Founded by İpek Kıraç to carry forward the values, goals, and vision of Suna Kıraç in the field of education, Suna’nın Kızları celebrated its 4th anniversary on September 14.
Over the past four years, Suna’nın Kızları has collaborated with civil society organizations and created Solution and Support Circles with a focus on collective impact. The initiative has worked to build safe and supportive spaces for children, drawing on the experience of the Children’s Hubs established in earthquake-affected regions. It has also implemented the Neighborhoods Supporting Children model—developed over several years—with the active participation of teachers, local communities, and children.
First launched in Şanlıurfa in 2022, the model expanded to Hatay in 2024, building solidarity networks rooted in local dynamics and fostering collaboration with children and the broader social fabric.
To date, Suna’nın Kızları has reached 14,000 children and 4,650 adults through its programs, which focus on three main areas:
Children’s Hubs
In collaboration with the Ministry of Family and Social Services, five centers were established in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Şanlıurfa to support the well-being of children aged 10–18 through needs-based programs. With activities carried out in these hubs and over one hundred schools in the region, 14,000 children and 4,650 parents have been reached to date.
Neighborhoods Supporting Children
This model places the rights and perspectives of all children—especially girls—at the center, while developing locally grounded solutions and expanding collective impact. In 2024, local communities and teacher groups were formed in Şanlıurfa and Hatay, launching empowerment programs with their participation. In Antakya, the first children’s community of girls was established to ensure their participation in decisions that directly affect their lives. Through Empowerment Workshops, girls began to evaluate their neighborhoods and design projects to overcome barriers.
Summer Institute and Digital Platforms
The Summer Institute provides a safe learning environment for girls, strengthening peer solidarity and building awareness and capacity in areas such as rural development, girl-centered design, and well-being. With its third cycle completed this year, the number of graduates reached 120. For the first time, within the scope of the “Transition to Adulthood” program, five graduates joined the Suna’nın Kızları team, marking the foundation of a graduate-led community.
In addition to physical programs, Suna’nın Kızları continues to expand into digital spaces. To provide resources for children and institutions working with children, it has launched three online platforms: Hey Hey Buradayız, Child-Centered City, and Girl-Centered Design.
The Istanbul Research Institute continues to offer free guided tours of the exhibition The Photography Studio of an Adventurous Architect: Arif Hikmet Koyunoğlu 1893–1982, which sheds light on the life of one of the most unconventional architects of his time, spanning the late Ottoman and early Republican periods.
The catalogue Extraordinary Minas: The Story of Inspiration and Innovation in Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics examines the efforts of Kütahya masters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to revive the disappearing craftsmanship of tile-making by focusing on a master and a group of his work, by presenting objects from the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics Collection.
On October 11, International Day of the Girl, Suna’nın Kızları organized the “Girls Stronger Together Forum” in Hatay, where girls shared their ideas on making their city safer, more accessible, and more inclusive.