Boeing Continues to Support Education in Turkey

The Boeing Company continues its support for education in Turkey with the construction of a new school building for Konakli Boeing Primary School in Kumru district of Ordu. The opening ceremony of the new school building was held on Nov.5, 2013 with the participation of local administration officials, students, teachers, parents and members of the media.

 Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bernard J. Dunn, President, Boeing Turkey and North Africa, emphasized that educational support is an integral part of Boeing’s corporate citizenship activities. “The education projects take priority in Boeing’s approach to corporate citizenship,” said Dunn. “Since 2000, Boeing has been committed to supporting education at every level, from primary schools to universities, and is proud to be a responsible member of Turkish community. Today, we are celebrating the opening of Konakli Boeing Primary School’s new building which will provide its students a better education environment and enable them to have a brighter future.”

 Konakli Primary School was established in 1965 in the Konakli village of Kumru with five classrooms. In time, the school building was not sufficient any more in meeting the needs of the students and the villagers had to send their kids away to the neArest boarding primary school in Kumru to provide them with the opportunity to continue their education. The people of Konakli then got together to find a way to establish a bigger school building. Boeing decided to help the villagers in their cause and financially supported the construction of the brand new school building which is now home to 175 students and 11 teachers with its nine classrooms. The school was renamed after Boeing and is now called Konakli Boeing Primary School.

 In 13 years, Boeing has supported 107 education projects in 38 cities, reaching about 135,000 students through its school construction, computer lab and equipment donation programs. To date, Boeing has donated 54 computer labs, in which 1,262 computers and related equipment have been placed. The company has also constructed three school buildings and renovated nine schools throughout Turkey.