The document discusses the contributions of philanthropy to peacebuilding based on the experiences and activities of Kimse Yok Mu, a Turkish humanitarian relief organization. It summarizes a conference organized by Kimse Yok Mu on "Philanthropy and Peacebuilding" which brought together academics to examine how philanthropy can promote peace. The document outlines how Kimse Yok Mu has supported over 4.5 million people in need through humanitarian aid, and discusses their education programs, support for orphans, and initiatives that bring different ethnic groups together to contribute to peacebuilding. It argues that philanthropy can help create trust and collaboration needed for peace by addressing social problems and inclusion.
2. • The New Character of the World; Trust Solidarity and Collaboration
• From Discourse to Action
• From Human to Society
• The Role of NGOs
• The Role of Social Innovation
• Creating Sustainable Effect with Philanthropy
• Education with Philanthropy, Peace with Education
• Social Inclusion
• Suggestions
PHILANTHROPY & PEACEBUILDING AND KYM
3. 4
K
imse Yok Mu as a humanitarian relief organization, has been a significant point of dialogue in 110
countries among 4.5 million persons in need and 3 million individual donators and 50.000 volunteers
since 2002 with humane aid and development services it has executed in the fields of health, education,
orphans, clean water and entrepreneurship.
PHILANTHROPY&PEACEBUILDING
Kimse Yok Mu which is a mediator, bringing together two social groups having different characteristics namely
persons in need and benefactors, develops projects that prevent social conflicts and providing the existing conflicts
to accelerate toward peace while offering permanent solutions for development in its quests for poverty.
AND KYM
4. 6
12 years of international experience has
demonstrated that serving the humanity
through philanthropy brought contribu-
tions to global peace as well.
And the scenes of battles in the past and
at present reveal the need for the contri-
bution of philanthropy to peacebuilding
and social problems more sharply.
Loss of approximately 39 million lives
in the First World War, loss of 73 milli-
on lives in the Second World War and
loss of 200 thousand lives in Syria whe-
re the tragedy still continues…
The effects of war are not limited to the-
se figures about loss of lives of soldiers
and civil people. Ecological, biological,
sociological and psychological prob-
lems may lead to long term problems
that could affect post-war peace period.
Women who lost their husbands, mot-
hers who lost their children, children
left orphan; millions of people exposed
to mandatory migration make up the
dark point in the history.
5. 8
Activities of philanthropy supporting peace environment
are observed in the activities realized by KYM paying sig-
nificance. For instance; particular significance was paid to
bri nging different ethnic groups together in the pasta and
carpet vocational courses provided by KYM to the persons
in need who live in Somali and Sudan in different camps as
enemies to each other for enabling them to acquire their own
earnings. Thus women in different groups are supported for
contributing to peacebuilding by being together in the trai-
nings they are provided, producing together and sharing the
same objective and determining a joint future.
H
owever a country gains
value with the society
composing it, and the
existence of individuals. Despite the
necessity to prioritize human life on
the basis of their value, setting asi-
de the theory aspect of approaches
giving harm to humans concerned
with international relations; we can
say the problem at humane level de-
velops at the center of lack of mu-
tual understanding arising from not
knowing one another. It is possible
to transform situations preventing
mutual understanding into environ-
ment of sharing and living together
through mutual aid and philanthropy
activities. Through philanthropy; the
values shared without considering
religion, language, race, ethnical
group combines humanity on the
same point and contribution is made
for understanding each other, paying
value, performing joint studies and
constructing a world based on peace.
Another field of study contributed by KYM donators and volunteers through philanthropy activities is the di-
sadvantageous children who are expected to take effective role in the future of the world and who are left orphan
due to battles. Particularly in children who lose their parents due to battle and exposed to withdrawal syndrome,
feelings of empathy, self-sacrificing are lost and motives of selfishness and giving harm develop. Considering that
children grown up as vulnerable to battle culture will not have the potential to contribute to peace, the projects de-
veloped for the requirements of this disadvantageous group offer them the opportunity to construct their own future
and the future of the world while rescuing them from battle understanding. Through this understanding contribution was
made to the lives of 40.306 orphans in 40 countries; needs of food, clothing, sheltering, education, health are responded;
they are provided professional and entrepreneurship training to provide their personal success and become individuals
having active role in the society.
While KYM acting in 110 countries including Turkey in sharing favor carries philanthropy to the world as a
“role model”, they indicate examples of self-sacrificing, sharing and altruism rather than selfishness and contribute
to global peace.
6. 10
Kimse Yok Mu, with the experiences gained since 2012, organized Phi-
lanthropy and Peacebuilding Conference on 10th-12th April 2014 in Bilgi
University in collabration with Journalists and Writers Foundation. The
mission of the conference was to attract the attention to the contribution of
philanthropy to peace and to increase the effect thereof.
The conference had been completed in eight sessions; by evaluating phi-
lanthropy with respect to cultural values and moral grounds, corporate
social responsibility, social entrepreneursip and economic development,
alternatives and challenges, funding common good, education and time of
crisis. Prof. Paul Schervish and Prof. Luc Rechyler were the keynote spe-
akers of the international conference that performed with the participation
of 25 academicians from 19 countries. The Philanthropy & Peacebuiding
conference undersigned a first in this field and aimed at creating a new
effect with emphasis of its significance in all over the world from different
points of view.
This work is written by KYM Academic Studies Group to assess
and share the contributions of the conference and strength the effect
of philanthropic activities on individuals, societies and on onwards
to nations. The most prominent presentations of the conference will
be published soon within KYM Academic Publishings.
KYM will organize the second international conference on
Social Media for Good in May 2015 and will bring together
academicians, NGOs, professionals and youth to examine and
promote the potential impact of social media in philanthropy.
7. 12
The New Character of the World;
Trust, Solidarity and Collaboration
Each system, structure and organism making up the world changes and develops with a never before
seen speed. Collaboration and sharing created by reliable environment is essential in this fast change realized
with the power of information and technology.
Although collaboration contains various institutions at system level among states, societies, NGOs,
multinational companies, it needs confidence regardless of its subject. And the effects of philanthropy
are seen in collaboration and relations needed by confidence environment and making up this environ-
ment.
Solidarity based philanthropy activities supporting the confidence environment that peace needs will
shape the character of the world through collaboration activities again contributing to peace. Confiden-
ce, solidarity and collaboration in the new character of the world shall make up the basic structures that
will provide permanency of peace rather than construction thereof.
Being able to talk about social problems is significant since it provides awareness, but is not suf-
ficient. Talking about the problems without taking action delays construction of a world with peace
and philanthropy motif and shortage of enterprise leads to approaching problems with learned help-
lessness. It shall be possible to contribute to solution of social problems through individual and social
responsibilities.
Volunteers who share their experience, labor, information and time for those in need do not only
create happiness belonging to the person who receives aid but also to themselves and make social
integrity possible. There is happiness in giving, there is joy in sharing and there is peace through
understanding.
From Discourse to Action
8. 14
From Human to Society
Humans need society they live in to sustain their lives, are affected by the society and affect the so-
ciety since they are social creatures.
Behaviors and responsibilities of individuals are highly significant for creation of peace society,
for human-society relation.
Because peace does not mean solely the nonexistence of bloody wars. Peace is the equality of all
fractions of the society with respect to rights and freedoms, creation of an environment where they can
be together with confidence, respect and love.
It is necessary to be aware of the fact that the origins of the defects and deficiencies in the society
are problems with human behaviors, beliefs or educations and focus on human for solution of these
problems. A series of behaviors and values systems that will diffuse from human to society is needed to
provide creation of peace and love environment.
The Role of NGOs
Nongovernmental organizations are such institutions having activities for attracting attention to so-
cial problems and solving them with the support of individuals who are sensitive about social rights and
responsibilities and fulfilling social function in democratic societies.
All fractions of the society should contribute to peace environment needed as much as their means al-
low owing to social awareness activities executed by nongovernmental organizations which shall shape
humans’ philanthropy in an organized manner, the public institutions which will execute activities to be
performed by the private sector within the scope of institutional social responsibility or their enterprises
for the disadvantageous fractions and similar enterprises through the state.
And looking through the issue in international dimension, although there are many international
institutions responsible for solution of conflicts, human rights, agriculture or health there are peoples
suffering from these issues. The necessity for remedying immediate humane needs as civil society and
making attempts for permanent aids later in addition to making influence on the people responsible for
the issue as required by human rights.
9. 16
The Role of Social Innovation
State policies may create database in offe-
ring supply focused service within the scope
of social policies,
Applications of private sector may realize
within institutional social responsibility pro-
jects,
NGOs may create philanthropist and vo-
lunteer structure with the support of civil so-
ciety and use the power of social capital.
As a result, each different organization
brings different strength to collaboration.
Through philanthropy, it is possible to
reach different disciplines, cultures, systems
and geographies needed for good and inno-
vative ideas and to create peace ground with
togetherness of those differences.
NGOs which have turned to economic en-
terprise to increase the sustainability of their
programs are able to raise their own funds,
instead of relying solely on donations and
standard fundraising techniques, have the
potential to expand their services with speed
and increase the long-term economic feasibi-
lity of nonprofits as a whole.
Within the scope of social innovation,
transformation of NGOs into social enterp-
rises may realize and the opportunity for
contribution to sustainability of those solu-
tions, satisfaction of philanthropists and the
persons in need and social welfare with the
support of economic development may be
provided.
The need for philanthropy and current innovative developments
began to transform activities performed in the field of favor and
organizations as well with the effect of social innovation. From
the perspective of collaboration which lies in the ground of this
transformation, philanthropists, private sector, state and NGOs may
produce permanent solutions for social problems.
Creating Sustainable
Effect with Philanthropy
Philanthropy has the hidden danger of creating a culture of
dependency for aid recipients. Social entrepreneurship hasthe
power to eliminate this negativestereotype because it employs people
who are able to work and empowers those who can not yet do so.
Entrepreneurship centered development models particularly
createsmutual understanding by providing transition between
economy based classes.
Possibility of inter-class transition leads to understanding each
other and creates a mobility supporting social peace.
10. 18
Education with Philanthropy,
Peace with Education
Human is a creature that could keep feelings including hate, fright, anger in addition
to feelings including love, hope, and mercy together. In order to green useful ones among
these feelings humans should be fed materially and spiritually.
Education is necessary for revealing potential that humans have and enabling them to
be aware of problems and opportunities within the society. In many places of the world
there are people who live in need for aid in deprivation since they are not aware of the
geography they live in and their own skills and they even do not know that a different life
is possible because of their lives limited to their small regions.
Considering that education provided particularly in childhood shall accompany the
humans for the lifetime, one should be very careful about the content, method and ma-
terials of education provided and high benefit of humans should be taken into conside-
ration.
Individuals who are exposed to discrimi-
nation, violence and who fail to learn respect,
love, tolerance, and culture of living together
shall take their placed in the society in the
future as adults tended of violence. For this
reason, the biggest investment to be made for
global peace shall be an education on the axis
of human rights and democracy.
Kimse Yok Mu transfers significant porti-
on of the support provided by philanthropists
to education activities on the basis of the size
of benefit and need. Within this framework,
it provides scholarship, stationery and clot-
hing support for thousands of students who
were affected by war or disaster and who
need support due to financial impossibilities
in the homeland and abroad, at different edu-
cation levels from primary school to univer-
sity. Furthermore KYM constructs schools,
education complexes, reading halls in many
different regions of the world and improves
conditions of existing schools.
Aids provided by philanthropist individu-
als or institutions are transformed into an or-
ganized activity within KYM and as a result
sustinable benefit is provided in the manner
to contribute to the lives of thousands of pe-
ople, the society they live in and education
of future generations consequently to peace.
Peacebuilding is providing continuity
in peace and requires a structural change.
Growing new generations in the manner that
they could contribute to the peace environ-
ment is the most important step to be taken as
soon as possible to prevent potential conflict
in advance
11. 20
Social Inclusion
The biggest malignity that could be done to any
human is ignoring him/her and this corresponds
in social level to social exclusion that expresses
the fractions that fail to have the opportunities that
overall society has due to education, gender, eth-
nicity or poverty and that fail to exist at a level to
produce benefit for the society.
The biggest malignity that could be done to any
human is ignoring him/her and this corresponds
in social level to social exclusion that expresses
the fractions that fail to have the opportunities that
overall society has due to education, gender, eth-
nicity or poverty and that fail to exist at a level to
produce benefit for the society.
People who fail to take place in social, econo-
mic and cultural spheres due to being different or
deprived and about whom prejudice is developed
for this reason and who are labeled and marginali-
zed and condemned to live in vicious circle begin
to feel hostility to one another in time.
In this context significance of voluntary activi-
ties is very high in terms of social inclusion. Joint
works of disadvantageous fractions of the society
and individuals at different socioeconomic level
under a shared objective are significant for enab-
ling them to know each other and have social clo-
seness.
For example, the Sister Family project, one of
the activities performed by Kimse Yok Mu strives
to do just that. In scope of the project, KYM not
only bridges the one who receives aid and the one
who provides aid but it is also a valuable project
which brings them together and thus strengthens
the ties in the society. Within the scope of the pro-
ject the families in need are determined and intro-
duced to volunteer families and they are enabled
to spend time together, assist them for issues for
which they need support, establish long term close
dialogue.
12. 22
Social Entrepreneurship: Supporting enterprises that produce sustainable solutions to social
problems and targeting at development.
Improvement of Discourses: Discourses or behaviors that may create prejudice between
societies and individuals against others are transferred from one generation to the next.
In order to train responsible individuals freed from prejudice and respectful to one another it is
necessary to place an understanding that prioritizes humans from all fractions of the society and
use a language freed from elements which marginalizes individuals or societies, which despis-
es them and which contains insult.
Volunteer Activities: Developing projects for which volunteer support of nongovernmen-
tal organizations may be received and encouraging laying the ground for social togetherness.
Strengthening NGOs: Considering their importance in democratic societies, NGOs must be
supported.
Significance of Collaboration: Providing collaboration among the state, NGO and private
sector according to their strengths in different areas.
Corporate Social Responsiblity: Encouraging institutions for operating considering the benefit
of the society in addition to profit oriented of institutions.
Objective Information: Rather than negative discourses that could carry the enemity in the
past to the present and future course and history books in which parties are discussed in all
aspects shall contribute to world peace. Although societies exemplify living together in the
past and in present as well with the effect of globalization, they have not changed the hostile
language coming from war periods.
If mutual sharing of nations is fed by objective information teaching, a stronger peace lan-
guage may be created.
Effect of the Media: All sorts of publications of written, visual or social media should be
assessed in terms of negative discourses, and should be checked for using a peaceful language
aiming at lowering tension in the society.
Time of Crisis: Extraordinary situations including war, disaster, and hunger are periods of
time which make familiar individuals, groups, communities and states with different charac-
teristics and lay the ground for peace in addition to negative effects thereof. These time peri-
ods where human life is prioritized to discriminations of religion, language, race as the case
should be, are required to be assessed on the point of orienting relations toward peace.
SUGGESTIONS
