Be it for lack of awareness or political courage, getting organized is not exactly a Turkish strong suit. With a population of 78 million people, Turkey today is an international laggard in terms of unionization and membership in civic society organizations. As of January, only 1.5 million of Turkey’s 12.7 million workers were unionized, according to the Labor Ministry, down from 2.5 million in 1980 when the population stood at 42 million. Similarly, 87% of Turks are not members of any association. About 109,800 associations are active today, in addition to some 5,000 foundations established since 1980, according to official figures.

The very act of getting organized has taken on a negative connotation, and the word “organization” has come to almost mean “illegal group,” leading many to use an alternative word that sounds more like “establishment.” What brought Turkey to this point is a history of political turmoil, marked by bloody street clashes between opposing groups and military coups, which discouraged political activism. Furthermore, the state came to view any organized activity as suspicious, and successive governments installed laws that put shackles on what was once a politically vibrant society.

But despite all hurdles, one civic organization stands out as a fast-growing movement, reaching out to all segments of Turkish society. The Turkish Foundation for Combatting Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA) has signed up 100,000 new volunteers in the past two years, bringing the total to 600,000. Setting a shining example of civic activism, a major requisite for participatory democracy, TEMA boasts a nationwide network of volunteers of all ages, mobilized with innovative strategies.

For TEMA Chairwoman Deniz Atac, “luring young energy” lies at the core of their success. “Education and raising awareness is the most important thing we do. You have to make people realize how important nature is for humankind — not as a cliche, but as a true awareness that they are part of the nature,” Atac told Al-Monitor. “You achieve this easier with children as they are free of prejudices and calculations. We reach out to 75,000 children annually. And we do this not through one-off conversations but through field education that engages them in activities from preschool to the final year of university.”