A New Path

“The world can change, as long as we can reimagine it.” — Angela Davis

As civil society organizations, we dream of change and set out on this path. Yet, moving forward is far from easy. On this journey, our first wish is to be seen and recognized. We want our actions to reach wider audiences, for more people to share our dreams, and with that support, to build stronger advocacy and reach decision-makers. But many obstacles stand in the way.

While many organizations struggle to survive under difficult conditions with limited resources, others are targeted by hate speech simply for existing. These challenges directly affect the field of communications. Concerned with survival, many organizations cannot dedicate sufficient resources or time to communication efforts. Yet, according to the data from our 2024 Perceptions of Civil Society in Türkiye field research, CSOs with strong communication capacity are perceived as more trustworthy and inclusive by the public.

Findings from academic research reinforce this picture:

  • Didem Çabuk’s 2017 study, “Measuring the Reputation of CSOs in Türkiye,” shows that the factors most influencing reputation are media relations, the effectiveness of internal communication mechanisms, and transparency. Again, organizations with strong communication capacity are perceived as more reliable and inclusive.
  • Zeynep B. Dondurucu’s 2014 research, “CSOs’ Use of Social Media and Public Relations Practices,” also highlights critical insights. Examining the example of the Animal Rights Federation (HAYTAP), she finds that although HAYTAP actively uses social media, there are gaps in planning and strategy. Engagement peaks during campaign periods, while a lack of sustainable communication is evident. Most content remains announcement-based, with very limited dialogical or participatory formats.

Research makes it clear: for civil society organizations to broaden their reach and amplify their impact, communication is indispensable. Yes, the dreams are big and the road is rocky — but we are not alone. Together, we are stronger. We believe that by coming together, we can rethink and redesign how civil society is perceived.

The Communications Working Group is a companionship of people who come together to amplify civil society’s narrative and its contribution to the world. Through this community, we aim to strengthen the quality of civil society communication in Türkiye, create space for new narrative forms to emerge, and increase the public credibility of CSOs.

With the goal of helping civil society build its own narrative and take its place as a more trusted actor in the public sphere, this group:

  • Provides a common ground for peer learning and exchange among CSO communicators.
  • Supports the sharing of knowledge and experience on communication practices, campaign work, crisis communication approaches, and strategies to reach diverse audiences.
  • Creates collective production spaces to explore new approaches, tools, and languages of communication together.

We designed the Communications Working Group as a community of practice that participants shape through collective thinking — a space that grows, learns, and evolves over time. In this way, it becomes a place where participants are not passive recipients of knowledge, but active agents who co-create it.