Cultural Awareness Foundation, a civil society organization which promotes the adoption of Turkey’s cultural wealth and values as a common human heritage to be shared, protected and passed on to the future generations. One of the non-governmental organizations supported by the
Vehbi Koç Foundation, its activities aim to increase social sensitivity and cultural awareness. It was founded in March 2003 by members of different professional groups, primarily academicians, businesspeople, artists, archaeologists, architects and art historians.
Since its foundation, the Cultural Awareness Foundation has run studies and projects with three main themes, one of which is the Culture Ants Project. As part of this initiative, sixth and seventh grade students spend a day touring significant places close to where they live, accompanied by guides and volunteers, encouraging them to get to know their town or city and teaching them how to protect its cultural heritage. The project received the European Union Europa Nostra Cultural Heritage Award (see Europa Nostra Awards) in 2009.
Since its establishment, the foundation has arranged seminars and conferences on history, archeology and art aimed at people of all ages and backgrounds as part of its activities under the theme Academy for Culture. Within the Cultural Heritage theme, a wide variety of projects are carried out in relation to archeology, art history, local history and tourism with the aim of protecting and sustaining the country’s cultural assets.