As the new academic year approaches, the Hope Caravan Foundation (Umut Kervanı Vakfı) has launched its annual “Let the School Bell Ring with Hope” campaign, aiming to provide essential school supplies to tens of thousands of students across Türkiye and beyond.

Speaking to Ilke News Agency (ILKHA), Foundation President Cengiz Kurtaran outlined the goals and broader vision of the initiative, stressing that the foundation is committed not only to providing immediate material support, but also to upholding the dignity of every child and empowering them through education.

“Our priority is to make sure that no child is left behind when the school year begins,” said Kurtaran. “Whether in Istanbul or Kabul, Diyarbakır or Gaza, our children deserve to start school with their heads held high, equipped with the tools they need to learn, grow, and succeed.”

A Lifeline for Orphans and Families in Need

The Hope Caravan Foundation has become one of Türkiye’s most trusted humanitarian organizations, especially renowned for its programs targeting orphans, widows, and economically vulnerable families. This year’s school aid campaign is no exception. Working in close coordination with school principals, local education officials, and field volunteers, the foundation has identified thousands of students who are in critical need of support.

Each aid package—valued at 1,500 Turkish Lira per student—includes a complete school bag, notebooks, pencil cases, pens, colored pencils, rulers, erasers, and other essential classroom supplies. In some rural and underserved regions, students will also receive school uniforms, shoes, and even coats for the winter months.

To ensure dignity and protect the children from feelings of shame or embarrassment, the foundation is delivering the aid either directly to students’ homes or through school administrators in a sensitive and discreet manner.

Reaching Beyond Borders: Afghanistan, Yemen, Africa, and Gaza

What sets this campaign apart is its international reach. According to Kurtaran, the foundation is expanding its aid operations into Afghanistan, Yemen, several countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, and the besieged Gaza Strip, where the educational infrastructure has been devastated by years of war and blockade.

“In Gaza, many students are forced to attend school in tents, without desks, without books, and often without clean drinking water,” Kurtaran said. “We are in communication with our local partners on the ground, and we will do everything we can to ensure these children are not forgotten.”

The situation in Gaza remains dire. With ongoing bombardment, displacement, and the near-total collapse of public services, children there face immense challenges to receiving even the most basic education. The Hope Caravan Foundation sees this campaign not only as a humanitarian duty, but as a moral obligation to invest in the future of a generation growing up under siege.

A Call to Action for Philanthropists and Institutions

The foundation is calling upon philanthropists, businesses, civil society organizations, and the general public to support the campaign, whether through financial donations, in-kind contributions, or logistical assistance.

“This is a collective effort,” said Kurtaran. “Every contribution, big or small, becomes a source of light in a child’s life. If we want to raise a generation of educated, confident, and hopeful young people, we must all take part.”

Aid distribution is scheduled to begin in early September, just before schools reopen. Over a two-week period, volunteers and partner organizations will fan out across urban centers, villages, and refugee communities to ensure that aid reaches the students who need it most. Special attention will be given to families with orphaned children, who often lack access to even the most basic services.

Empowering Education, Inspiring Hope

The 2025–2026 campaign by the Hope Caravan Foundation is more than just an act of charity—it’s an investment in social justice, educational equality, and human dignity. In a world where millions of children are denied their right to education due to war, poverty, or displacement, this initiative stands as a testament to what can be achieved through organized compassion.

With the ringing of every school bell this fall, thousands of children will carry new school bags on their backs, filled not only with supplies—but with hope.

For more information or to donate to the campaign, visit the official website of the Hope Caravan Foundation (www.umutkervani.org.tr) or follow their updates on social media.

“Together, let’s ensure that every child, from Türkiye to Yemen, from Africa to Gaza, begins this school year not with fear or lack—but with the tools they need and the hope they deserve,” Kurtaran concluded. (ILKHA)