Habitat Association, founded in 1997, is a non-governmental organisation that develops capacity-building and impact-oriented projects through robust partnerships, aligned with the digitalising world and aimed at sustainable development. Established by young people who united for the Copenhagen Social Development Summit in 1995 and the United Nations Habitat II Summit in 1996, Habitat’s mission is to build a communication bridge between the youth of the world and the youth of Türkiye.
Habitat forms multi-stakeholder partnerships with governments, local authorities, the private sector, and civil society organisations in all its initiatives. Habitat, which runs programmes for skills development, entrepreneurship, and workforce training, has supported the establishment of numerous mechanisms such as the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey Young and Women Entrepreneurs Councils.
Drawing strength from international expertise and the positive energy of its volunteers across Turkey, Habitat continues its work in the fields of entrepreneurship, digital transformation, financial awareness, and socio-economic cohesion, while expanding its activities across the wider geographical region where Turkiye is located. With its Local Hubs (Community Centres) in 13 provinces across Anatolia, Habitat organises various training sessions, programmes, and workshops to support local businesses and SMEs, helping communities cross borders and reach global markets. Focused on advancing digitalisation in society and the economy, Habitat also aims to provide a physical space where diverse communities and entrepreneurs can collaborate.
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Our Partnership
Habitat Association through projects aims to help primary and secondary school students gain awareness of spending, make a budget, distinguish between wants and needs, and develop their savings and responsible consumption habits. Habitat Association created partnership with Aflatoun International in 2014, implementing AflaToun and AflaYouth curricula.
In addition to these contents, they have created the first financial literacy board game in Turkey designed for high school students. With this game specially designed for students, it is aimed to learn financial literacy issues. In light of all this information, Aflatoun International‘s role as a significant international network that brings together civil society organizations working on children’s social and financial skills, along with its production of practical content in the areas of social skills, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship for children and youth, aligns perfectly with the mission of Habitat Association and brings them together on a common platform.
In 2020, organisation proudly designed Turkey’s first financial literacy board game, aimed at making financial education engaging and accessible. The game teaches key concepts such as budgeting, saving, and investment in a fun, interactive way, suitable for both children and adults. Since its 2020, it has been used in numerous workshops and programs across Turkey, helping participants develop critical financial skills and make informed decisions.
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Transformative Projects for a Better Future
Following the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake on February 6, 2023, Habitat Association adapted Aflatoun’s content and implemented the “By Your Side” and “Step into the Future” projects in 2024, providing financial and social skills training to children aged 11-16.
These projects, developed to support recovery efforts after the earthquake, included 28 women and 12 men, a total of 40 volunteers, who expanded local outreach through Social and Financial Skills Trainer Trainings as part of the Step into the Future Project. In Malatya, through these volunteers, financial and social skills training reached a total of 2,248 children, including 1,213 girls and 1,035 boys.
Meanwhile, as part of the “By Your Side” project in Hatay, 40 volunteer trainers delivered education to a total of 1,156 children, including 570 girls and 586 boys.
Through these initiatives, Habitat Association is sowing seeds of hope and resilience, empowering the next generation to rebuild and thrive in the face of adversity!