity, development, peace and humanity. And as SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers, we celebrate December 5th World Volunteers Day.

“We support societal development through volunteerism by implementing corporate responsibility projects both in the regions where we operate and on a national scale.”

Proud of Our Achievements: Our SOCAR Türkiye Social Responsibility Projects

We are delighted to have implemented hundreds of social responsibility projects as SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers. Here are some of them:

Strengthening the spirit of solidarity through our social activities

Our collaboration with KODA: As SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers, we supported the strengthening of both the social and individual awareness of children living in the villages of Goynukbelen and Çöreler in Bursa through our collaboration with the Village Schools Exchange Network (KODA). At the camp attended by primary and middle school students, while KODA trainers focused on the social and emotional development of our students, we, as SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers, provided them with education in English, music, dance, painting and drama.

• Our book donation project with MESEM: Within the scope of our collaboration with Kayserigaz -one of the most important players in the Turkish energy sector- and the Vocational Training Center (MESEM), we donated books to the library of Mimar Sinan Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School.
• Our collaboration with the Seed Autism Foundation: On April 23rd, National Sovereignty and Children's Day, we contributed by purchasing educational kits for autistic children affected by the earthquake in Kahramanmaraş in collaboration with the Seed Autism Foundation.
• Our marathon run for TOFD: As SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers, we participated in the 45th Istanbul Marathon and ran for the Türkiye Spinal Cord Paralytics Association (TOFD) this year. Our volunteers supported the provision of 15 electric wheelchairs by running for kindness.
• Koruncuk Foundation - Izmir Marathon: Within the scope of our collaboration with the Koruncuk Foundation (Türkiye Foundation for Children in Need of Protection), we ran for the education of earthquake-affected girls in Izmir Marathon. Our volunteers met with the children at a breakfast held in Urla before the race and conducted workshop activities.

We prioritize education

• Our education projects: As SOCAR Türkiye, we prioritize educational projects among our corporate social responsibility activities. In this context, we bring together nearly 10,000 students with educational opportunities in Izmir, Adana, Kars, Ankara and Kocaeli.
• SOCAR Energy School (SES): We launched a specialized, pioneering certified training program in collaboration with Sabancı University to specialize in the sector. While examining global and regional energy issues within the program, we deeply analyzed the policies of the Caspian Basin with the managers, academicians and policymakers of Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
• Türkiye's Engineer Girls Project: As part of the Türkiye's Engineer Girls Project, which we participated in in 2021 and contributes to the personal and professional development of future female engineering candidates studying in engineering faculties, we support the education of young girls. Within the scope of our support, we provided 10 chemical engineering students with scholarships, English education, mentoring and internship opportunities.
• Collaboration with Bulgurcu Foundation Collaborating with the Bulgurcu Foundation, which works to see women engineers in all areas of life and to support them in this journey, we provided a scholarship support for girls affected by the earthquake with the support of SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers. With the support we provided, we collectively supported the continuation of the education of young people affected by the disaster.

Working for animal rights

• Retired Animal Farm Project: As SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers, we collaborated with the Her Eve Bir Pati Derneği (HEPAD - One Paw to Every Home Association) in October 2023. We built kennels for abandoned dogs at the Retired Animal Farm in Bursa and delivered the collected bottle caps to HEPAD to be converted into food.
• Opening of PatiPark: As SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers, with the support of Petkim at the Aliağa Municipality, we opened the PatiPark Temporary Animal Care Center in 2022. At PatiPark, which houses Türkiye's largest dog park, we delivered the food we bought for our lovely friends to the officials.

Protecting our planet with environmental projects

• SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers Memorial Forest: We initiated a pioneering recycling project aimed at giving life to nature for a sustainable future with SOCAR Türkiye and our group companies. As a result of archival studies, we recycled 40 tons of paper from our outdated archival materials. Following the recycling service, we donated seedlings to the Aegean Forest Foundation with the income obtained, establishing the SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers Memorial Forest.
• Lifelong Sustainability Transformation Workshops for the Future of the World in collaboration with Ege Çağdaş Eğitim Vakfı (EÇEV): We launched Lifelong Sustainability Transformation Workshops for the Future of the World in collaboration with the Ege Çağdaş Eğitim Vakfı (EÇEV). Starting from the importance of transferring sustainability awareness to children at the basic stages of education, we conducted activities aimed at bringing sustainability into homes, embracing it and teaching sustainability to children and their families.
• Beach Cleaning Activity with Turmepa: As SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers, within the scope of our collaboration with Turmepa as part of our zero waste and climate change fight, we conducted a beach cleaning activity in Aliağa Çayağzı. At the event, we collected 710 kg of waste and removed it from the seas.

SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers have been honored with awards

As SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers we proudly share that we received two important awards for the projects we carried out in 2021. Our first award was given by the Communitas Awards, organized by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), which competes for the most sensitive projects to society in the field of corporate social responsibility. We were honored in the "Community Service and Leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility" category by the community for our comprehensive approach that includes all living beings and every segment of society. Our second award was received under the "Outstanding Community Initiative" category from the Global Business Excellence Awards.

As SOCAR Türkiye Volunteers, we continue to be involved in projects and collaborations that will contribute to our country and society in every aspect. In addition to raising awareness in society, we strive to support development and strengthen our employees' understanding of social responsibility. We are aware of our responsibility towards the planet with a dream of an equal and just world.

We work for a better tomorrow with today's energy.