– showing once again how young women can bring change to their own lives and communities Thanks to TWI’s signature Sparks Program in Turkey, children now have a storybook that challenges traditional gender roles, and the visually impaired have braille menus in Izmir area cafes. These were just two of the social change projects presented...

The third showing of TWI’s “Stories of Courage” took place in April in Southern California, with actors Lisa Cirincione and Tiffany Mualem once again aptly portraying the will and bravery of young Sparks women who carry on despite hardships. Classical flutist Burak Besir and guitarist Dimitris Mahlis enhanced the experience with beautiful music from Anatolia....

“Stories of Courage,” the dramatic reading profiling the lives of Sparks alumni, took center stage at TWI’s Northern California fundraiser in January. At several points in the presentation, “there wasn’t a dry eye in the house” as actors Lisa Cirincione and Tiffany Mualem aptly portrayed the will and bravery of young Sparks women who carry...

This year marks the 10th anniversary of TWI. It was in 2008 that Sema Basol took the first steps in achieving her dream of making a positive difference for young women in Turkey. Together with co-founder Dr. Jeanne Nidorf, they developed and launched the unique Sparks Program for university women of modest means. Women make...

  TWI’s November Southern California fundraiser, “Stories of Courage” was a success on many levels. The highlight was the stage reading of the lives and dreams of Spark Program graduates in Turkey, performed by professional actors Lisa Cirincione and Tiffany Mulak, and accompanied by classical flutist Burak Besir. The event was a culmination of months...

[cmsms_image align=”left” animation_delay=”0″]4498|https://www.thetwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Jeanne_Refika_Tresa-frm-01.jpg|full[/cmsms_image] Refika Celik, a 2017 graduate of Istanbul University and Sparks Program in Turkey, is visiting California August through November. The purpose is to experience American culture and customs, learn more about the TWI organization in the U.S., and to help build awareness here about TWI’s programs in Turkey. “The Sparks Program is...

[cmsms_image align=”center” animation=”fadeIn” animation_delay=”50″]4479|https://www.thetwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Can-and-Refika-frm.jpg|full[/cmsms_image]   [cmsms_image align=”left” animation=”fadeInLeft” animation_delay=”0″]4485|https://www.thetwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Refika-with-food.jpg|full[/cmsms_image] At the annual fall cook-off fundraiser of the Star Rotary Club of Silicon Valley, Club President Can Aran introduced speaker Refika Celik, graduate of the Sparks Program in Turkey. Refika spoke about her experience with Sparks, telling how the program has changed her life.   For...

TWI’s first film to debut at events this fall! Creation of TWI’s first promotional video is underway, and we are delighted to have the guidance and hands-on support of film professionals in the process. The film will highlight the impact of the Sparks Program on the lives of university women who are graduates of the...

Sparks Program wraps up another year culminating in the positive transformation of participants and their communities. Thanks to TWI’s signature Sparks program in Turkey, hearing-impaired small children have audio books. And high-school girls and university women have a website addressing their needs. These were just two of the social change projects presented by Sparks participants...

A quick look at what’s what and who’s who TWI News Support, for many young women in Turkey, is life changing…especially for those with big dreams. Thank you for being a part of providing support. The purpose of this newsletter is to invite you to continue your meaningful role and stay in the know on...

In 2016, TWI co-founder Sema Başol has accepted honors on behalf of TWI and DLD from three organizations this year   ATAA Turkish American Conference, February 2016 Sema Başol was a guest speaker at the “Assembly of Turkish American Association” (ATAA) conference in Washington, DC. As a member of the “Turkish American Women Stars” panel,...

Lizge comes from a village of 70 people where her parents support the family selling goat milk and cheese. She is 20 years old, the eldest of three siblings and the first in her family to attend university. Despite their meager financial means, Lizge’s parents always supported her desire to attend university. To be eligible...

DLD and TWI’s Sparks program were featured in a two-page spread of the November-December 2015 issue of Lale, the magazine of International Women of Istanbul (IWI). IWI is a non-profit organization, whose membership represents a wide range of professional women living in Istanbul. Many are leaders in their professions. IWI is one of DLD’s sponsors....

[cmsms_row][cmsms_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsms_text] The Sparks Program is continuing to grow. This academic year, Sparks added groups in two new cities, Istanbul and Bolu. Now there are groups in Izmir, Bolu, Istanbul, and Izmit. This brings the total number of groups to six, serving a total of 49 university women which represents a big growth over last...

[cmsms_row][cmsms_column data_width=”1/1″][cmsms_text] Esra, an ambitious participant in the Sparks program, is pursuing an unorthodox career for many Turkish women: Electrical Engineering. Esra grew up in Ankara, the older of two daughters in a family of modest means. That meant limited access to the supplementary academic support that more affluent families can provide. Through self-discipline, hard...

In 2011, TWI co-founder Sema Basol was awarded the Soroptimist Ruby Award (For Women Helping Women) by Soroptimist International of Manhattan Beach, CA (SIMB). The award honors women who have worked to improve the lives of women and girls through their professional and/or volunteer work. __________________________________________ TWI is a US based organization that provides innovative, practical...