Aydın Doğan Foundation Marks International Day of the Girl Child with Conference Empowering Girls’ Leadership

The Aydın Doğan Foundation celebrated International Day of the Girl Child with a conference centered on the theme “Girls’ Leadership and the Power of Volunteering.” The event featured distinguished speakers, including Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, Chair of the Aydın Doğan Foundation Board of Directors, Paolo Marchi, UNICEF Türkiye Representative, Maryse Guimond, UN Women Türkiye Country Director, and Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Türkiye Representative. Throughout the conference, speakers highlighted how girls can become catalysts for social change through volunteerism, emphasizing the importance of visibility for girls not only as beneficiaries but as leaders creating societal impact.

This year’s conference continues a meaningful series first launched in 2015. Held at Aydın Doğan Fine Arts High School, the event brought together youth, women, policymakers, civil society representatives, and role models, reinforcing the Foundation’s commitment to nurturing girls’ leadership and amplifying their voices in society.

Opening Remarks

The conference, designed using insights from the 2024 needs assessment of young women and civil society organizations, was inaugurated by Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, Chair of the Aydın Doğan Foundation Board of Directors.

In her opening address, Yalçındağ highlighted the persistent global challenge of gender inequality, placing girls’ dreams, potential, and pioneering roles in social transformation at the center. She emphasized that volunteering is a strategic and indispensable tool for societal development, and that girls should be visible not merely as beneficiaries but as leaders creating meaningful social impact.

Citing United Nations data, Yalçındağ noted that there are roughly 1 billion volunteers worldwide, with about 57% of volunteer activities carried out by women. She underlined that volunteering offers girls and women opportunities to develop skills, expand social networks, and participate more actively in decision-making processes.

Tracing the Foundation’s efforts from the 2005 “Send Me to School, Dad” campaign to the current “Empowered Girls, Empowered Futures” project, Yalçındağ reaffirmed the commitment to nurturing confident, independent girls capable of making their own choices. She concluded by stressing that while social transformation begins with individual efforts, its lasting impact requires collective action, inviting everyone to support girls on their leadership journeys and to grow the power of volunteering together.

Following the opening remarks, the conference unfolded with a rich agenda, exploring various topics under the theme “Girls’ Leadership and the Power of Volunteering” throughout the day.

Opening Session

The Opening Session featured speeches by Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, Chair of the Aydın Doğan Foundation, Paolo Marchi, UNICEF Türkiye Representative, Maryse Guimond, UN Women Türkiye Country Director, and Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Türkiye Representative. Their addresses highlighted girls’ access to rights, the transformative impact of volunteering on leadership journeys, and the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration.

In her remarks, Yalçındağ emphasized the critical role of volunteering in social development and underlined that girls should be seen not only as beneficiaries but as leaders creating social impact. She stated:

“Volunteering is a pathway that strengthens solidarity, inclusivity, and equality. At the Aydın Doğan Foundation, we want girls and young women to emerge as leaders who create value, not just receive it. True development is possible in a society where girls can lead in public life. Together, we will continue working to turn their potential into reality.”

During the session, Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Türkiye Representative, highlighted the transformative power of education and autonomy for girls, stating:

“At UNFPA, we believe that when girls are educated and empowered to make decisions about their health, rights, and future, they gain the confidence and resilience to become strong leaders. In Türkiye, where 15% of the population are young people, investing in girls is an investment in our shared future. By protecting them from all forms of violence and discrimination and ensuring they remain in school, we can help girls reach their full potential. Every girl who chooses her own path not only transforms her own life but also becomes a catalyst for change in her family, community, and nation; contributing to social and economic development and strengthening demographic resilience.”

Reflecting on the 30-year legacy of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Maryse Guimond, UN Women Türkiye Country Director, emphasized the urgency of acting today:

“Today, we reaffirm that girls are not only the leaders of tomorrow but also the leaders of today. By raising their voices, safeguarding and advancing their rights, and investing in their opportunities, we can unlock every girl’s potential to shape a more equal, inclusive, and sustainable world. We call on all public institutions, private sector actors, civil society organizations, and multilateral agencies to invest boldly in girls—both today and for the future.”

In his remarks during the opening session, Paolo Marchi, UNICEF Türkiye Representative, stressed that girls are not only the leaders of our future but also of the present:

“When girls lead, they ignite change, break down barriers, and strengthen their communities. That is precisely why UNICEF invests in girls’ leadership—because empowering one girl contributes to the growth and development of many individuals and communities.”

The Contribution of Volunteering to Young People

Later in the day, following a speech by Kadir Has University Rector Prof. Dr. Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz titled “Leadership of Young Women,” which delivered a message encouraging young people never to give up and emphasized the importance of continuous self-development, the Youth Workshop presentation and the panel titled “Leadership of Girls and Volunteer Projects” took place. During the panel, Aydın Doğan Foundation scholarship recipients Yeter Erdem, Sevim Cansu Yağlı and Şeyma Sağınç spoke about the impact their experiences in volunteering had on their own personal development, as well as the lasting impressions they left on the people they reached through their work.

Panel Featuring Gülben Ergen, Ebru Baybara Demir and Nagihan Çakır Yılmaz Drew Attention

Following this, the panel titled “Creating Social Benefit and the Power of Volunteering”—featuring artist Gülben Ergen, who serves as President of the Çocuklar Gülsün Diye Association, social entrepreneur Ebru Baybara Demir, and Nagihan Çakır Yılmaz, Chair of the Board of the Dönüştüren Kadınlar Association—captured significant interest. The event concluded with a mini concert performed by students of Aydın Doğan Fine Arts High School.

Throughout the event, it was emphasized that girls and young women regard volunteering as a critical element for social development, and that volunteer management is one of the key factors enabling civil society organizations to carry out their activities more effectively. Through the conference, the Aydın Doğan Foundation reiterated its belief that volunteering is a powerful tool that strengthens solidarity, inclusiveness and equality, and highlighted that girls can become pioneers of social transformation.

Since 2015, the Aydın Doğan Foundation has celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child from a gender equality perspective and has been carrying out initiatives aimed at protecting girls from all forms of violence, ensuring their access to rights, and enabling them to realize their leadership potential.