As I wrote in my previous article, the half marathon and 10 K runs in Bozcaada were organized for the eighth time by New Balance and Arkas Tourism.
I also wrote that we went to Bozcaada for a different purpose this time. As TİDER, I announced that we would undertake a significant initiative while continuing the campaign we launched with great enthusiasm with the Bozcaada Run volunteers and supporters. And at the Bozcaada event, we realized our vision of preventing waste:
- Unopened water was directed to the Geyikli Food Bank for distribution to those in need.
- Consumable food and water collected in containers and barrels throughout the event were directed to Bozcaada and Geyikli Animal Shelters.
- Plastic and paper waste was collected by our TİDER team and volunteers and recycled through the Bozcaada Municipality.
Campaigns are open once again.
Furthermore, through a campaign launched by 13 athletes running for TİDER and 25 volunteers supporting them, we aim to raise an additional 30,475 TL for the association. The funds raised will be used to meet the basic needs of 115 families for a year. This figure also means saving 30 tons of products from going to waste and preventing 75 tons of carbon emissions.
This time, the majority of our TİDER team joined Bozcaada. Two of our colleagues arrived on the island on Thursday. Eight more of our professionals went to the island on Friday. Our volunteers and I joined those on the island on Friday. I ran some errands on the way to the island (having passed that location). I was able to board the ferry around 5:00 PM.
On Friday evening, everyone enjoyed the island in separate groups. I was at a place called Maya that Friday night. I recommend this place to all my friends, as it produces its own wine, cheese, and many other foods, and its delicious food (they serve it in small, tapas-style portions). Finding the restaurant isn’t easy either. It’s in a farmhouse in the interior of the island. But the interior is a truly delightful atmosphere. The only drawback is the prices. However, for a place that produces everything from mustard to cheese in-house and takes such meticulous care in its food, this didn’t bother me much. Here’s a photo we took at the restaurant.
When this cute cat came to the table in the restaurant, a frame like this appeared
Saturday was a big day for us. We were present in Cumhuriyet Square from early morning. Sometimes we stayed where our stand was, and sometimes we wandered around certain areas in the square. We caught up with our Adım Adım brothers and sisters. I’d like to share some photos we took in the square:
Meanwhile, the run was postponed for an hour. The race, which was supposed to start at 10 a.m., was moved to 11 a.m. That day, there was a significant wind, and those who couldn’t make it to the island had to wait to arrive and register. So, a one-hour delay is normal in my opinion. Around 10:30 a.m., I spoke on the platform set up in Cumhuriyet Square, explaining TİDER’s vision for preventing waste. I emphasized what runners and event participants should do.
The half marathon runners started around 11:00 a.m., and the 10 K runners started at 11:30 a.m. The countdown and the events there, as always, were a true carnival. This year, 1,989 people participated in the 8th Bozcaada Half Marathon (21 K) and 10 K Run, organized by New Balance. The two courses, the 10 K and 21 K, started and ended at Cumhuriyet Square.
Our work in Cumhuriyet Square began after the runners crossed the finish line. As more runners consumed the water, fruit, and other food provided, waste food, plastic bottles, and paper piled up in the square. With the support of our volunteers, we set to work.
A great example of the NGO spirit!
Approximately 25 of us (volunteers and professionals) personally took our bags and began collecting empty and full bottles, paper, and leftover food from the square. Meanwhile, runners and event participants who saw us started helping us. Instead of throwing their items on the ground, they started throwing them into the surrounding containers and barrels. Dozens even joined us in picking up waste. The resulting scenes of incredible solidarity were truly the spirit of an NGO. Long live the brotherhood of Adım Adım!
You can see the images from the collection in the square below:
This is an interesting shot. I’m showing a piece of paper I found inside a paper bin. Of course, the bin contains everything but paper. Still, I’d like to thank those who acted responsibly and threw plastic bottles and metal cans into the bin. The important thing was to show this sensitivity. Separation for recycling is then carried out with extra effort.
Once our work in the square was complete, we immediately organized the collection of plastic bottles (empty, partially filled, or fully filled) along the runway. Using a minibus provided by the Bozcaada Municipality, 15 volunteers and professionals collected all the water bottles in the area within two hours.
After a very tiring day, at 5:00 PM, we loaded the collected bottles and leftovers onto the Geyikli Municipality vehicle. As soon as we finished loading, I went back to my hotel, changed into my swimsuit, and headed straight to Ayazma Beach, the cove where our volunteers were located. I enjoyed the beach and the icy water for about an hour. In the evening, all 25 of our volunteers and professionals celebrated at Kuzina Restaurant, overlooking the castle. After dinner, we all went out for drinks. I finished the evening with ice cream, a tradition for me. It was a wonderful finale to a busy, productive, and wonderful day.
The next day, we set off on our return journey early in the morning by ferry. This time, I returned from the European side. Of course, on the way, we ate meat cleaver in Tekirdağ, another classic for me. I especially recommend the meat cleaver at Çamlıbel Restaurant to anyone passing through.
TİDER’s Bozcaada Campaign in 2018
Let’s get to our campaign. I’ve written about it before. Let me emphasize it once again. TİDER (The Basic Needs Association), which combats waste and poverty, meets the basic needs of many families through a fundraising campaign organized through the Adım Adım platform, thanks to the contributions of runners and their supporting volunteers. Thirteen athletes ran in support of TİDER at the 8th New Balance Bozcaada Half Marathon and 10 K Run in 2018. Thanks to the philanthropists who supported these dedicated runners and 25 TİDER volunteers, the Bozcaada Half Marathon TİDER Impact Campaign aims to raise an additional 30,475 TL for the association.
70 times more effective than fundraising alone!
The donations collected at the Bozcaada Half Marathon will meet the basic needs of 115 families for a year, while also saving 30 tons of products from waste and preventing 75 tons of carbon emissions.
Thanks to its ‘TİDER Effect’ model, TİDER multiplies the impact of a single donation raised by an individual by 70 times. This way, the impact of every step taken to support a family is magnified by 70 times with TİDER. Every 265 TL donation collected ensures that a family’s basic needs are met for a year, while saving 256 kg of produce from waste per family and providing employment for the family members who can work.
TİDER Launches !Stop Waste’ Campaign in Bozcaada
TİDER successfully implemented its comprehensive “Stop Waste” Campaign at the Bozcaada Half Marathon, with the support of Arkas Tourism, Bozcaada Municipality, BOZTİD (Bozcaada Tourism Operators Association), Geyikli Municipality, and New Balance, as part of its waste prevention vision.
Half-finished water bottles sent to pet shelters…
At the Bozcaada Half Marathon, TİDER volunteers, in collaboration with the Bozcaada Municipality, collected waste products from the performance area after the race and separated them into water, food, paper, and plastic. Afterwards, this waste was collected in six containers and 10 barrels placed in Cumhuriyet Square. All plastic water bottles, both full and empty, collected from five water stations along the track were also individually processed. Following the separation efforts, half-finished water bottles were directed to the Geyikli Municipality Pet Shelter, while untouched water bottles were sent to the Geyikli Municipality Food Bank. Organic waste from the collected products was directed to a simulated composting process in collaboration with the Bozcaada Municipality. The collected paper and plastic were also sent for recycling through the Bozcaada Municipality.
Bozcaada restaurants also supported TİDER’s campaign
Restaurants on Bozcaada also supported TİDER’s campaign. Food waste collected from restaurants partnering with TİDER was sent to the Bozcaada Pet Shelter. TİDER thus implemented the entire chain of its waste prevention vision at the Bozcaada Half Marathon.
I wholeheartedly thank all the athletes who joined us with the vision of supporting TİDER, as well as the companies, municipalities, and restaurants that supported our campaign, for their contributions. We are also grateful to all our volunteers and supporters who stood by us in this excitement. We were also very happy to see our NGO friends who came to our stand to share this joy with us and support us throughout the process. We demonstrated a beautiful example of NGO camaraderie in Bozcaada. Together, we will continue to do our utmost to achieve the social development our country needs.
I want to emphasize this point again: We aim to spread TİDER’s waste prevention and family development model throughout Turkey. We aim to open a food bank operating at TİDER’s standards in every district of Turkey. We want to spearhead the opening of animal shelters and biogas plants in every province. Let’s not forget that we can work together to support the 13 million people living on the poverty line, representing 14% of Turkey’s population. Every year, 6 million loaves of bread, worth a total of 1.5 billion lira, go to waste. The loss of fresh fruits and vegetables has reached 16 billion liras. Producers account for 39% of this waste, retailers account for 5%, and the catering sector accounts for 14%. If we can prevent usable products from going to waste, there will be no one living on the poverty line in our country.
We look forward to your support for all these valuable efforts.
To make your donations, simply visit https://bagis.adimadim.org/?ccid=CC30126 .
I would like to thank all our friends who have supported us with TİDER. Together, with your valuable contributions, we will continue to do our best to achieve the social development our country needs.
Note: If you’re still unfamiliar with TİDER, you can visit http://www.tider.org . To summarize our work:
ABOUT TİDER
The Basic Needs Association (TİDER) is a non-governmental organization that combats poverty and waste with a holistic model and develops concrete solutions by bringing a comprehensive perspective to food banking. It shares usable food, cleaning products, and clothing saved from waste on the shelves of its established Support Markets with families on the brink of poverty. With its unique model, awarded by the Global Foodbanking Network, it works with family members seeking employment to find employment or start their own businesses. For other challenges, it provides them with access to lasting solutions by referring them to specialized NGOs and public institutions with which it collaborates.
Recognizing that the problems caused by poverty are not limited to a lack of the bare necessities, TİDER is committed to expanding the benefits of food banking and expanding its model in Turkey and increasingly globally. Its Support Cloud platform, developed for this purpose, connects member food banks with product donors, creating a comprehensive solution to waste. Furthermore, through its Support HR platform, it connects job seekers in need with employers seeking blue-collar workers.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT!
Stay well…
