Activity Report of the Executive Committee (2004)

January 1 – December 31, 2004

Rewards:

Kids’ Magazine, aiming at contributing to the culture of rights of children published by Kok Publishing House, has decided to award the individuals and organisations who have already proven themselves by their efforts and work achieved in the year of 2004 concerning children. Among these, our foundation has been chosen as one of the organisations which helped promote health services to working children. For this purpose a reward ceremony has been organised and a statuette of “Children’s Rights Service Award” was presented. The justification for this reward was ..”All the work we achieved for the safety and health of working children”.

Our Magazine “Working Environment”:

At the end of 2004, our magazine “Working Environment” which is published once every 2 months, saw the 77th issue. We are proud to have one of the longest running magazines in the field of “Child Labour” and “Occupational Health and Safety”. Foundation’s Activities in their conceptual frames, Artistic and Scientific Researches can be found among some of the headings published in the magazine. As it has an arbitrator, authors of scientific articles especially show interest in our magazine. It is distributed free of charge to the Unions, private companies, NGOs, Public Libraries and Universities. This way, a large number of readers can be reached.

Photography Contest on Child Labour :

We have organised the first “Photography Contest on Child Labour” in 2003. The second competition ended on the 23rd of April 2004 and the Works were exhibited in our “Prof. Dr. Nusret Fisek Hall of Science and Art”. First Prize went to Ozer Kanburoglu and Irem Kalenderoglu consecutively in colored and black-white pictures. We congratulate all winners. The collection of all photographs are published as a “album” to have, especially for ones who are interested in photography or child labor. You can view all award wining photographs in our web-site.

This competition has already an esteemed place among the photography competitions in Turkey with the contributions of our jury, composed of distinguished photography masters like Ozan Sagdic, Sitki Firat, Mehmet Aslan Guven, Erol Karaca, and our volunteer who gave us the idea in the first place, Onur Kovanci.

Meetings and Artistic Activities :

PAINTING EXHIBITIONS : You can view all paintings on our web-site.

• 6-30 January – Basak Soyluoglu Exhibition

• 3-28 February – Ayten Timuroglu Exhibition

• 1-31 March – Mert Sener Exhibition

• 5-28 April – Ufuk Esemenli Exhibition

• 29 April – 30 May – Selected Works from the II. Photography Contest on Child Labour

• 4-28 october – Ilkiz Colak Exhibition

• 1-30 November – 6 th Health Workers Exhibition

• 6-30 December – Hamide Cetin exhibition

SLIDE SHOWS :

26 th February 2003 – Adnan Veli Kuvanlik

CONCERTS :

26 th February 2003 – Dursun Ali Yagli (UD) lute

DISCUSSIONS AND PANELS:

13 th february 2003 : Republican Policies on “Prosperity for Children” and “Organisation for Child Protection” (Hakan Acar)

18 March 2003 : World Poetry Day, (with the participation of Ali Riza Kars, Arzu Aycicek, Bilge Ongore, Cigdem Sezer, Emel Guz, Nese Ersoy, Ozcan Ozturk, Refika Altikulac, Selami Karabulut, Turkan Yesilyurt, Zeynep Kuradag)

14 October 2003 : “Brain Drain” (Prof. Dr. Ercan Alp) Our guest speaker who has realized numerous scientific researches in National Argonne Laboratories-Illinois, USA, and who is a part of this social fact himself, discussed the various resolution methods of “Brain Drain”.

21 October 2003 : “Globalization and Turkish Language”. We called upon who have discussed the problems, pinpointed the situations all through the years but have not challenged the facts for resolutions, now is the time to create and produce results. Together with the “Association of Language” and the volunteers, we discussed the ways to reach results on this matter.

PARTICIPATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

27 April – We took part in the panel discussions organised by the University of Marmara, Faculty of Medicine. Upon the request of the students who organised the 4th “Marmara Students’ Congress” (MASCO) that NGOs who are active abouth health issues should take part. They were able to learn the aim and responsibilities of our Foundation and also our activities through the speech delivered by A. Gurhan Fisek on our part.

30 April 2004 – Mr. A. Gurhan Fisek participated in the “1st Sympozium on Occupational Diseases and Accidents”. Our General Administrator also took part in the “Symposium Scientific Committee”. He participated as a speaker and moderator at the panel about “The place of women and children workers in the world and in Turkey. He also was the speaker at the panel about “Importance of Shared (common) occupational health systems and Health Surveillance in SME’s.”

Our General Adminstrator, Mr. A. Gurhan Fisek was invited to participate in the “Project for Social Dialogue in Textile Sector” executed by European Union and ILO. This project took place in Ankara, Istanbul, Gaziantep and Izmir where both employees and employers discussed how the working standards can be improved in selected business areas.

6-9 June 2004, Senay Gokbayrak participated (Vienna) 7th World Congress for Prevention of Accidents and Safety as a delegate of our Foundation. Numerous of our our volunteers conducted a survey on “Work Accidents occuring among 13-15 years old children workers”, and A. Gurhan Fisek, Yasemin Gunay Balci, and Senay Gokbayrak evaluated this survey, another volunteer group prepared a poster show and they all participated in this congress. Over 700 of our volunteers conducted this survey in Ankara and Istanbul. They also realized the literature reviews, designed the questionnaire forms, registered all of them on our database, evaluated the forms, designed the poster show on computer, and took the printouts. They all worked with utmost devotion and cooperation. We thank all of them and last but not least we thank the Representation of ILO who reimbursed our expenses for participation to the Congress..

8 October 2004 – During the 10th Ergonomy Congress organised by the Uludag University, Mr.A. Gurhan Fisek participated as speaker at the panel discussion titled

“Ergonomic Practices”.

8 October 2004 – Mrs. Oya Fisek participated as our representative in the activity organised by “Freedom Again For Children Foundation”.

Mr. Alpaslan Kara participated as our representative in the workshop and seminar organised by European Union and TAIEX on Occupational Health and Safety.

5 November 2004 – Ankara : Mr. A. Gurhan fisek participated in the focus assembly titled “Co-directing (Governance) During the Process of Forming and Application of Demographic and Development Policies”, being one of the 8 main headings of “RESEARCH OF TURKISH DEMOGRAPHIC AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES” executed by Science Academy of Turkiye (TUBA) and United Nations Demography Fund (UNFPA).

7 November 2004 – Our Foundation was represented by Mr. Mustafa Tasyurek and Mr. A. Gurhan Fisek, who delivered a speech at the “Social Inspection Seminar” about ” Health and Safety Problems of Wear Sector Workers” , organised by FWF, Fair Wear Foundation.

6 December 2004 – Mr A. Gurhan Fisek was invited on behalf of our Foundation, to explain the activities organised so far, to the meeting of National Assembly of the Turkish Republic, The Commission for Parliamentary Research Established in order to Determine the Precautions to be taken against Problems of Street Children and Reasons for this Social Wound.”

10-14 December 2004 – Mrs Oya Fisek and Mr. A. Gurhan Fisek participated at the “International Unity and Peace Symposium” organised in Lucknow, India. Numerous participants from all over the world discussed the possibility of forming a World Parliament during many workshops.

In order to help out the documentation research, conducted in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, General Directorate of Labor, Office for Working Children; copies of our collection of all CDs and photographs on the subject were handed to the Ministry.

VISITS :

• As usual, student groups who are interested in our activities about “working children”, from the Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences and Department of Labour Economics and Industrial Relations, visited our foundation and were informed about our activities.

• The 2nd term students of Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine visit the NGOs which cover the health -social subjects, as a part of their public health education. Under the program, commenced at the beginning of 2004, on the subject of Active Training, the Faculty accepted into their curriculum, regular visits to our Institute in OSTIM (Industrial District for SME’s), and follow our Foundation activities on small enterprises, Shared (common) health unit implementations.We thank Prof. Dr. Arslan Tuncbilek and Assoc. Prof. Deniz Caliskan on this decision. The results and study at the end of 8 visits of over 90 students were very constructive. 30 % of the students volunteered to return to the foundation, 14 % of the students said they would like to work with us at the end of their educational process. Their observations were accurate, apprecitive and encouraging.

• Ms. Gisela Lange, who is the manager of “Social Dialogue in Textile Industry Project”, executed by European Union and International Labour Organisation, visited our Foundation. She exchanged ideas about the activities they would like to launch on occupational health and safety.

• 5 October 2004 – A delegation of 16 members, leaded by Anthropologist, Lotte Bogglid from the “Union of Women Workers of Denmark” visited our Foundation as a part of their Turkey Study Visit.

• In order to exchange ideas we had a visit from Ms Mary Jane Bushnaq, Labor attaché of the Embassy of United States of America, Mr Alisu .Schoua-Glusberg, and Mr Oktay Bora Yagiz the executives of the Project IMPAQ International. They informed us about the activities carried out so far about a study requested by the governement of USA, on “Child Labor in Agriculture Sector of Turkey” and shared our views on the subject.

• We had a visit from Mr Ali Kapusuz, Manager of the Project, in order to share views and ask for our contribution for the study conducted by Ministry of State, “Project for Decreasing Social Risks, Local Components”.

CHARITY BAZAAR :

Among the activities of our Foundation, organising and participating at the Charity Bazaars and Fairs take a big proportion, and create an important amount of financial support as well as forming strong ties with other NGOs and improve our public relations. We never fail to explain our aims and goals to the participants of the Bazaars or buyers who visit these venues, showing how wide spread our activities are and the ever increasing strength of our Foundation.

• The two Charity Bazaars we organised on 17 April 2004 and 18 November 2004, at Ankara Dedeman Hotel, hosted a large number of participants and visitors as well. We had a lot of artisans and buyers and 11 NGOs with whom we shared our stands just like they did, creating a fine sample of solidarity.

• As every year, we opened a permanent Bazaar at our “Prof. Dr. Nusret Fisek Hall of Science and Art”, before New Year or important Holidays. We exhibited and sold small hand-made presents created and donated (or sold) by our volunteers and they were highly appreciated by our visitors.

BAZAARS AND FAIRS WE PARTICIPATED:

The NGOs that we have invited at Bazaars which we organize, usually invite us back as a sign of solidarity. Also other organisations who are interested in our Foundation and our activities invite us and they show their support and contribution. We thank all these organisations and our volunteers who work with devotion for the promotion of our Foundation.

• Turkish – American Culture Association, New Year Bazaar

• Association of Textile and Handicrafts

• British Wives Club

• Association for the Support of Contemporary Living, Bazaar

• Anatolian Contemporary Education Foundation, Bazaar

• Fair organised by G.O.P. Rotary Club

• Maltepe Rotary Club

• Golbasi Center for Rehabilitation of Mentally Retarded

• TEMA (Turkish Association to Fight Against Erosion)

CONTRIBUTIONS:

• Studies we have been conducting at the Pendik Small Industry Site, together with the Bureau of Working Children (Pendik-Istanbul), which was formed under the Project of ILO/IPEC, by TISK (Turkish Workers’ Union), gradually have been shifted under the responsibility of the group formed by TISK since 2002. Between January and December 2004, our foundation has made material and equipment contributions to the health surveillance activities of this group.

• Under the ILO/IPEC program, ILO has made some financial contribution to our Foundation to support the preparation and publishing of a photo-album containing works which participated at the first two “Photography Contest on Child Labour” .

• The support and labour of all our volunteers and also the on-going contributions of kind people make us happy and proud. They are all very much appreciated in their quest to help us spread our good-will to be heard and supported by even larger numbers of the society.

ON-GOING PROJECTS:

Fisek Institute continues its model activities about child labour and Shared (common) health units, in centers, at Ankara – Ostim and Sincan Organized Industry Districts. Our “Mobile Clinics”, a first in Turkey, continue visiting small industry enterprises and offering health and safety services and reaching the children workers at these workplaces.

Between 4-11 September 2004, a program was organised at Burhaniye-Oren, Efem Holiday Village, as last year, aiming to make children apprentices benefit from paid vacation. 11 girl and 9 boy apprentices participated in the program and they experienced a lot of different activities unlike their daily life, such as swimming or dancing. Arzu Uyar and Aktan Akiner leaded the girls and boys consecutively. We strongly believe that both blessings and standards are shared through this program.

Prof. Dr. Nusret Fisek Hall of Science and Art continues the “Nusret H.Fişek Library Site” as a part of its activities. Among the 12 libraries below are the ones which are firsts in Turkey:

1. Libray of Child Labor

2. Library of Health, Safety and Environment at Workplaces

3. Library of NGOs

4. Library of Social Medicine

5. Library of Social Politics

6. Library of Immigration from Turkey

The total number of books provided until the end of year 2004 is over 5000. We still continue to move all the books to digital media. We thank Hulya Durukan for her tedious work.

All through the year, we also could see how useful and functional the “Bookworm” Program was, developped by our informatic group; Didem Kamoy, Doruk Fisek and Ekin Meroglu. This made the libraries easily accesible on the internet. We thank them for their contribution. An increasing number of students from various universities benefitted from this computer program while they were preparing their term papers, thesis, homeworks, seminars and presentations.

During the fall of 2004, we put forward yet another step in making our libraries’ services available on much wider scale in Anatolia’s diffrent provinces and universities and for researchers, with the help of our volunteer Mr. Taner Akpinar. Now, students and researchers from all over Turkey can receive the printout or photocopy of all information they need by post, saving a trip to Ankara. This service will definitely improve the quality and quantity of the studies and researches made on the subjects of our Foundation’s interest.

COOPERATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS:

Cooperation with TISK, concerning actions for working children: In Istanbul, the “Project for Shared (common) Health Unit for Workplaces” and “Bureau for Working Children” covering all child workers in Pendik Industry Site, continue. We thank everybody who took part in this Project, especially General Secretary Mr Bulent Pirler, Research Expert Ms Zubeyde Celebioglu and Project Manager Dr Nezih Varol.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY AND RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT STUDIES:

Our Group for ” Occupational Health Safety Research and Development” continue toshare information and experiences through our web-page on the internet and is highly appreciated.

Our web-page is visited by large numbers and by the messages they send we are proud to be of help. This year our web-site: www.isguvenligi.net continue to be the mostly visited web-site on occupational health and safety issues.

Our authentic poster designs can also reach viewers through the internet. As they are available without any obstacles, they are widely used in workplaces by anybody who is interested.

RELATIONS WITH THE MEDIA:

Talk Shows or Interviews participated:

• Ankara Radio : A. Gurhan Fisek was the guest speaker on “Yasadikca” (Long as we live) talk show program, and he told the listeners about Prof. Dr Nusret Fisek and his contributions to the society. Ms Senay Gokbayrak participated in the program titled “Calisma Yasami” (Work Life) and talked about the risk groups and activities and approaches of our Foundation on this matter. Prof. A.Gurhan Fisek participated in a panel discussion organised by Ankara Radio on the subject of working children and talked about globalisation, social cast-outs, poverty and child labor and relations between them.

• Channel B : 7 October 2004 – In “Yenigun” Program (A New Day) , Mrs Oya Fisek participated as guest speaker and talked about the activities and aims of our Foundation.

PREPARATIONS FOR YOUTH HOUSE FOR GIRLS

We have finally decided to open our Youth House for Girls after long theoretical preparations and searches for finance, with our own resources in Ankara-Turkozu-Boztepe Region. We are very excited about the future activities to take place while making the last minute opening preaparations.

USE OF INTERNET :

Our Research and Development Group, like the past years, worked hard to make our web pages easily accesible and regular updates kept the public interest ongoing. Currently we have ever-increasing local and international visits to our web-site and this makes us proud to overcome the old problem of NGOs; “unable to express the aim of being”. As an “organization of thought”, it is important for us that, our ideal of “sharing our experiences and knowledge with the public” and “influencing the practices” are becoming true.

We are aware how important it is for the small number of beneficiaries of NGOs’ efforts. We also know for sure that, not just Turkish public but other people from all around the world also inquire about what is achieved. So when each individual group struggle for better, it is good to know that there are a lot of other achievers elsewhere. Our magazine “Working Environment” is a good sample, and beter yet is the number of visitors of our web-site.

Below is a summary of visitors of our web-site:

We are proud to have a lot of visitors to our web-site from all over the world. We can see the increase when we compare the figures of years of 2003 and 2004. fisek.org.tr reaches to viewers in two languages, the number of visitors reached 336 in december 2004. We have an escalating graphic.

Below are the number of visitor countries out of 92 countries to visit our diffrent web-sites:

(Some of these countries are: Benin, Bosnia-Herzagovia, Brasil, Burkino-Faso, Estonia, Moracco, Ghana, Georgia, Guatemala, Iran, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Kirghizistan, Luxembourg, Mali, Thailand, Greece, Malesia, Taiwan, China)

When we look at the mega-byte units of usage by some countries as a sign of how much information is used by the visitors, below are the figures of fisek.org.tr where the activities and aim of our Foundation is explained:

Turkey and unknowns 1246 MB (80.6%)

USA 212 MB (13.8%)

Canada 43 MB ( 2.8%)

Germany 9 MB

Belgium 3 MB

England 8 MB

Holland 5 MB

Australia 1.6MB

France 4 MB

India 8 MB

Sweden 5 MB

These figures show us that we are succesful in transmitting information to the world as well as our own country. We hope and struggle for incresing numbers of visits to our web-sites for honest and authentic knowledge by our citizens and that we assist for the beter transformation of our country on the way to contemporary living.

We thank all our visitors and our informatic group (Didem Kamoy, Doruk Fisek, Ekin Meroglu and Koray Loker) who made it possible for us to be heard by masses.