Ekrem Imamoglu
Standing by Istanbul’s Children
In Istanbul, we continue to support children by ensuring their right to education, health, and nutrition. Through our projects, we aim to better prepare them for the future.
We’ve Opened Yuvamız İstanbul Child Education Centers
To help children aged 3–6 years receive a better education and prepare for the future, we launched Yuvamız İstanbul Preschools. Before 2019, there were no preschools under the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM). Today, we operate 105 preschools, with construction and licensing efforts for new centers ongoing.
Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 17,474 children have benefited from our preschools. For more information about our preschools and educational programs, click here.
We’ve Launched Yuvamız İstanbul Short Break Service
To support children who lack access to early childhood education and to give parents time for themselves, we introduced the Yuvamız İstanbul Short Break Centers. These centers offer 2-hour playgroups for children aged 4–6 years.
Initially launched as a pilot program in 6 centers, the service has benefited 228 children so far.
Editor
Reaching Children Through Yuvamız İstanbul Magazine
We publish the Yuvamız İstanbul Magazine for children aged 3–6 years, supporting their motor skills, social, and emotional development. Since 2020, we’ve distributed nearly 3.5 million copies of this free magazine, available at IMM service points.
Newborn Support Package: Supporting Families from the Start
We’ve created the Newborn Support Package to meet the first four months of needs for newborns in low-income families. Since 2019, we’ve reached over 51,000 families and babies, providing essentials such as diapers and hospital discharge kits. For more details, click here.
Free Halk Süt for Children
We distribute Halk Süt (People’s Milk) free of charge to children aged 3–6 years in socioeconomically disadvantaged families, supporting their nutrition. Since October 2019, we’ve delivered 35 million liters of milk to 288,412 children. For more information, click here.
We’ve Established the Child Rights Unit
Launched in June 2020, the Child Rights Unit works to protect children’s rights, especially against neglect and abuse, while providing preventive and supportive services. To date, 31,038 individuals have benefited from the unit’s services. For assistance, call 0212 449 9306 or 0212 449 9334.
Reaching Hundreds of Thousands of Children with IMM Child Programs
Through IMM Child, we organize activities for various age groups to support children’s physical, mental, and social development. Programs include:
- Play Everywhere,
- IMM Child on the Move,
- IMM Child Activities,
- IMM Child Summer School, and
- Workshops.
In 2023, 60,282 children participated in these activities, and in 2024, this number rose to 242,620. Follow IMM Child on social media or apply for activities via the Istanbul Senin app.
Educational Support for Our Children
We launched the Sen Oku Diye Educational Support program for primary, secondary, and rehabilitation center students in Istanbul. Since July 2019, 416,525 children have benefited from this annual cash support.
To promote equal opportunities in education, we also introduced the Kızlar Okusun Diye Educational Support program for primary school girls, benefiting 10,000 households to date.
Providing Stationery Kits for Students
We distribute Stationery Kits containing all the materials a student needs to primary and high school students. To date, over 164,000 children have received these kits, which include everything from school bags to erasers.
Free Baby Biscuits for Families in Need
Families with babies aged 6–24 months who qualify for social financial support receive two packs of baby biscuits weekly. Since 2019, we’ve reached 54,711 households with this program.
School Nutrition Support
We provide School Nutrition Support near schools in disadvantaged areas, ensuring children have access to healthy food during school hours. To date, we’ve distributed nearly 1.5 million school nutrition packages.
IMM Child Online Playgroups and Parent Schools
During the pandemic, we launched the IMM Child Online Playgroup and Parent School, reaching over 2,000 families. In 2023, we resumed the program with updated content, offering tailored activities for children aged 4–6 years and 7–11 years, benefiting 2,198 children.
Additionally, the IMM Child Parent-Child Playgroup, designed for children aged 1.5–3 years, has supported 2,182 individuals, helping new parents navigate challenges.
