“Training of Trainers” Program Successfully Completed Through the Cooperation of the Aydın Doğan Foundation and the EU

The Aydın Doğan Foundation has successfully completed the “Training of Trainers” program organized within the scope of the “Empowered Girls, Empowered Futures” project, carried out with the support of the European Union. The training sessions, held on 4–6 September and 10–12 September 2025 at the Doğan Holding headquarters in Istanbul, brought together 60 representatives from civil society organizations across Türkiye working in the fields of gender equality and with young women.

Strong Interest and a Rigorous Selection Process

The open call launched by the Aydın Doğan Foundation attracted significant interest. Nearly 400 civil society organizations from 58 provinces applied to the program. Following a meticulous evaluation process conducted by the Foundation, a total of 60 participants were selected—30 for each training session. Priority in the selection process was given to organizations working on gender equality and with disadvantaged young women, as well as to civil society organizations operating in earthquake-affected regions.

During the three-day training program, participants gained in-depth knowledge on gender equality and women’s empowerment, financial sustainability strategies and grant management, volunteer management, and increasing participation. The program also provided specialized training on youth work and the design of learning programs for young people, as well as on interactive learning methods, gamification and group dynamics, advocacy, and project development.

Sustainable Impact Through the “Multiplier” Model

One of the most distinctive features of the program was its adoption of the “Training of Multipliers” model. After completing the training, participants are expected to organize pilot workshops within their own organizations, each reaching at least 20 people. Through this approach, the knowledge and experience gained during the program will be disseminated to a wider audience through a multiplier effect, significantly expanding the program’s social impact and increasing the number of girls and young women reached.

Participants who complete the training will be provided with ready-to-use workshop content, reporting templates, and guidance materials prepared by the Aydın Doğan Foundation. Those who successfully implement and report on their pilot workshops will receive an official certificate.

A Sustainable Social Change Goal Through Partnership with the EU

The Empowered Girls, Empowered Futures project, funded by the European Union and set to run for 36 months, aims to reach a total of 100 civil society organizations as well as 2,500 disadvantaged girls and young women aged 15–24.

Civil society organizations participating in the program stated that they were highly satisfied with the training, noting that it created a valuable environment for coming together and fostering opportunities for collaboration. Through the Training of Trainers program, participating organizations will be able to integrate gender equality more effectively into their strategies and actions. As a result, initiatives aimed at disadvantaged girls and young women will become more professional, sustainable, and impact-oriented. Through the multiplier model, training content and experiences will also be shared with wider audiences.

Representatives of participating NGOs emphasized that they found the training highly productive, highlighting that the balanced combination of theoretical and practical components supported the learning process. They noted that workshop sessions and group discussions were particularly valuable in deepening their understanding of the topics and enabling them to explore different perspectives. According to participants, one of the most impactful aspects of the program was learning to recognize gender stereotypes and gaining practical methods for addressing them within educational processes.

Bringing together the Aydın Doğan Foundation’s more than quarter-century of experience with the strong support of the European Union, the program aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations working on gender equality across Türkiye.