18/02/2026
Sabancı University Civic Involvement Projects course aims to foster active citizenship by encouraging university students to become more aware of the communities they live in and to take responsibility for social issues. In line with this goal, a meaningful collaboration is carried out with the Sabancı Foundation under the scope of the Türkiye’s Changemakers Program. Within this partnership, one of the names selected each year for the Changemakers Program is chosen by the votes of socially conscious Sabancı University students to receive the Sabancı University Special Award.
This year, the award was presented to Hatay Surf Center and its founder, Deniz Toprak, one of the 16th Season Changemakers.
Founded by Deniz Toprak after volunteering in Hatay following the February 6, 2023 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Hatay Surf Center is a non-profit center that aims to create social transformation for children. The center provides free surfing lessons to young people under the age of 16 living in Samandağ, Defne, and Antakya, bringing them together with the sea and nature. Reaching thousands of children to date, Hatay Surf Center operates as an inclusive social impact initiative that goes beyond sports, aiming to strengthen young people’s self-confidence and their connection to life.
Deniz Toprak conveyed his message of thanks for the Sabancı University Special Award as follows:
“At Hatay Surf Center, we provide free surfing lessons for children and young people, helping them reconnect with the sea and the shore. Thank you very much to Sabancı University for deeming me worthy of this award. It came at a very meaningful time. We have been thinking about how to involve university students in our project. Therefore, while receiving this award, I would also like to invite you to Hatay Surf Center to volunteer and to develop projects together.”
Levent Burçin Sözütok from the Hatay Surf Center team also came together with Civic Involvement Projects students on the Sabancı University campus to receive this meaningful award.
We would like to thank all Sabancı University students who participated in the voting process and contributed to this initiative.
You can find Deniz Toprak’s video here.
