LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR IN ACTION.
For us, love of neighbour is faith in action. Through selected fundraising initiatives, we support people facing difficult circumstances and projects that make a difference. Whether it’s access to clean drinking water, support for children with serious illnesses or help in times of crisis, together with you, we can make a difference.
"PEOPLE IN NEED MUST BENEFIT FROM OUR PRIVILEGE.”
NIKOLA YAPICIOGLU, FOUNDER
WE ALREADY COULD REALIZE THESE DONATIONS:
In November 2020, we deliberately decided against a discount battle over Black Friday weekend. Instead, we wanted to use Black Week to support a different kind of initiative. Choosing a campaign for our first Black Friday was easy:
“CHARITY²” was our motto. Alongside our ongoing donations to ynspirewater, we decided to support a second non-profit organisation.
We chose the DEUTSCHE KINDERKREBSNACHSORGE foundation. It supports children, teenagers and young adults with cancer, heart conditions and cystic fibrosis, as well as bereaved families, giving them renewed hope. It also supports family-oriented rehabilitation at the Tannheim aftercare clinic.
Black Week sales initially generated €55 for the donation. As charitable causes are close to our hearts, we increased this amount to €150. With your support, we first reached €205 and ultimately raised an incredible €455!
We transferred the money on St. Nicholas Day to bring the children some joy on this special occasion.
It wasn’t just us who appreciated your support. Above all, it was the children.
From the very beginning, it was important to us to support people in need, people for whom a warm home, clean drinking water or good health cannot be taken for granted. Choosing an organisation to support on an ongoing basis wasn’t easy.
With so many organisations to choose from, we felt we couldn’t see the forest for the trees. You probably know the feeling: you want to donate, but where? Does the organisation share your values? Will the entire donation reach its intended destination?
A good friend introduced us to ynspirewater. After researching the organisation and speaking with its founder and friendly team, we quickly realised that they shared our values. We therefore decided to donate a portion of our proceeds to ynspirewater.
According to ynspirewater, 100% of donations go directly to its projects, and donors can see where their contribution is used. Building drinking water wells is especially important to both them and us. Difficult access to clean water has far-reaching consequences. Children may have to walk up to 6 km a day to collect water, affecting their education and health.
In 2020, the year ANTIOCHIA was founded, we were able to donate €500 together with you.
Our donation supported ynspirewater’s first project in Tanzania. At the time, nearly 70% of the population lived in remote areas, and more than 22 million people lacked access to clean drinking water. This complex project was intended to improve life for around 300 people in the Biharamulo region of western Tanzania upon completion.
Learn more about ynspirewater:
#YIGITOL
Through this hashtag, we learned about a fundraising campaign for Yigit, a boy from Antiochia who was not yet two years old. During an Instagram livestream, we heard that he had spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type I, a serious inherited condition causing severe muscle weakness and muscle wasting.
His family was raising funds for treatment costing approximately €1.9 million. According to the campaign, this treatment was not covered by health insurance in Turkey. His parents sold their possessions to help fund it, but the amount raised was still far short of what was needed.
A dedicated team in Germany stepped in to help. When they began, the campaign had reached just 7% of its fundraising target. For three months, they hosted Instagram livestreams every evening, sharing Yigit’s story and reaching potential donors. Footballers Ali Günes, Roberto Hilbert and Mehmet Yozgatli, referee Ahmet Cakar, and actor Kida Khodr Ramadan, known for playing Toni Hamady in “4 Blocks”, also took part.
When we heard Yigit’s story, the campaign had reached around 14% of its target. We saw souvenirs from Antiochia being auctioned and joined in, buying a magnet featuring the symbols of three world religions, a reflection of the city’s distinctive heritage.
But we wanted to do more. “What can we contribute to help Yigit?” We went live on Instagram for the first time to auction one of our T-shirts and a travel mug. We then also donated 50% of our revenue from one weekend to the campaign.
Altogether, we raised €512 for Yigit.
YIGIT TODAY
Thanks to the tremendous commitment of the “yigit_ol_germany” team and everyone who donated, the campaign reached its €1.9 million fundraising target, making it possible to pay for Yigit’s treatment.
At the time of this update, Yigit was already doing much better. His family looked forward to him experiencing less pain and being able to play outside with other children for the first time.
“LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF.”
MATTHEW 22.39
WEAR YOUR FAITH. DISCOVER CHRISTIAN FASHION WITH A MESSAGE THAT CONNECTS.