As Aksa Doğalgaz, since our establishment, we have shaped our operations with the awareness of our great responsibilities towards the society, which we see as the source of our strength, under the guidance of Kazancı Group's social and environmental values. In this context, as a company, while monitoring the social and environmental impacts of our activities in the regions where we operate, we also work to solve local problems and improve the quality of life of local people. To be a part of the regions where we operate, we establish sincere dialogue with local communities and invite all our stakeholders to share the values that form the core of our corporate culture. We attach great importance to ensuring that our social responsibility initiatives make a tangible and sustainable contribution to society. As a company, instead of investing in short-term projects, we strive to develop long-term initiatives with self-sustaining capacity. In the social responsibility projects we develop or support, we demonstrate the same level of performance and sensitivity as in our operations.

LIFE COMPANION

We believe that ensuring equal opportunities for all segments of society is of great importance for the economic and social development of our country; in this context, we closely follow the daily challenges faced by over 8 million disabled citizens in Turkey. In line with this vision, we developed the “Can Yoldaşı” project in 2015 to facilitate the lives of disabled individuals within our operational scope. With the Can Yoldaşı project, we aimed to provide emergency services to our disabled subscribers much more quickly. Under this project, individuals who register their disability in Aksa Doğalgaz's subscriber system automatically have their status recognized when they call the “Natural Gas Emergency 187 Line” or the 444 4 187 Solution Center. The system immediately identifies the caller as a disabled subscriber, and the call center representative directs the emergency natural gas teams to the scene without waiting for the subscriber to explain their request. As Aksa Doğalgaz, our goal is to provide emergency services to disabled subscribers who may be alone in dangerous situations, potentially saving lives.

As part of the Can Yoldaşı project, we have also undertaken an exemplary initiative by teaching sign language to our employees, most of whom work in the field. Furthermore, we have initiated efforts to expand this project across all natural gas companies under the Turkish Natural Gas Distributors Association (GAZBİR). The Can Yoldaşı project, which is a first in our sector, was awarded the Golden Valve award at the 2016 Turkey Energy Summit.

Other Social Responsibility Activities

Memorial Forest Project for Each Distribution Region
Through this project, we aim to serve both today and the future by creating new forested areas in all distribution regions. As part of this initiative, memorial forests have been established through tree-planting events, with 300 saplings planted in Afyon and 179 in Şanlıurfa to date.

Donations of Books, Stationery, and Clothing to Students
Aksa Doğalgaz employees regularly visit schools in operational regions, providing essential school supplies, stationery, and clothing to students in need.

Visits to Nursing Homes and Orphanages on Special Occasions
As part of its corporate social responsibility approach, Aksa Doğalgaz employees organize visits to nursing homes and orphanages on special occasions, offering support and companionship to residents.

Volunteering for Çanakkale Project
Aksa Çanakkale Doğalgaz Dağıtım A.Ş. employees and students from İntepe Primary School launched the "Volunteering for Çanakkale" project to raise awareness about protecting the environment, history, and cultural heritage. As part of this project, employees and students visited Turgut Reis Bastion to watch a reenactment prepared by Çanakkalegaz volunteers and participated in reforestation efforts in the İntepe Forest, which was damaged by a wildfire.

Aksa Doğalgaz’s Support for Archaeology
A sponsorship agreement was signed between Aksa Çanakkale Doğalgaz Dağıtım A.Ş. and the Çanakkale Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism for an archaeological surface survey led by Dr. Derya Yılmaz, covering the period from the Neolithic Age to the end of the Iron Age in the Çanakkale region. This research is planned to continue throughout 2017, with publications expected in 2018.

Blood Donation for the Red Crescent
Under the coordination of Aksa Doğalgaz, periodic blood donation campaigns are organized, with company employees donating blood to the Turkish Red Crescent.