Building Skills,
Building Future
Empowering Earthquake affected youth through the innovative sport of Drone Soccer.
Our Partners
Our Story in Videos
team istanbul Drone Soccer enka Schools’Visit to Hatay nov. 2024
From Hatay to istanbul defne & asi team’s success story sept. 2025
Who We Are
Why We Started
As high school students united under Team Istanbul Drone Soccer Enka School, we work tirelessly to keep pace with the world of digital transformation—while never forgetting the importance of local impact and equal opportunity.
The unequal distribution of global resources, especially the lack of access to quality education for young people, makes it difficult for many to catch up with this new world. Through Fly for Hope, our mission is to make STEM education accessible to every child and peer, ensuring that science and technology are within everyone’s reach.
How It Began
Ali Mehmet Baler and Batu Aydınlar, two high school students passionate about technology, teamed up with their mentor to bring drone soccer to Turkey. With their friends, they founded the country’s very first drone soccer team and started a movement.
Our Journey
From their first matches to National and International tournaments Team Istanbul Drone Soccer Enka School collected gold, silver and bronze medals. They also launched a Drone Soccer Club at their highschool, training both high and middle school students. They represented Turkey as the first official National Team in world championships in Korea/ Jeonju and China/ Shanghai.
Fly for Hope Mission
After visiting Hatay, one of the regions most affected by the earthquake, the team took on a new mission: making drone soccer accessible to children with limited opportunities. Together with Next Generation Science Association and Defne Municipality, they launched Fly for Hope, a project designed to provide drones, training, and opportunities for underprivileged youth, especially girls.
impact & future
Through Fly for Hope, we have already provided training to more than 100 children in Hatay. From this group, two dedicated teams Team Defne and Team Asi, proudly competed at the Turkish Air Sports Federation’s Second National Drone Soccer Tournament 2025, earning 1st and 4th place. This achievement is only the beginning of our journey to inspire and empower even more young minds.
25K+ USD Raised for Hope
Thanks to our supporters, we’ve collected over 25,000 USD to bring drones, training, and opportunities to children in Hatay
100+ Young Pilots Trained
More than 100 children have joined drone soccer training. From them, two dedicated teams emerged and achieved 1st and 4th place in a national tournament.
OUR SPONSORS
Meet Our Team of Experts
Burhan Şengün
Burhan Şengün has been developing and delivering STEM-based education programs for children and youth aged 4–18 since 2014. He designs and leads workshops in coding, robotics, and engineering, inspiring creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills. His mission is to help young people move beyond being passive users of technology and instead become creators, innovators, and leaders prepared for the challenges of the future.
He has earned international recognition for his mentorship, receiving the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award at FIRST Robotics Competitions in Istanbul and Las Vegas, as well as the FIRST Educator Award (2024), given to only five teachers worldwide. Beyond competitions, he serves as lead mentor of the NASA-sponsored Golden Horn Robotics team, leads the Next Generation Science Association to bring STEM education to children without access to technology, and represents Türkiye in the World Drone Soccer Federation.
Alper Elbirler
Alper Elbirler is a professional with many years of experience in the field of civil society. He currently serves as the Corporate Relations Coordinator at the Fikret Yüksel Foundation, where he contributes to the foundation’s global education, innovation, and youth initiatives. At the same time, he is a Board Member of the Next Generation Science Association, working to expand access to STEM education and deliver scientific content to disadvantaged groups.
Specialized in fundraising, project design, and NGO management, Elbirler has deep knowledge of concepts such as “Industry 4.0” and “Society 5.0,” which focus on the intersection of technology and societal transformation. Recognized for his intercultural empathy, initiative, and proactive approach, he plays a key role in preparing young people in Türkiye for the future.
