PRESS RELEASE March 25, 2026

TOHUM Autism Foundation Shared Its 2030 Vision at the 23rd Anniversary Gala Night:

“The Goal is to Deliver Quality Education Everywhere in Turkey through Digitalization”

The TOHUM Autism Foundation, which has been a pioneer in ensuring that children with autism in Turkey have access to early diagnosis and quality education, brought together brought together more than 400 prominent figures from the worlds of business, the arts, and society around a shared cause.

At this special night held to amplify the foundation's impact in line with its 2030 digitalization vision, goals were shared to enable more autistic children to access educational opportunities and integrate into society, to provide families with more comprehensive support, and to expand the network of special educators across all of Turkey. 

The Foundation's 2030 Vision: Digital Equality of Opportunity

Hosted by Mine Narin and Suzan Sabancı at The Peninsula Istanbul on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the foundation's 2030 vision was shared with the public for the first time during the evening event. At the center of this vision lies “digital equality of opportunity.” The goal is to deliver the foundation's educational model and the scientific expertise it has built over 23 years to every corner of Turkey through digital solutions. Within this scope, the objectives are to enable every teacher to access the training programs they need from wherever they are; to spare families from having to travel miles to receive support; and to ensure that every child with autism has access to quality education regardless of where they live.

Mine Narin: “We are here to move education beyond walls with technology and to establish an education network that will reach all four corners of Turkey”

In her speech at the event, Mine Narin, Honorary President of the TOHUM Autism Foundation, stated: “For 23 years, we have been working to ensure that children with autism receive early diagnosis and access to scientifically based special education opportunities. We had to postpone this gathering, which we had been planning for a long time, each time due to difficult processes such as the pandemic, earthquakes, and war. But this time we did not stop, because the needs of children with autism and their families cannot wait.". 

As we celebrate our foundation's 23rd anniversary on this special night, we had the opportunity both to share the impact we have created to date and to outline our future goals with our 2030 vision. Today, 1 in every 31 children is diagnosed with autism, and more and more families are struggling to access special education with each passing day. That is why it is critical that we join forces to take education beyond walls with technology and establish an educational network that will reach all corners of Turkey. We view this not merely as a technology investment, but as a matter of equality and future.”

Suzan Sabancı: “Individual Support Makes a Big Difference in the Sustainability of Civil Society”

Suzan Sabancı, a member of the Board of Trustees of the TOHUM Autism Foundation, stated the following regarding the night: “We follow with great admiration the determined and transformative work that the TOHUM Autism Foundation has carried out for 23 years to ensure that our children with autism have access to early diagnosis and quality education. I sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to this journey and all the supporters who empower the foundation. It is a great pleasure for me to contribute to strengthening the foundation even further by joining hands with Ms. Mine Narin. In line with the 2030 vision shared on this special night, we are moving forward together toward a future where more of our children have access to education, families are empowered, and expert support is spread nationwide. I heartfeltly thank all our friends and supporters who have not left us alone.”

 Business and Art Worlds Met for the Same Purpose

Sponsored by Fer Mas, Kahve Dünyası, Mesa, and Zurich Sigorta, the event brought together over 400 figures from the business, art, and society worlds to support children with autism in accessing quality education. Kenan Doğulu took the stage at this meaningful event, performing his beloved songs to support the education of children with autism, while Cem Yılmaz contributed to the foundation's education-focused efforts with a special stage performance. The evening was hosted by Jülide Ateş.