Yuva Dernegi (YUVA)

What Yuva Dernegi (YUVA) does

Yuva Derneği (YUVA) is a Turkish non-profit civil society organization (dernek) founded in 2010 and headquartered in Kadıköy, İstanbul. The organization works at the intersection of environmental awareness, lifelong learning, and participatory democracy, targeting three primary segments: youth and young adults (18–35), Turkish local governments/municipalities, and civil society organizations in the Black Sea Basin. Its service portfolio centers on three program families: (1) Citizens' Assemblies for Climate — structured participatory democracy processes that convene 50 randomly selected citizens to deliberate and produce policy recommendations, implemented in İzmir (2025) and Antalya (launching 2026); (2) environmental literacy initiatives including the Black Sea Basin Environmental and Ocean Literacy project (Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece; 2024–2026) and the Küresel Okuryazarlık Ağı (KOZA) network of 80+ civil-society members established with Kyoto Club (Italy) in 2020; and (3) supporting programs including the SMALEI sustainability matrix project with European adult-education institutions, a scholarship program with the Turkish Education Foundation (187 female students in 2021–2022), the Termiksiz Gelecek (Future Without Coal) advocacy campaign (since 2015), and digital resources such as İklimMeclisleri.org.

The underlying "technology" is internet- and social-media-based communication infrastructure: a website, e-newsletter, YouTube climate literacy video series, and social media outreach — there is no proprietary software product, API, or AI/ML component. Distribution is project-based: training is delivered through direct institutional partnerships with municipalities (İstanbul, İzmir, Antalya, Edirne, Kırklareli, Tekirdağ, Bursa), universities (Trakya, Marmara, Hacettepe), and NGOs (TOG, AIESEC, HUDOTO, Green Balkans, HSPN), with cross-border reach via the EU Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme.

YUVA is funded entirely through grants and donations rather than commercial revenue. Income streams comprise project grants from institutional donors (EU civil society instruments, Interreg NEXT Karadeniz Havzası, European Climate Foundation, Malala Fund, UNDP Turkey), membership contributions via the KOZA network, and individual/organizational donations. The organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no equity investors, and no public disclosures of financial figures. Leadership is headed by Erdem Vardar as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The organization employs a small team of approximately 16 staff and has won the 2026 Grundtvig Award (EAEA) and the 2026 Nets4Dem Impact Award for its İzmir Citizens' Assembly methodology.

Name

Yuva Dernegi (YUVA)

Legal name

Yuva Derneği

Website

https://yuva.org.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yuva Derneği (YUVA) is a Turkish non-profit civil society organization founded in 2010 in Kadıköy, İstanbul, delivering Citizens' Assemblies for Climate, environmental literacy programs, and lifelong-learning initiatives for Turkish municipalities, youth, and Black Sea Basin civil-society partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Teacher-Led Digital Lesson Packages & Instructional Resources (EDAFACAL)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Climate literacy
• Citizens assemblies
• Lifelong learning
• Civic participation

Headquarters

HQ city

Kadıköy, İstanbul

HQ country

Türkiye

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: YUVA receives funding from international programs such as Interreg NEXT Karadeniz Havzası, European Union civil society instruments, and foundations like European Climate Foundation and Malala Fund for implementing environmental and educational projects.
2. Donations: Individual and organizational donations support YUVA's environmental awareness and education activities, including climate crisis mitigation efforts.
3. Membership Fees: The Global Literacy Network (KOZA) has 80+ members including NGOs and local governments that contribute to network activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Yuva Dernegi (YUVA) is a Turkish non-profit civil society organization that delivers environmental education, climate literacy training, and participatory democracy programs. Its core offerings include Citizens' Assemblies for Climate (in Izmir and Antalya), the Black Sea Basin Environmental and Ocean Literacy project, the Küresel Okuryazarlık Ağı (KOZA) network, scholarship programs for female students, and advocacy campaigns such as Termiksiz Gelecek (Future Without Coal).

Product overview

Yuva Dernegi (YUVA) is a civil society organization (NGO) focused on environmental awareness, climate action, and lifelong learning. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Istanbul's Kosuyolu district, YUVA operates as a non-profit educational organization rather than a technology product company. Its service portfolio comprises primarily citizen participation programs (Citizens' Assemblies for Climate in Izmir and Antalya), environmental literacy initiatives (Black Sea Basin Environmental and Ocean Literacy Project, Global Literacy Network/KOZA), educational programs (SMALEI, scholarship programs), advocacy campaigns (Termiksiz Gelecek/Future Without Coal), and digital knowledge resources (IklimMeclisleri.org platform, video training series). YUVA is a member of the European Association for Adult Education (EAEA).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• İklim için Yurttaş Meclisi (Citizens' Assembly for Climate) A participatory democracy process that brings together 50 randomly selected citizens to develop policy recommendations on climate crisis impacts through expert learning and facilitated deliberation. Implemented in partnership with municipalities in İzmir and Antalya.
• Karadeniz Havzasında Çevre ve Deniz Okuryazarlığı Projesi (Environmental and Ocean Literacy in the Black Sea Basin) An Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Program-supported project implemented with HSPN (Greece) and Green Balkans (Bulgaria) that develops environmental and ocean literacy and green competencies among young adults (18-35) in cities along the Black Sea coast in Turkey, Bulgaria, and Greece. Includes 30 dissemination trainings, trainer-of-trainers sessions, and a policy recommendation document.
• Küresel Okuryazarlık Ağı (KOZA) (Global Literacy Network) A network connecting Turkish and EU civil society organizations and local governments in environmental literacy. Established in 2020 with Kyoto Club (Italy) partnership and EU funding, with over 80 members.
• SMALEI – Yetişkin Eğitimi Kurumları için Sürdürülebilirlik Matrisi (Sustainability Matrix for Adult Education Institutions) A project launched in 2022 in partnership with leading European institutions in adult education, developing a sustainability matrix framework for adult education institutions.
• Burs Programı (Scholarship Program) Educational scholarship program implemented in cooperation with the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV), providing scholarships to female students in Turkey.
• Termiksiz Gelecek (Future Without Coal) Awareness and advocacy campaign against fossil fuels and for renewable energy, defending the right to life of all living beings. Operates through internet technologies and social media since 2015.
• İklimMeclisleri.org (Climate Assemblies Information Platform) An information and resource platform for those interested in learning about climate assemblies, providing guidance on design, implementation, and case studies from Turkey and worldwide.
• Erken Çocuklukta İklim Değişikliği Eğitimi Modeli (Early Childhood Climate Change Education Model) A guidebook developed with Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇAĞAÇAM) for early childhood climate change education with activity examples.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 policy recommendations developed through Citizens Assembly process were integrated into Izmir municipality's climate action planning
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• İzmir Büyükşehir Belediyesi (Izmir Metropolitan Municipality)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic partner implementing Izmir Citizens Assembly for Climate - Turkey's first climate-focused citizens assembly, engaging 50 randomly selected citizens in climate policy development.
• HUDOTO (Hukuk, Doğa ve Toplum Vakfı)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Foundation partner in Izmir Citizens Assembly for Climate project, providing legal and governance expertise for participatory democracy implementation.
• UNDP TurkeyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Acknowledged as supporting partner in democratic innovation initiatives and climate assembly projects.
• Sivil Katılım ProjesiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Civil Society Development project supporting participatory democracy initiatives and citizen engagement in climate policy.
• Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Greek partner in Black Sea Basin Environmental Literacy project. HSPN is Greece's oldest national environmental NGO since 1951, implementing FEE environmental education programs.
• Green Balkans (Bulgaria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Bulgarian partner in Black Sea Basin project. Founded in late 1980s, the organization has implemented 110+ nature conservation projects and manages a federation of 4,500 individual members.
• Hacettepe UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Academic partner for Inclusive Education Project, providing research and curriculum development expertise for teacher training programs.
• Turkish Education Foundation (TEV)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership providing educational scholarships to 187 female students in 2021-2022 academic year to support continuation of their education.
• Kyoto Club (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020European Union-funded Environmental Literacy Communication Network Project partnership establishing the Global Literacy Network (KOZA) with over 80 members from Turkish and EU civil society organizations.
• European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010YUVA is a member of EAEA, participating in European adult education network and receiving recognition through Grundtvig Award.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Greenpeace Mediterranean (Akdeniz): Greenpeace's Turkey/Mediterranean operation focused on environmental advocacy and campaigns. Comparable as a large international environmental NGO operating in Turkey with similar climate and environmental mission focus.
• Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe: Europe's largest climate coalition with 180+ member organizations working on climate policy advocacy. Comparable in advocacy network structure and cross-border coalition building.
• European Environmental Bureau (EEB): Pan-European network of 180+ environmental citizens' organizations. Comparable as an umbrella coordinating body for environmental civil society, relevant to YUVA's KOZA network aspirations.
• TEMA Vakfı (Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion): Turkey's largest environmental NGO focused on erosion control, reforestation, and biodiversity. Comparable as a major Turkish environmental civil society organization with broader scope than YUVA, but similar in non-profit advocacy and public engagement model.
• WWF-Türkiye (Doğal Hayatı Koruma Vakfı): WWF's Turkish affiliate focused on conservation, climate, and sustainable development. Comparable as an established environmental NGO operating in Turkey with significant programmatic reach and donor relationships.

Direct peers

• Kyoto Club: Italian environmental NGO focused on climate, energy, and sustainable development. Direct peer in environmental civil society work; partnered with YUVA to establish the KOZA Global Literacy Network.
• Involve Foundation: UK charity specializing in deliberative democracy, citizens' assemblies, and participatory governance. Direct methodological peer for YUVA's Citizens' Assembly for Climate work, including sortition-based deliberation.
• Green Balkans: Bulgarian environmental NGO implementing 110+ nature conservation projects with a federation of 4,500 individual members. Direct peer in environmental NGO operations; partnered with YUVA on the Black Sea EOL project.
• Climate Assembly UK: UK-wide citizens' assembly on climate change that pioneered the sortition-based climate assembly format YUVA employs. Direct methodological peer; the Izmir team also conducted a benchmarking study visit to London.
• Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN): Greece's oldest national environmental NGO (founded 1951), implementing FEE environmental education programs. Direct peer in environmental NGO and education; partnered with YUVA on the Black Sea EOL project.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yuvadernegi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Yuva Dernegi (YUVA)