Organization: AZIZ AND GWEN SANCAR FOUNDATION
Mission: THE FOUNDATION IS DEVOTED TO EDUCATION IN ITS BROADEST SENSE. IT PROMOTES UNDERSTANDING OF TURKEY AND TURKIC PEOPLES BY ORGANIZING AND HOSTING PROGRAMS CELEBRATING TURKISH CULTURE, ASSISTS AMERICANS TO STUDY ABROAD OR TRAVEL IN TURKEY, PROVIDES TURKISH LANGUAGE CLASSES AND LECTURES ABOUT TURKEY.
Activities: PROVIDE A TURKISH CULTURAL CENTER TO HOST PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF TURKISH CULTURE AND TURKIC PEOPLE. HOST EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES WHICH INCLUDE: (1) WELCOME PARTY FOR NEWLY ARRIVING COLLEGE STUDENTS STUDYING AT UNC-CHAPEL HILL, DUKE UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY AND EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY; (2) TURKISH CLASSES FOR TURKISH-AMERICAN CHILDREN; (3) TURKISH COOKING CLASSES; (4) PROVIDE OFFICE SPACE FOR THE HONORARY CONSUL OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY IN NORTH CAROLINA
HOST A GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY IN 2018 FOR THE NEW SANCAR TURKISH CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY CENTER IN CHAPEL HILL, NC. CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED DURING 2019 WITH AN ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE OF MID-TO-LATE 2020.
AT CAROLINA TURK EVI PROVIDES LOW-COST HOUSING FOR TURKISH VISITING SCHOLARS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS STUDYING FOR ONE MONTH OR MORE AT UNIVERSITIES OR MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN CHAPEL HILL AND DURHAM. THE DIFFERENCE IN SALARIES/FELLOWSHIPS AND THE COST-OF-LIVING IN TURKEY VERSUS THE U.S. MAKES STUDYING IN THE U.S. VERY DIFFICULT FOR THESE HIGHLY EDUCATED INVIDIDUALS. DR. GWEN SANCAR WORKS WITH THESE SCHOLARS TO EASE THEIR TRANSITION INTO AMERICAN CULTURE AND THE CHAPEL HILL COMMUNITY. TURK EVI IS CLOSE TO LOCAL TRANSPORTATION TO SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES AND ALSO WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO LOCAL MARKETS AND BUSINESSES THUS REDUCING THE NEED FOR A CAR BY THESE INDIVIDUALS. THIS HOUSING ARRANGEMENT CONTINUED DURING 2019 AND WAS PROVIDED FOR A PORTION OF THE YEAR UNTIL THAT PROPERTY WAS SOLD AS A PART OF THE OVERALL PLAN FOR THE NEW TURKISH CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY CENTER.
NTEE category: International, Foreign Affairs & National Security
Secondary category: Arts, Culture & Humanities