Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey 1400x700 with theme

Fostering citywide mutual aid

Winner of the 2021 Global Mayors Challenge for their project – Pay-It-Forward – which is fostering city-wide mutual aid through a program that crowdsources contributions to meet the basic necessities for those in need.

>
The image shows a group of volunteers wearing orange safety vests working in a warehouse setting. They are organizing and packing food supplies, including bottled cooking oil, bags of rice, and other non-perishable goods.

Earthquake relief mobilization

Photos show volunteers and staff of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality assembling and delivering earthquake relief packages to those affected by two devastating earthquakes with magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6 that occurred in southern Turkey on February 6, 2023. According to official data, the earthquake killed over 50,000 people across 11 provinces and left roughly 1.5 million people homeless. Along with the human suffering, the earthquake also resulted in a major economic toll on the region. With Pay It Forward already in place, the City of Istanbul together with the innovation team and assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Global Mayors Challenge, quickly pivoted Pay it Forward – which had already expanded since COVID-19 to help other specific needs: students needing educational support, the ones in the need of transit help, families seeking diapers and other necessities – with the added capability of allowing direct, peer-to-peer donations of supplies to get from anywhere in Turkey to families displaced by the disaster. Through a partnership with Metro, a German supermarket chain, donors could use the platform to buy and ship parcels of necessary grocery staples, personal care items and more, to families in the earthquake region.

A large warehouse with numerous pallets of goods wrapped in plastic, neatly stacked and organized.

Earthquake relief mobilization

Photos show volunteers and staff of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality assembling and delivering earthquake relief packages to those affected by two devastating earthquakes with magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6 that occurred in southern Turkey on February 6, 2023. According to official data, the earthquake killed over 50,000 people across 11 provinces and left roughly 1.5 million people homeless. Along with the human suffering, the earthquake also resulted in a major economic toll on the region. With Pay It Forward already in place, the City of Istanbul together with the innovation team and assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Global Mayors Challenge, quickly pivoted Pay it Forward – which had already expanded since COVID-19 to help other specific needs: students needing educational support, the ones in the need of transit help, families seeking diapers and other necessities – with the added capability of allowing direct, peer-to-peer donations of supplies to get from anywhere in Turkey to families displaced by the disaster. Through a partnership with Metro, a German supermarket chain, donors could use the platform to buy and ship parcels of necessary grocery staples, personal care items and more, to families in the earthquake region.

A group of workers in a warehouse is unloading white boxes from a truck, forming a human chain to pass them along efficiently. They are wearing high-visibility orange vests.

Earthquake relief mobilization

Photos show volunteers and staff of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality assembling and delivering earthquake relief packages to those affected by two devastating earthquakes with magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6 that occurred in southern Turkey on February 6, 2023. According to official data, the earthquake killed over 50,000 people across 11 provinces and left roughly 1.5 million people homeless. Along with the human suffering, the earthquake also resulted in a major economic toll on the region. With Pay It Forward already in place, the City of Istanbul together with the innovation team and assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Global Mayors Challenge, quickly pivoted Pay it Forward – which had already expanded since COVID-19 to help other specific needs: students needing educational support, the ones in the need of transit help, families seeking diapers and other necessities – with the added capability of allowing direct, peer-to-peer donations of supplies to get from anywhere in Turkey to families displaced by the disaster. Through a partnership with Metro, a German supermarket chain, donors could use the platform to buy and ship parcels of necessary grocery staples, personal care items and more, to families in the earthquake region.

A young woman in a navy-blue shirt hands over a white plastic bag labeled "İstanbul Halk Süt" to a man in a dark-colored shirt. The man, standing at his doorway, receives the package with a grateful expression.

Earthquake relief mobilization

Photos show volunteers and staff of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality assembling and delivering earthquake relief packages to those affected by two devastating earthquakes with magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6 that occurred in southern Turkey on February 6, 2023. According to official data, the earthquake killed over 50,000 people across 11 provinces and left roughly 1.5 million people homeless. Along with the human suffering, the earthquake also resulted in a major economic toll on the region. With Pay It Forward already in place, the City of Istanbul together with the innovation team and assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Global Mayors Challenge, quickly pivoted Pay it Forward – which had already expanded since COVID-19 to help other specific needs: students needing educational support, the ones in the need of transit help, families seeking diapers and other necessities – with the added capability of allowing direct, peer-to-peer donations of supplies to get from anywhere in Turkey to families displaced by the disaster. Through a partnership with Metro, a German supermarket chain, donors could use the platform to buy and ship parcels of necessary grocery staples, personal care items and more, to families in the earthquake region.

A worker operating a yellow forklift is loading a pallet of neatly stacked white boxes into a truck. Another worker, standing inside the truck, is guiding the placement of the load. Both are wearing orange safety vests.

Earthquake relief mobilization

Photos show volunteers and staff of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality assembling and delivering earthquake relief packages to those affected by two devastating earthquakes with magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6 that occurred in southern Turkey on February 6, 2023. According to official data, the earthquake killed over 50,000 people across 11 provinces and left roughly 1.5 million people homeless. Along with the human suffering, the earthquake also resulted in a major economic toll on the region. With Pay It Forward already in place, the City of Istanbul together with the innovation team and assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Global Mayors Challenge, quickly pivoted Pay it Forward – which had already expanded since COVID-19 to help other specific needs: students needing educational support, the ones in the need of transit help, families seeking diapers and other necessities – with the added capability of allowing direct, peer-to-peer donations of supplies to get from anywhere in Turkey to families displaced by the disaster. Through a partnership with Metro, a German supermarket chain, donors could use the platform to buy and ship parcels of necessary grocery staples, personal care items and more, to families in the earthquake region.

Several volunteers wearing orange vests are assembling food packages at a distribution center. They are filling cardboard boxes with essential food items such as pasta, rice, beans, and canned goods. The background shows additional volunteers and stacks of packed boxes.

Earthquake relief mobilization

Photos show volunteers and staff of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality assembling and delivering earthquake relief packages to those affected by two devastating earthquakes with magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6 that occurred in southern Turkey on February 6, 2023. According to official data, the earthquake killed over 50,000 people across 11 provinces and left roughly 1.5 million people homeless. Along with the human suffering, the earthquake also resulted in a major economic toll on the region. With Pay It Forward already in place, the City of Istanbul together with the innovation team and assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Global Mayors Challenge, quickly pivoted Pay it Forward – which had already expanded since COVID-19 to help other specific needs: students needing educational support, the ones in the need of transit help, families seeking diapers and other necessities – with the added capability of allowing direct, peer-to-peer donations of supplies to get from anywhere in Turkey to families displaced by the disaster. Through a partnership with Metro, a German supermarket chain, donors could use the platform to buy and ship parcels of necessary grocery staples, personal care items and more, to families in the earthquake region.

A volunteer wearing an orange and navy blue vest is packing food items into a box at a distribution center. The table is covered with staple foods such as rice, beans, pasta, cooking oil, and canned goods. In the background, there are other volunteers working and stacks of cardboard boxes.

Earthquake relief mobilization

Photos show volunteers and staff of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality assembling and delivering earthquake relief packages to those affected by two devastating earthquakes with magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6 that occurred in southern Turkey on February 6, 2023. According to official data, the earthquake killed over 50,000 people across 11 provinces and left roughly 1.5 million people homeless. Along with the human suffering, the earthquake also resulted in a major economic toll on the region. With Pay It Forward already in place, the City of Istanbul together with the innovation team and assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Global Mayors Challenge, quickly pivoted Pay it Forward – which had already expanded since COVID-19 to help other specific needs: students needing educational support, the ones in the need of transit help, families seeking diapers and other necessities – with the added capability of allowing direct, peer-to-peer donations of supplies to get from anywhere in Turkey to families displaced by the disaster. Through a partnership with Metro, a German supermarket chain, donors could use the platform to buy and ship parcels of necessary grocery staples, personal care items and more, to families in the earthquake region.

The image depicts a young woman wearing an orange safety vest in a warehouse, sorting and organizing food supplies such as bottled cooking oil, packaged grains, and canned goods. Other volunteers in similar vests are working in the background, some appearing blurred due to movement.

Earthquake relief mobilization

Photos show volunteers and staff of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality assembling and delivering earthquake relief packages to those affected by two devastating earthquakes with magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6 that occurred in southern Turkey on February 6, 2023. According to official data, the earthquake killed over 50,000 people across 11 provinces and left roughly 1.5 million people homeless. Along with the human suffering, the earthquake also resulted in a major economic toll on the region. With Pay It Forward already in place, the City of Istanbul together with the innovation team and assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Global Mayors Challenge, quickly pivoted Pay it Forward – which had already expanded since COVID-19 to help other specific needs: students needing educational support, the ones in the need of transit help, families seeking diapers and other necessities – with the added capability of allowing direct, peer-to-peer donations of supplies to get from anywhere in Turkey to families displaced by the disaster. Through a partnership with Metro, a German supermarket chain, donors could use the platform to buy and ship parcels of necessary grocery staples, personal care items and more, to families in the earthquake region.

Two individuals wearing navy blue shirts with 'İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi' (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) and 'Sosyal Hizmetler Şube Müdürlüğü' (Social Services Branch Directorate) logos sit indoors, attentively listening to a third person whose back is facing the camera.

Earthquake relief mobilization

Photos show volunteers and staff of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality assembling and delivering earthquake relief packages to those affected by two devastating earthquakes with magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6 that occurred in southern Turkey on February 6, 2023. According to official data, the earthquake killed over 50,000 people across 11 provinces and left roughly 1.5 million people homeless. Along with the human suffering, the earthquake also resulted in a major economic toll on the region. With Pay It Forward already in place, the City of Istanbul together with the innovation team and assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Global Mayors Challenge, quickly pivoted Pay it Forward – which had already expanded since COVID-19 to help other specific needs: students needing educational support, the ones in the need of transit help, families seeking diapers and other necessities – with the added capability of allowing direct, peer-to-peer donations of supplies to get from anywhere in Turkey to families displaced by the disaster. Through a partnership with Metro, a German supermarket chain, donors could use the platform to buy and ship parcels of necessary grocery staples, personal care items and more, to families in the earthquake region.

“This city-wide, anonymous, and peer-to-peer solidarity campaign will not only provide relief in the face of rising levels of urban poverty, but it will also help reduce social and political polarization by building bridges between different segments of society.” Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu

Istanbul in the news

Two aid workers in navy blue shirts distribute relief supplies to a woman standing in the doorway of her home. The man hands her a cardboard box, while the woman beside him holds a plastic bag containing additional provisions. The recipient, wearing a headscarf and a long patterned skirt, accepts the aid with a serious expression, highlighting the significance of the assistance being provided.

BBC: Turkey’s ancient tradition of ‘paying it forward’

A variety of food staples are neatly arranged on a white cloth labeled "LOJİSTİK DESTEK MERKEZİ" (Logistics Support Center). The assortment includes grains like rice, lentils, and bulgur, pasta, canned tomato paste, sugar, flour, salt, tea, cooking oil, and soup mixes. The brands suggest the items are sourced from Turkish suppliers, and the packaging indicates they are intended for distribution to those in need.

Bloomberg: Istanbul platform aims to keep earthquake aid flowing

Two people wearing navy blue shirts with city logos sit across from a man, engaging in a serious discussion. The woman in the center has long brown hair and a focused expression, while the man beside her holds a piece of paper and listens attentively.

Bloomberg: The fight against poverty in Istanbul, one soaring bill at a time

Learn about other 2021 Mayors Challenge winners