Organisation
Activity Summary
A summary of the work and documented developments of Toprak ve Yeryüzü Derneği since its founding.
Last updated: 31 October 2026
1. Founding and corporate governance
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| June 2026 | The association was founded (founding date in the tax record: 24 June 2026). |
| August 2026 | A certified copy of our bylaws was served to us (10 August 2026). |
| 28 August 2026 | The first general assembly was held. 9 of the 16 members attended; the board of directors and the audit board were elected. |
2. Partnerships
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | Talks began with an organisation based in Serbia that works on mushroom cultivation and circular production. |
| August 2026 | A five-year Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement was signed with this organisation (the partner on 13 August, our association on 21 August 2026). The agreement covers mushroom cultivation, agricultural waste recovery, textile waste valorisation, compost, education and joint European projects. It is a letter of intent that creates no commercial or financial obligations. |
| September 2026 | The concept note of the joint Ecological Life Project was prepared and shared with the partner organisation; the partner confirmed the concept. |
| October 2026 | A letter of intent was received from the partner organisation. |
3. Project development: Ecological Living Center
Our association is preparing an Ecological Living Centre project that brings together mushroom production, endemic plant cultivation, beekeeping, compost production and agriculture, biomaterial R&D from textile waste, education and small-scale accommodation units in a circular way, where resources feed one another. The Center is at its establishment stage; its units will be announced as they become ready.
- A report describing the project framework and the circular operation of the units was prepared.
- A 12-month implementation roadmap and a concept note in Turkish and English were prepared.
- Legal and administrative reviews concerning the site and land rights are ongoing.
- The association registered in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Participant Register in July 2026 (PIC 863181855).
4. Funding and grant preparation
In October 2026, national and international grant programmes (development agencies, TKDK/IPARD, Erasmus+, the GEF Small Grants Programme and others) were reviewed. As the 2026 application periods have closed, applications are being prepared for the 2027 call periods.
On 7 October 2026, a grant application was submitted to the Australian Embassy's Direct Aid Program (DAP) (application no. ANK00180). The application is under evaluation.
5. Digital infrastructure and protection of personal data
Our corporate website has been renewed. The membership application, pre-interest and contact forms are now available. Under Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data, the Privacy Notice and the Privacy and Cookie Policy have been published (30 October 2026).
6. Public events and trainings
The work we have carried out since our founding is listed below.
| Date | Activity | Note |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | A training plan, modules and a practical guide were prepared for weaving training (“From Animal Fibre to Yarn, from Yarn to Weaving”). | Preparatory work |
| 14 October 2026 | Applications began to be accepted for the carpet and kilim weaving course. Once enough applications are received, the course will start as a workshop rather than a formal training programme. | Not started yet |
| 17 October 2026 | The first of the weekend weaving workshops was held at the association centre with 7 participants. It is planned that each week the workshops will work on a different product (for example a woven keyring or a woven glasses strap). | Attendance: 7 people |
| 24 October 2026 | A weekend weaving workshop was held at the association centre. | Attendance: 5 people |
| 31 October 2026 | A weekend weaving workshop was held at the association centre. | Attendance: 6 people |
Attendance lists and photographs of the workshops are kept in the association's archive.
7. Coming period (planned, not yet realised)
- An online meeting with the partner organisation to decide the days, hours and trainers of the training programme.
- Starting the carpet and kilim weaving workshop once the number of applications reaches a sufficient level, and covering advanced topics in the weeks after the first session.
- Preparing the list of tools and equipment needed for the mushroom production unit and determining the resources the association will find or allocate.
- Preparing grant applications for the 2027 call periods.
- If the grant application dated 7 October 2026 is approved, publishing the grant's expenditures down to the last kuruş on this page.
- Legal obligations: submitting the association's declaration for 2026 activities within the first four months of 2027 and preparing the annual activity report.
This page is an information summary prepared by the association itself; it does not replace documents issued by official authorities.