21. How can I contribute to TIDER (Basic Needs Association)?
You can support TIDER in any way you can. I’ll try to summarize these below:
a. Cash Donation
You can make a meaningful contribution to our fight against poverty by donating within your means to provide the most concrete support to families who cannot even afford the basic goods they need to sustain their lives and to bring hope to the future of children with unemployed parents. You can also become a regular donor and donate a set amount each month. Your donations will turn into basic food, cleaning products, and clothing on the shelves of Destek Market, and through Destek HR, they will also provide job opportunities for disadvantaged families. To donate cash, you can contact TIDER, use the account number below, or donate at http://www.TIDER.org and choose to become a regular donor.
GARANTİ BANK/TL Account
Branch: Maltepe (205)
Account No: 6293567
TR74 0006 2000 2050 0006 2935 67
b. In-Kind Donations
With in-kind donations, you can create a highly effective and widespread social benefit by ensuring that products you would like to destroy due to surplus or seasonal produce, near expiration, or damaged packaging are delivered to many families. Destroying products requires additional costs and labor in addition to the production cost. However, by donating products, you not only avoid the cost of disposal but also have 100% of the production cost deducted from your taxes. The disposal process of your products can harm the ecological system due to greenhouse gas emissions. By donating, you can reduce your carbon footprint. By preventing waste and supporting the fight against poverty, you create benefits that extend to thousands of people and fulfill your corporate social responsibility.
How Does the In-Kind Donation Process Work?
- You can send the products you donate, or we can pick them up. • You must issue an invoice and delivery note for the products at cost.
- Once the products arrive at Destek Market, it is our responsibility to protect your brand value.
- You can deduct the invoice amount from your taxes with the receipt we issue.
- You can be sure your donation goes to the right place. We will provide regular reporting to help you see which product goes to whom.
- We can publicize our collaboration to increase the impact we create together.
c. Volunteerism
If you want to support us in our fight against poverty and unemployment, one of the most meaningful ways is to become a TIDER volunteer and contribute with your heart and effort. You can do this individually or through your organization.
What can you do as an individual TIDER volunteer?
- You can support Destek Market’s barcoding, shelf organization, and warehouse control activities.
- You can spread the word about Destek Market and TİDER, distribute our brochures, and follow us closely on social media to spread our messages.
- We conduct individual interviews with individuals who benefit from the Support Market, get to know them, and research suitable job opportunities for them. You can also spend your time with us at the Support Market and support their family meetings.
- For Support HR activities, you can support employment interviews with both individuals and companies. You can tell your contacts about us and contribute to our efforts to improve their employment processes.
- If you have experience, you can support vocational training, empowerment, and other training programs.
- You can organize a volunteer day at your organization, assemble your team, and come to support.
What can you do as a corporate volunteer with TIDER?
You can place food and clothing bins at your organization and donate the collected goods to the Support Market.
- You can organize a Support Market volunteer day and work with your team at the Support Market.
- You can share your organization’s knowledge and experience with TIDER and provide mentorship.
d. Corporate Sponsorship
Companies can sponsor all of TIDER’s operational activities. They can sponsor activities they wish to support, either through a cash donation or by personally undertaking the costs.
Examples of sponsorable activities include:
- Supporting personnel expenses
- Contributing to advertising and communication efforts
- Covering TIDER Children’s Academy event expenses
- Sponsoring areas of their choice, from the construction and decoration of newly opened
Support Markets to the supply of fixtures and fittings.
22. How can we install a solar energy system to meet the energy needs of a housing complex of 100 people?
Assuming that a household in Türkiye consumes approximately 3MWh of electricity annually and that a household consists of at least four people, this would result in a consumption of approximately 75MWh annually for 25 households. This would require the installation of a 40-50kWp solar power plant, which would require a land area of 900-1,200 m² (or rooftop).
23. I live in an apartment in Istanbul. Can we install a system on our building’s roof or garden and benefit from solar energy?
Apartment buildings are a bit complicated due to their complex structure. However, if you convince all your neighbors, you can certainly benefit. We don’t realize it, but much more energy than we need comes to us every day from God’s sun. We need to consider this.
Considering the new trend in energy is on-site production and on-site consumption (smart microgrids will replace massive grids), the most logical solution is to generate the energy we need near where we consume it. Rooftops or gardens are ideal for this. The cost is affordable, but this requires specialized location-based research. Of course, banks also need to be involved and offer advantageous personal loans for these projects. This will happen in the future. So, if you pay the loan for a solar energy system like you pay your electricity bill, after a certain number of years (approximately nine years in Istanbul and six years in Mersin), you’ll be able to get free electricity.
24. Can Türkiye become a renewable energy hub?
It’s possible. We haven’t missed the boat yet. We can say the renewable energy sector is relatively new. However, five years from now may be too late.
When we look at our geography and history, we have a potential to become a hub unmatched by other countries. Of course, geography and history aren’t enough here. It all comes down to technology and human resources.
In reality, we don’t have a shortage of human resources in our country. We have excellent engineers and experts. We need to establish a global vision and, with the right system, ensure these people focus on their work and continuously improve their technology. My two most important missions are to accelerate the spread of renewable energy and sustainability concepts globally and to build a global brand out of Türkiye, our region. If we achieve this, we will pave the way for other individuals and companies with potential in our region.
Regarding Türkiye’s potential, I believe we can meet all our energy needs from renewable energy. In fact, solar energy alone is sufficient. We just need to establish the right vision and ensure everyone works towards this goal. If we do this, we will go beyond being a center; we will become a country driving global energy trends
25. I’m going to ask you a question as an ordinary person. Among all this wealth, what is your definition of nothingness? (You can answer not only in worldly terms but also in otherworldly terms.) Don’t misunderstand me.
Being and nothingness are relative. According to whom, being and nothingness? Is what you call ‘being’ material or spiritual fulfillment? The answers to these questions vary from person to person.
In essence, my worldly and otherworldly perspectives overlap. Let me put it this way:
Everyone comes into this world in some way. No one chooses their family, their hometown, the language they speak, or even their name. You can be born into a wealthy or poor family, born to a couple who get along well or divorced, or raised in a family that travels constantly, has a global perspective, or remains local. None of this is our choice. What matters here is the difference between where you started and where you die. If you’ve always built upon your own life, if you’ve improved yourself, if you’ve contributed to humanity, your family, and your community, then you’re a positive person. This shouldn’t be perceived solely in terms of material things. Some are successful businesspeople, some are successful NGO directors, some are successful writers, some are wonderful mothers who raise good children and contribute to life. That’s what matters. If you’ve been a positive and good person, if you’ve contributed to humanity, and if you’ve always built upon your starting point, then you’re in a good position, no matter what world you’re in
26. I see girls around you all the time. You’re happy, God gave you money, who can stop you?
Don’t worry, there are many people in Türkiye who will stop you and hinder you. Unfortunately, that’s how our country works. Anyone who does or tries to do something good will immediately try to surpass or overthrow you, either by imitating you or by using whatever means they have.
And despite all the obstacles, we’re doing everything we can to achieve our goals. Despite everything, we continue along our path.
Of course, there are two logical fallacies here. First, the girls you see with me on social media or my blog are either my colleagues, our volunteers at the association, or my relatives. In Türkiye, for some reason, they assume that every person they see with you is in a relationship with the opposite sex. This is a very flawed assumption. People who hold this belief are generally deprived of feelings like love from childhood. Then, they misinterpret the idea of opposite-sex encounters.
Second, I’ve been running my own business for the last five and a half years. I initially borrowed money from my father, but now I’m operating independently. In other words, I’m generating my own finances. I’m also paying my father back. Therefore, the notion that God gave me money is seriously unfair to my work and the effort I put in.
There are other things I want you to know here:
- Men and women complement each other in every environment. That’s why I try to maintain a balance between men and women in my initiatives. For example, we’re trying to increase the number of women in professions like engineering, which women tend to be less interested in. We’ve designed our internship program accordingly. I’m proud of our programs that strive to ensure gender equality in the workplace.
- As I mentioned in my article about Bozcaada (http://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/kosu-bahane-bozcaada-sahane), the association has an overwhelming majority of female volunteers compared to male volunteers. We discussed the reasons for this. The conclusion was this: Our association, TIDER, meets people’s basic needs, such as being fed, being cleaned, and being able to wear clothes. This highlights motherly feelings. Therefore, it creates a situation where women are more sensitive and support us more wholeheartedly. One of our volunteers even described this by using another association as an example: For example, AKUT has more male volunteers. Even though the General Secretary is a woman (we love her very much), AKUT’s mission requires men to volunteer there more because of this.
- As a matter of principle, I don’t share my private life on social media or my blog. In the future, the only woman you’ll see with me in this capacity will be my life partner.
27. You can find attached my CV. I’m looking for a job. Can you help me?
Don’t send me job applications. I’m immediately deleting the email addresses of those who are so unprofessional that they don’t know that CVs shouldn’t be sent to the chairman of the board. Those interested in applying should contact their HR departments directly. You can find the relevant email addresses below:
28. As TIDER, how did you distinguish yourself by winning the Global FoodBanking Network Innovation Award last March?
Eight projects from countries like the UK, Singapore, Colombia, and Argentina were shortlisted for this award. Over 70 food bank professionals voted for the award, and we received the most votes and were awarded this award for our human resources module, Destek İK. This is a significant development and a sign of the transformation of the social welfare system. All food banks now recognize that the ‘just giving’ approach needs to change. This change also needs to be made sustainable. That’s why they approved the human resources project. Food banks abroad are contacting us for information. This is truly something to be proud of as an NGO. We will be able to export a concept we created.
29. What are your goals in the renewable energy sector?
We always structure our goals around achieving international success and becoming a brand. In the solar energy sector, we see ourselves as a company that produces not only energy but also technology. Our future goals include maximizing our competencies and R&D efforts in this field. Our vision, investments, and work are all shaped by this direction. EkoRE aims to undertake globally resounding projects in the renewable energy sector. We will achieve this not only by advancing technology but also by developing unique business models. We aim to create a truly global brand from Türkiye.
30. What is the most important agenda item in the solar energy sector right now? Could you please assess your main problems? How can these problems be resolved?
The sector’s most significant challenge is the inability to implement projects. Beyond the challenges faced in licensing and project development processes, the solar energy sector has not received the support it needs. Furthermore, the established mechanisms have not been fully implemented. For example, the initial licensing process for 600 MW, launched in 2013, was unsuccessful, and the licenses obtained were not implemented due to financial closures. Unlicensed projects that had gained momentum and surpassed 1 GW (1,000 MW) were also negatively impacted by regulations issued last year. A new category, unique to Türkiye, called YEKA (Solar Power Plant), has been introduced. The YEKA solar power plant, scheduled for December last year, has been postponed twice. We will all see whether the Kalyon-Hanwha consortium, which won the most recent tender, can properly undertake this project.
Ultimately, all we have left are the remaining unlicensed projects, and the sector has ground to a halt. Considering that 23 GW (23,000 MW) of projects were completed in China last year, and Germany, whose irradiance rates are lower than our sunniest region, the Black Sea, has reached 40 GW of installed capacity, Türkiye has a long way to go. We hope that the relevant authorities in the solar energy sector will once again pave the way for the sector.
Tag: family
