Dr. (h.c.) İbrahim Bodur Kaleseramik Education, Health and Social Welfare Foundation

The Dr. (h.c) Ibrahim Bodur Kaleseramik Education, Health and Social Welfare Foundation (KSV) was established in 1991 by Kale Group’s founder İbrahim Bodur with a view to making Kale Group’s social contributions regular and continuous. KSV continues to implement its scholarship programme with physical infrastructure investments such as schools, dormitories, training centres and initiatives aimed at enhancing industry-university collaboration. Since its inception, KSV continues to contribute to the community in the fields of education and employment.

Scholarships

To date, KSV with its programme that has been in place for many years has granted scholarships to 850 successful students in need of financial support. The support given to students, primarily university students, is not limited to financial support alone. Scholars also receive mentoring from Kale Group’s executives. In addition, grantees are given priority consideration for job and internship vacancies. KSV regularly organises idea and project camps to contribute to the 21st century competencies of students while also bringing them together with Kale Group’s executives. As part of the scholarship programme, KSV scholars contribute to the foundation by providing support to new scholars after they embark on their careers.To date, KSV with its programme that has been in place for many years has granted scholarships to 850 successful students in need of financial support. The support given to students, primarily university students, is not limited to financial support alone. Scholars also receive mentoring from Kale Group’s executives. In addition, grantees are given priority consideration for job and internship vacancies. KSV regularly organises idea and project camps to contribute to the 21st century competencies of students while also bringing them together with Kale Group’s executives. As part of the scholarship programme, KSV scholars contribute to the foundation by providing support to new scholars after they embark on their careers.

Vocational Courses

Since 1991, KSV has been offering vocational and development courses for floor and wall tile laying to provide qualified employees for the construction industry and to teach unemployed youth a profession.

Setting off from the lack of qualified employees observed in the building industry where Kale Group operates, all vocational training activities are carried out in line with the cooperation protocol signed with the Ministry of Education’s Department of Vocational Training. Attendees who complete the course receive an official certificate approved by the Ministry of Education.

To date, KSV has delivered 240 vocational trainings through which 4,751 young unemployed have acquired a profession. KSV has also delivered 213 development and onboarding courses, providing 4,313 qualified tile layers to the construction industry.

KSV also gives courses in correctional facilities, juvenile detention centres and orphanages, enabling inmates and detainees to start their new lives with high hopes. In addition, marking a first in Turkey, KSV delivered courses to women tile layers to be employed in the construction industry. Kicked off in Ankara, unemployed women received 424 hours of training in ceramic floor and wall tile laying. A total of 69 women tile layers successfully completed the course and received a vocational competency certificate.

My First Job is Creating Change in Schools Project

Combing education and employment in one, KSV’s two core focus areas, the ‘My First Job is Creating Change in Schools’ project contributed significantly to the renovation of primary schools across Turkey between 2009 and 2015.

As part of the project launched in 2004, young learners who completed the ceramic floor and wall tile laying courses offered under the vocational trainings project completed their internships by working in village schools across Anatolia. This employment initiative combined with materials supplied by Kale Group companies supported the renovation of village schools and provided children with a hygienic environment.

Women tile layers who attended the courses under the vocational training programme did their first internships at Gölbaşı Ahiboz Primary School in Ankara instead of a workshop. By doing so, 25 women tile layers took part in a social responsibility in their first job.

To date, a total of 130 schools in 24 cities have been renovated as part of the ‘My First Job is Creating Change in Schools’ project. Alongside this project, KSV launched an initiative through which Kale Group employees and dealers provided school supplies, clothes, shoes and toys/games for one full year to schools in the project.