With the Vision of Şevket Sabancı
First Chance Program – 11th Term
As a partner of the Şevket Sabancı First Chance Program, Argüden Governance Academy joined the NGO Partner Briefing for the program’s 11th cohort.
Alp Yörük
Secretary General
With the Vision of Şevket Sabancı
First Chance Program – 11th Term
İstanbul, 23 September 2026
Hosted by Esas Social, the meeting brought together civil society organizations that will be part of the program’s new cohort. Discussions focused on the 11th cohort, experiences from participating organizations, and ways to support young people in their transition from education to employment.
With the participation of Emine Sabancı Kamışlı, Vice Chair of the Board of Esas and Chair of the Esas Social Social Investment Committee, the meeting also highlighted the importance of supporting young people at the start of their careers and the key role civil society organizations play in this journey.
Argüden Governance Academy was represented by our Secretary General Alp Yörük, Training Programs' Coordinator Gamze Talay Feyzioğlu, and Communications and Fundraising Officer Dr. Fatma Kübra Astam.
Participating organizations included the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life (ÇYDD), Community Volunteers Foundation (TOG), Education Volunteers Foundation of Türkiye (TEGV), Marine Life Conservation Society (DYKD), Mother Child Education Foundation (AÇEV), The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA), Third Sector Foundation of Türkiye (TÜSEV), Turkish Education Foundation (TEV), and WWF-Türkiye, among other civil society organizations working across diverse fields. The gathering also provided a valuable platform for organizations to learn from one another’s experiences and explore potential opportunities for future collaboration.
As we begin the 11th cohort of the Şevket Sabancı First Chance Program, we are also delighted to welcome Süleyman Demirel University graduate Bedirhan Kaygısız to the Academy team. Through the program, we will contribute to young people gaining their first professional experience in the civil society sector.
We are glad to be part of a program that supports young people’s development while strengthening collaboration and solidarity across the civil society ecosystem.
