İHH Foundation is an abbreviation for the "Foundation for Humanitarian Relief and Human Rights and Freedoms," a non-governmental organization founded in Turkey in 1992, with its actual activities starting in 1995. The foundation aims to provide humanitarian aid regardless of religion, race, or nationality. It operates in more than 100 countries worldwide, implementing various projects focused on assisting and supporting the most needy groups, regardless of their affiliations. IHH collaborates with many international and local organizations and strives to enhance cooperation to achieve its humanitarian goals on a wider scale.
Bülent Yıldırım is one of the main founders of the organization and is also one of the prominent figures associated with it for long periods. Yıldırım held the position of president of the foundation and played a significant role in directing its activities and expanding its international influence. The IHH Foundation stands out as an example of humanitarian organizations and the role they can play in improving the lives of individuals and communities in challenging circumstances. The foundation relies on donations for funding and enters into partnerships with other international organizations to achieve its objectives and expand its humanitarian impact.
In addition to Bülent Yıldırım, there is a board of directors consisting of several people who oversee the management of the foundation and direct its activities. The board comprises individuals with experience in relief, development, and human rights fields, and it is responsible for strategic decision-making and ensuring the application of the values and principles upon which the foundation was established.
The foundation is managed through an organizational structure that includes a central general administration in Turkey, as well as branches and offices distributed in various regions to ensure the effectiveness of operations and efficient delivery of humanitarian services.
IHH Branches and Offices
Headquarters : Located in Istanbul, Turkey.
Headquarter of the Humanitarian Relief Foundation IHH
Ali Kuşçu Neighborhood, Taylasan Sok. No:3, Fatih/İstanbul
Central Administration : Responsible for strategic planning and coordinating humanitarian activities and projects globally. It also oversees fundraising and partnerships with other organizations.
Board of Directors : Composed of individuals with expertise in humanitarian and relief fields, responsible for the strategic and financial decisions of the foundation.
Local Branches : Spread across different Turkish cities to facilitate logistical operations and quickly and efficiently implement local relief projects.
International Offices : The foundation has a presence in many countries through its international offices, which facilitate field operations and cooperation with local and international bodies.
Partnerships with Other Organizations : These partnerships contribute to achieving humanitarian goals and expanding work to include the most needy areas.
Branches and offices work in direct coordination with the general administration to ensure that all activities align with the foundation's goals and humanitarian mission, facilitating quick and effective support delivery anywhere in the world.
Foundation Goals
Responding to humanitarian crises : providing aid to those in need in conflict zones and natural disasters.
Sustainable development : supporting developmental projects that contribute to improving daily life in impoverished communities.
Defending human rights : working to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide.
Activities and Projects
Urgent Relief : Includes distributing food, medical assistance, and emergency shelter.
Infrastructure Projects : Building mosques, schools, hospitals, and drilling wells.
Health and Education Programs : Implementing medical campaigns and offering scholarships and educational programs.
Supporting Refugees and Displaced Persons : Improving the conditions of refugees and providing basic needs.
Emergency Relief : Delivering swift and effective assistance in natural disasters and armed conflicts to alleviate human suffering, by supplying essential items like food, water, shelter, and healthcare.
Educational Support : Enhancing access to education through building schools, providing scholarships, and educational supplies to enhance future generations' capabilities and sustainable community development.
Health Aid : Offering medical support through mobile medical campaigns, establishing health facilities in deprived areas, and supporting basic health services.
Empowering Local Communities : Enhancing community capabilities to achieve self-sufficiency through developmental projects such as sustainable agriculture, professional skill development, and supporting small businesses.
Human Rights Protection : Promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms through awareness campaigns, advocacy, and intervention in cases of violations, working in cooperation with relevant bodies and organizations.
Providing Clean Drinking Water : Implementing well-drilling projects and creating clean water systems to contribute to improving public health and reducing diseases caused by contaminated water.
International Cooperation : Expanding partnerships with international and regional organizations to increase the effectiveness of humanitarian response and enhance joint cooperation to achieve humanitarian objectives.
Food Aid : Implementing programs to distribute food baskets in poverty-stricken and conflict-affected areas, as well as organizing iftar meals during Ramadan and distributing sacrificial meat during Eid al-Adha.
Water Projects : The foundation works on drilling wells and providing clean water systems in areas suffering water scarcity, helping to improve public health and reduce diseases caused by water pollution.
Education : Includes building schools, providing educational supplies, and offering scholarships to children and youth in poor countries and remote areas, aiming to empower future generations with better educational opportunities.
Development Projects : Aiming to empower individuals and communities through supporting small and medium-sized projects, developing professional skills, and encouraging sustainable agriculture.
Supporting Orphans and Needy Families : Providing care and support for orphans and families suffering from extreme poverty by offering financial, educational, and social sponsorships.
These projects are part of the continuous efforts made by the IHH Foundation to improve the lives of individuals and communities in difficult circumstances, reflecting its commitment to sustainable development and effective humanitarian work.