THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN
IS THE BEST INVESTMENTS
WE CAN MAKE
OUR MISSION
Poverty remains the most important factor for determining whether a girl can access an education. Our mission is simple - we provide financial support to low income families to improve primary and secondary school completion rates for girls and young women.
Study after study has shown that when you educate a girl, you also educate the next generation. However, persistent gender bias in many aspects of culture and society has left girls out of the educational system, at great economic and social disadvantage. The facts are irrefutable, and we intend to #changetheratio with the #EWTFundforChange
Our financial support covers essential education expenses so these young women in Turkey are more likely to continue their education and graduate. Better educated women tend to be healthier, participate more in the formal labor market, earn higher incomes, have fewer children, marry at a later age, and enable better health care and education for their children, should they choose to become mothers. All these factors combined can help lift households, communities, and nations out of poverty.
MEET OUR TEAM
Elçin Kaleli
President
Elcin has been in real estate business since 2002. She is a former diplomat and translator with a Masters degree. Ms. Kaleli is married and lives in Houston. She is an active member of the American-Turkish community and has formerly served in the Executive Committee for American Turkish Association as the Marketing VP. A passionate animal-rights advocate, she is a volunteer with SPCA Houston. Her biggest inspiration to take an active role with EWT Fund is her own mom who wasn’t able to continue her education due to financial problems.
Deniz Demirörs
Vice President/Advisor
Deniz is a branding and career management consultant with 25 years of experience in corporate and non-profit settings. Deniz is an active member of the Turkish-American community in the Houston area, having served as president of the American Turkish Association (ATA). She founded the Education for Women in Turkey Fund (EWT Fund) because she came from rural poverty, and escaped that cycle through education she would not have had access to without the generosity of programs like EWT Fund. A life-long learner, Deniz holds an executive MBA.
Aykut Göncü
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Treasurer
Graduating with a Master’s Degree in Petroleum Engineering and having worked as a Wells Engineer at Shell Oil for the past 17 years, Aykut is a firm believer in the education of women. It is the primary force in the improvement of gender inequality in the regions of the world where it is at an imbalance. Outside of EWT Fund, Aykut has been a steady sponsor of female college students in Turkey through smaller charitable organizations. By becoming the EWT Fund Treasurer, he has been more actively involved in the expansion of the organization in securing further funding to help more students.
Gözde Tura
Secretary
Gözde Tura holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and she is actively involved in Houston’s Turkish cultural community through dance, theater, and the American Turkish Association. Gözde is committed to empowering women to become independent and believes that women have the strength to make the world a better place in every way when given access to education.
Yeşim Jonsson
Board Member
Yesim feels fortunate to have a family that made her education a priority, and came to the US as an 18 year-old college student to follow her dreams. Yesim has been a supporter of EWT Fund since its inception, and wants to help girls reach their full potential. Yesim has worked for Shell Exploration and Production Company for over 23 years. After graduating from Robert College in Istanbul, Yesim received her BA, MA, and MBA degrees in the US. Yesim is passionate about the education of girls, its power to unlock opportunities for women, and improve the lives of families.
Scott Poerschke is an employment lawyer dedicated to protecting civil rights and advancing equal opportunity in the workplace.
He is interested in supporting the mission of EWT – Education for Women in Turkey – because it aligns deeply with his professional and personal values. He believes that those who have received the benefit of education and opportunity have a responsibility to lift up others who are still struggling, especially women in countries where equality is not guaranteed. Just as he fights for workplace fairness and dignity here in America, he believes women everywhere deserve the right to safe, meaningful, and fairly compensated employment.
Scott Poerschke
Board Member
A former science teacher, Banu Colpan is currently in the finance sector and holds an accountant position with DXP enterprises. She has completed her college degree in the field of Education Science in Turkiye with the scholarship she has received from Cagdas Yasami Destekleme Dernegi (CYDD). Her gratitude for this scholarship as well as her experiences as a teacher in Turkiye, makes her a big supporter of female students who want to get an education.
Banu Çolpan
Board Member
PAST BOARD MEMBERS
Derya Kahraman Poerschke
Past Board Member
Derya is a Bilkent University graduate with Archaeology and History of Art degree. She also holds a degree in Business Management from Houston Community College. Derya and her husband, Scott, are active volunteers of American Turkish Association of Houston (ATA) and Women for Education sub-group. Derya is very passionate about education, especially education that leads to the economic independence for young women.
Jana Çanan
Beyoğlu
Past Board Member
Jana Canan is a graduate of Istanbul University where she received a BS degree in Geophysics. She is currently working in TGSNopec Geophysical Company as a Geophysicist. She is from Bursa, Turkey and she has been living in Houston since 1990 with her husband. She has two children. She believes in girl’s education, and supports women rights. There are so many reasons why we should support girls education, but the most important one is they improve prospects for the next generations.
Julia (Hülya)
Unay
Past Board Member
Julia (Hulya) Unay is a CRM Coordinator with Gillman Honda. She has been with the Gillman Companies for 19 years, holding various positions. She has worked as Radio DJ in Istanbul before coming to Houston. Julia has been involved with the Turkish community for many years. Julia believes there is no greater satisfaction of being part of something that can make a difference in people’s lives. Every child is a star in the sky, it falls on us to make them shine brighter.
Müge Şimşek
Past Board Member
Müge received her undergraduate degree in Psychological Counseling from Bogazici University and completed her MBA at The University of Houston-Clear Lake in Texas. She works as a research analyst at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Over the last 15 years, Müge has been very active in the American Turkish Association of Houston where she served as a member of executive committee and board of directors. Müge believes that educating girls is crucial to have healthier families and better-educated generations, to increase economic growth and decrease in infant and maternal mortality. Educating women creates healthy communities from which humanity can benefit.
Şuur Biliciler
Past Board Member
Suur graduated from English High School for Girls as a valedictorian and graduated with an MD degree from Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. She is currently a professor of Adult Neurology at UT Health Science Center in Houston. Suur believes if you educate a woman you educate the whole household. With this motto as her guide Suur feels privileged to be an active member of EWT Fund and is in full gear to help girls enable their dreams in Turkey and across the world.
Samiye Ardıç
Past Board Member
Samiye is an experienced librarian with a college degree. She strongly believes in leveraging collective resources, passion, and influence of individuals who believe in the transformative effect women's education can have on economic and social equality. She is a strong supporter of EWT Fund, in the hopes that it will create a collective effort to give back.
MEMORIAL DONATIONS
IN LOVING MEMORY OF GÜLÇIN BAL
Gülçin Bal was born and raised in Turkey. She immigrated to the United States where she became an ESL (English as a Second Language) Teacher.
As a teacher and a true believer in the power of education, she dedicated her career to working with immigrants. She was a selfless giver and hard worker, who worked tirelessly to empower her students and their families.
In memory of her life’s work, her friends and family have generously donated $12,250 to support the education of women in Turkey. Her legacy will continue through the scholarship awarded in her honor.