# Istanbul and Turkish municipal student support initiatives

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/istanbul-student-support-initiatives
> Updated: 2026-09-11T08:24:00.000Z. Sources: 26. Developments: 2.

Authorities in Istanbul have introduced multiple initiatives to support disadvantaged students during the 2026-2027 academic year.

In late August, the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education launched the ‘Öğretmenim Benimle’ (My Teacher is With Me) project. This program seeks volunteer mentor teachers to provide social, emotional, and academic support to students facing significant challenges, such as those affected by earthquakes, orphans, or children of martyrs and veterans.

Following this, the Istanbul Governorship introduced the ‘Gönülden Bir Öğün’ (A Meal from the Heart) project. Led by Governor Davut Gül, this initiative provides 50,000 students with monthly canteen cards loaded with 2,000 TL to ensure nutritional support. The program, which targets high-risk social groups and students with disabilities, aims to prevent absenteeism caused by economic hardship and has the capacity to expand to 100,000 students. By September 2026, details emerged regarding the implementation of the ‘Gönülden Bir Öğün’ project, which is being coordinated alongside the Istanbul Children’s Foundation and Halkbank. The ‘Canteen Cards’ are restricted for use at school canteens to prevent cash misuse and ensure students can eat without social stigma.

Broader municipal efforts across Turkey are also addressing educational equality. In Ankara, the Metropolitan Municipality has allocated approximately 293.5 million TL for school clothing and stationery for over 83,000 students, aiming for a total education support goal of 1.25 billion TL for the 2026-2027 academic year. In Muğla, the Metropolitan Municipality has increased student support by over 31%, planning a budget of 179.2 million TL by 2027 to provide university students with annual stationery funds and primary/high school students with assistance for clothing and nutrition. Additionally, Mersin’s ‘İlk Çantam Projesi’ (My First Bag Project) is providing stationery and bag sets to 17,000 first-grade students in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

## Claims

- The project aims to reduce absenteeism caused by economic reasons and ensure equal access to education. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The 'Gönülden Bir Öğün' project provides monthly canteen support to disadvantaged students in Istanbul. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Each student receives 2,000 TL loaded onto their canteen card every month. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The canteen cards cannot be withdrawn as cash and are only valid for use in school canteens. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- If a family has multiple students, each student receives a separate card. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- 50,000 students have already been identified and received their cards. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The project has the capacity to expand to support up to 100,000 students. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Target groups include orphans, children of martyrs and veterans, disabled children, and children from high-risk social backgrounds. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-11: Municipalities launch various student support programs

Municipalities in Turkey and Cyprus are implementing extensive social aid programs, including canteen cards, stationery, and clothing subsidies, to support students and reduce family costs.

24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-launches-canteen-support-project-for-50000-students

### 2026-08-27: Istanbul launches mentor teacher program for disadvantaged students

The Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education has opened applications for volunteer mentor teachers for its ‘Öğretmenim Benimle’ project, supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable students.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-launches-mentor-teacher-program-for-disadvantaged-students

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Cite as: Istanbul and Turkish municipal student support initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/istanbul-student-support-initiatives