Our Chairperson of the Board, Dr. Fatmanur Altun, spoke with Emeti Saruhan of Gerçek Hayat magazine, addressing the role of dormitories in student life, the importance of safety for families, and TÜRGEV’s mission to provide quality accommodation and educational opportunities for young women.
10 September 2018
Altun: Students Seek Comfort, Families Seek Safety
Our Chairperson of the Board, Dr. Fatmanur Altun, spoke with Emeti Saruhan of Gerçek Hayat magazine, addressing the role of dormitories in student life, the importance of safety for families, and TÜRGEV’s mission to provide quality accommodation and educational opportunities for young women.
Dr. Altun noted that ten years ago, state-provided dormitory capacity was insufficient for the large student population in Turkey. At that time, civil society organizations played a lifesaving role by offering accommodations and support for students’ education. In recent years, the state has made significant investments to meet students’ housing needs, which also eased the burden on NGOs, as dormitory management is one of the most challenging and costly civil society services. Today, both the state and NGOs are meeting this need much more effectively.
Addressing the period before and after July 15, Altun explained that many of FETÖ’s so-called dormitories and student houses failed to meet even the most basic standards. Students in these facilities endured poor conditions while also being subjected to indoctrination and exploitation from a young age. Rather than causing a crisis, the removal of FETÖ from the system relieved a significant burden on the education sector.
Altun highlighted that students prioritize comfort and a proper study environment, while families prioritize safety. Parents seek places where they can leave their children without concern. TÜRGEV meets both needs by providing spacious, well-equipped dormitories with ample study areas, both in shared facilities and in students’ own rooms.
TÜRGEV was established specifically to serve female students, responding to long-standing concerns in conservative and traditional families about girls’ safety in big cities. At the urging of families, then-Istanbul Mayor (now President) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan supported the creation of a foundation exclusively for girls’ accommodation. The first dormitories opened in Hasanpaşa and Samatya under İSEGEV, attracting great interest. Altun herself was among its first students, recalling these dormitories as “an oasis in the desert” for young women at the time. Today, TÜRGEV operates 63 dormitories in 32 provinces—10 for secondary education and 53 for higher education.
TÜRGEV’s motto, “More than just a dormitory,” reflects the rich educational environment offered. Dormitories host seminars with prominent speakers and offer a wide range of workshops—from music (oud, piano, ney) and art to sports and academic clubs—allowing students to explore and discover their talents.
Entry into TÜRGEV dormitories is based on personal interviews, not references or connections. Altun emphasized that they look for students aware of the value of the opportunities provided and ready to use them for the benefit of the nation and society. Students uninterested in participating in the community’s mission are not admitted, regardless of who recommends them.
While dormitories are fee-based due to high operating costs, TÜRGEV keeps prices reasonable and maintains an active scholarship program for students in financial need or with high academic performance, ranging from full scholarships to partial assistance. Charging a fee to a genuinely needy student would betray the foundation’s principles—just as offering heavily subsidized rates to students with no financial need would be unjust.
Altun dismissed allegations about land donations to TÜRGEV as politically motivated, particularly by FETÖ and those seeking to attack the government. She stressed that TÜRGEV is a transparent, accountable NGO, subject to the same regulations as other civil society organizations, and open to public scrutiny.
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