The “İyilik Evi” (House of Kindness) project by the Abdi İbrahim Foundation, offering hope to children battling cancer and their families, has won the Gold Award in the “Corporate Social Responsibility Program” category at the Hermes Creative Awards. A door of compassion opened in Istanbul’s Vefa district is now reaching out to the world.
“İyilik Evi,” one of the most meaningful social responsibility initia- tives of Türkiye’s leading pharma- ceutical company Abdi İbrahim, has achieved global recognition. Launched under the umbrella of the Abdi İbrahim Foundation, the project was honored with a Gold Award at the internationally prestigious Hermes Creative Awards. Since 1995, this program has been rewarding excellence and receives thousands of submissions every year. “İyilik Evi” stood out among numerous entries in the Corporate Social Responsibility Program category.
A beacon of hope in Vefa: İyilik Evi
Opened in December 2022 in Istanbul’s historic Vefa district, “İyilik Evi” provides free accommodation and comprehensive support to children undergoing cancer treatment and their families who travel to Istanbul from across Türkiye with limited financial means. The guesthouse has 18 rooms and can host up to 45 people.
It goes beyond meeting physical needs by also offering psychological and social support. In addition to special workshops and educational programs for children, volunteer psychologists provide psychosocial support for both the children and their families. So far, the project has brought hope to nearly 150 families. “Kindness is contagious—this award is just the beginning” Nesrin Barut Esirtgen, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Abdi İbrahim Foundation, shared the meaning of the award with the following words: “At Abdi İbrahim, we don’t limit our 113-year mission of ‘healing life’ to the production of pharmaceuticals alone. We embrace a more inclusive approach to healing through projects that touch society.
Unfortunately, illness knows no boundaries. Children who come to Istanbul from all corners of Anatolia for treatment face a difficult journey—physically and emotionally—with their families. We wanted to stand by them in this journey, supporting not just their health, but their hope, emotional well-being, and resilience.
The international recognition of the İyilik Evi project is not just an award for us; it is a powerful indication that we are on the right path. We truly believe that kindness and healing are contagious. I hope this example inspires more social responsibility initiatives in our industry.” A social responsibility model attracting global attention Organized by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), the Hermes Creative Awards recognize outstanding work in marketing, communication, and digital media. The program also dedicates special recognition to social responsibility projects that serve the greater good.
Selected from among thousands of entries, the “İyilik Evi” project is a powerful example of a social responsibility model developed in Türkiye that is now being highlighted on a global stage.
