Gülseren Onanç
During Eid holiday, I was in Oxford. I attended the summit, organized by the Skoll Foundation, which brings together social entrepreneurs, civil society representatives, activists, funders, and artists working to find creative solutions to the world’s pressing issues. This year marked the 21st edition of the summit, and it was my second time there. I’m deeply inspired by the collective efforts and creative solutions generated to make the world a better place, as well as the shared determination among attendees.
The main theme of this year’s summit revolved around the 2024 elections, in which half of the world would participate. Discussions focused on questions like whether these elections would elect leaders capable of ending the climate crisis, wars, poverty, and discrimination against women. Topics such as empowering democracy advocates, leveraging technology and artificial intelligence for activism, and increasing the role and effectiveness of donors in driving change were also addressed.
The primary aim of the summit is to facilitate networking among participants. While the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford serves as the main venue, parallel meetings, theater performances, meals, and post-dinner gatherings take place across various locations in the city. Everyone is eager to learn from each other, finding solace in recognizing that they are not alone in tackling common challenges. Representatives from funding organizations often find themselves sought after by individuals involved in civil initiatives. The common challenge faced by those addressing social issues worldwide is access to financial resources, i.e., funding.
I believe nearly half of the participants were American, with the rest hailing from the Global South. Participants from Brazil seemed to form the second-largest group, followed by individuals from various countries in South America, India, and the African continent, who engaged in continuous communication from early mornings to late nights throughout the week.
SES, Keseb, Dandelion
I was present at the event wearing three different hats. Firstly, as the president of the SES Equality and Solidarity Association. I felt proud to hear that our digital broadcasting, which has been continuing its work for six years, has been well-received by those following our English newsletters. I pondered over what we could do to further develop the SES Equality, Justice, and Women’s Platform and how we could amplify SES’s voice globally.
Simultaneously, I was there as a member of the advisory board for Keseb, based in Washington. Keseb is a non-partisan, democratic, non-profit organization aiming to create an ecosystem for inter-country learning, collaboration, and innovation to resist authoritarianism and advance inclusive and resilient democracies.
My third involvement was as a member of the Dandelion Project. This project, initiated by women to raise awareness about the climate crisis and exert pressure on national leaders, garnered significant support, especially with spokespersons like Mary Robinson and Pat Mitchell.
Turkey’s Retreat and Isolation
In international gatherings like this, I often find myself searching for Turkish participants. Despite the presence of 1300 attendees, I couldn’t come across anyone from Turkey. I pondered over how to explain this. I believe the barren climate Erdogan’s 22-year reign has created is the main reason why Turkey is behind in social entrepreneurship. Linguistically skilled and globally aware minds either left the country or lost hope regarding its future.
When I mention that I’m from Istanbul to people I meet there, they often describe the image of a beautiful city. Those observing Turkey from afar, like Brazilians, express interest, while those who have recently visited Istanbul don’t seem eager to return. It saddened me deeply when a French woman recounted her reluctance to return due to the way men looked at her and how taxi drivers tried to take advantage of her being a foreigner.
However, I was eagerly anticipating sharing Turkey’s success story, especially after the March 31 elections. In the meetings I attended, I started by saying, “I’ve brought a story of change from Turkey.” I enthusiastically narrated how, after 22 years, Erdogan’s party became the second-largest for the first time, how change began locally, and how the percentage of female mayors increased from 4% to 13%.
Hope after the March 31 elections
But the real impact came when Mary Robinson, one of the keynote speakers at the Skoll World Forum’s opening session, said, “We must press on authoritarian regimes without giving up. Look at Turkey and Poland; they have become hope for change.” Mary Robinson, Ireland’s first female president and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is now actively engaged in climate justice work. Knowing her for the past seven years, I was touched when she expressed her happiness for Turkey and pledged to keep an eye on it, indicating how we could sustain the excitement we generated.
We must write Turkey’s exemplary success story together
The first chapter of Turkey’s story to the world began on March 31. By adding elements of local democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, we can write a story of hope showing how authoritarian leaders can be defeated democratically. I found Ekrem İmamoğlu’s article in The Economist particularly valuable for his bold and confident stance.
“Istanbul and Turkey will remain symbols of freedom, democracy, and social cohesion. A new political ethic prioritizing the people will triumph over authoritarian populism” wrote Ekrem İmamoğlu.
I praise Ekrem İmamoğlu for his courageous and confident stance. Together, we can write a story of a country that embraces diversity, where its people live in peace, and which upholds European Union values like gender equality and human rights.