As the summer holidays draw to a close and excitement for a new school year builds, the Orphans Foundation (Yetimler Vakfı) has once again stepped in to ensure that children without families do not face the burden of starting school empty-handed.

Through its “You Can Educate an Orphan Project,” the foundation has provided hundreds of orphaned students in Van with full stationery kits, renewing hope and dignity for children preparing to enter the 2025-2026 academic year.

Every year, the foundation reaches out to benefactors across Türkiye to rally support for orphaned children who otherwise might begin their studies without basic school materials. In Van, as in many other provinces, teams from the foundation’s representative office carefully prepared school bags filled with all the essentials – from notebooks, pencils, and coloring sets, to geometry tools and activity materials. The packages were then delivered directly to the homes of children, ensuring that even those living in the most difficult circumstances could receive them without obstacles. 

For the children, many of whom have endured the loss of a parent or have been abandoned, the new school supplies are more than just objects – they represent inclusion, care, and a reminder that they are not forgotten.

Speaking during the distribution, Erkut Özbey, the Van Representative of the Orphans Foundation, explained the importance of the campaign: “The 2025-2026 academic year will begin in about two weeks. We launched this initiative a month ago, calling on our benefactors to help us because there are thousands of orphaned and abandoned children waiting for support. Thank God, our campaign has been very fruitful. With the generosity of our supporters, we are now delivering stationery packages to hundreds of children. We ask our benefactors to continue their support, because our aim is to reach not just hundreds, but tens of thousands of children in need.”

Özbey noted that the campaign would continue throughout September, with ongoing distributions planned to ensure no child in Van is left behind as the school year begins.

The Orphans Foundation has long been recognized for its sustained efforts to support orphans across Türkiye. Every year, as schools reopen, the foundation launches its “Help an Orphan Go to School” initiative, mobilizing communities and donors to provide educational support. Beyond stationery, the foundation also runs programs offering clothing, food, and health assistance to vulnerable children throughout the year.

For many families caring for orphans, these initiatives are a lifeline. With the rising cost of living and school expenses weighing heavily on households, the foundation’s support relieves a major burden while also giving children the confidence to begin their studies on equal footing with their peers.

Parents and guardians who received the aid in Van expressed deep gratitude. One mother of three orphaned children shared: “My children were worried they would go to school without proper supplies. Thanks to the Orphans Foundation, they can now go happily, just like their classmates. May Allah bless everyone who contributed.”

For the children, the moment of receiving new bags and fresh notebooks is often accompanied by wide smiles and a renewed excitement for learning. Teachers in the region have also praised the initiative, noting that such support helps improve students’ motivation and self-esteem.

The Orphans Foundation has pledged to expand its efforts, calling on benefactors nationwide to continue supporting orphaned children. With thousands still in need, the organization hopes to transform its reach from hundreds to tens of thousands of beneficiaries in the coming years.

As the new school year begins, the foundation’s work stands as a reminder that solidarity and compassion can brighten even the most difficult paths. For the children of Van, the new school bags they carry will hold more than just books – they will carry the weight of a community’s love and the promise of a brighter future. (ILKHA)