In undeveloped rural areas of Turkey, many families survive below the poverty line. This means education is not easily accessible, especially for girls. The Snowdrops Project was launched in 2000 to equalize the right to an education, by giving scholarships to girls. The aim in 2008/9 was to expand the project to make it not only a Turkcell project, but also a big project of Turkey.Starting with the scholarship of 5,000 female students, the Snowdrops program now provides social, financial and moral support to 20,000 young Turkish women in leading them to become comprehensively educated and qualificated individuals/professionals.Turkcell's long-term objectives for the Snowdrop project are to contribute to overcoming the problem of female illiteracy in Turkey and to set an example of Corporate Social Responsibility for other Turkish companies. Snowdrops is achieving both objectives.Snowdrops has provided scholarships to a total of 20,000 students. 7,470 students have graduated from high school, 1,902 have been accepted to university, and 363 have graduated from university.

The goals of the Snowdrops project are:- To offer equal opportunities in education to girls that have the determination to go to school but lack the financial resources to do so;- Give scholarships to 10,000 female high school students every year;- Support female students that continue their education in University;- Grow the Snowdrops project beyond the status of a Turkcell project to become a project of Turkey;- Expand the project - launched initially in the Eastern provinces where financial hardships are more severe - to the whole country over time.

The project was launched in August 2000, with a press conference. The Snowdrops project started by providing educational scholarships to 5,000 female students. To expand Snowdrops to whole country, sub projects were formed. Turkcell published a book about the true stories of the Snowdrops. The stories were compiled and written by the famous Turkish novelist Ayse Kulin and photographed by Manuel Çitak. To date, the book has been reprinted 28 times to meet the demand from hundreds of thousands of readers.The famous Turkish singer Sezen Aksu made an album about Snowdrops titled 'Kardelen'. She also gave 21 concerts in a multi-city tour spanning Turkey to promote thealbum and solicit donations to the project.In 2007, Turkcell announced that the number of Snowdrops scholarships will be increased from 5,000 to 10,000 girls every year.In 2008, a documentary film referred to Snowdrops is prepared by National Geographic. Shooting of the film made in the provinces of Eastern Turkey will air on National Geographic Channels in Turkey abroad in May 2009.

Snowdrops has hitherto provided scholarships to a total of 20,000 students. 7,470 students graduated from high school, 1,902 accepted to university, and 363 graduated from university.

In 2008, a documentary film referring to the Snowdrops was prepared by National Geographic. The film was shot in the provinces of Eastern Turkey and will air on National Geographic Channels in Turkey and abroad in May 2009.

To expand the project we made kick-off announcements to local governments, local educational institutions, teachers, NGO’s, and Turkcell’s locally operating sales agents to help select students to receive scholarships. Students of the project are called Snowdrops. 10,000 scholarships are given to female high school students every year.We would also support female students that continue their education in University and grow the Snowdrops project beyond the status of a Turkcell project to become a project of Turkey.To expand the project to the whole country over of time we would use:Communication channels. Media relations. Advertising

Many families in undeveloped urban and rural areas of Turkey live below the poverty line. In these areas education is not easily accessible for girls. The Snowdrops Project was launched in 2000 to equalize the right to an education, by giving scholarships to girls.The aim in 2008/9 was to expand the project to make it not only a Turkcell project, but also a big project of Turkey.Starting with the scholarship of 5,000 female students, the Snowdrops program now provides social, financial and moral support to 20,000 young Turkish women in leading them to become comprehensively educated and qualified individuals/professionals.