ITEKA

Swiss Turkish Education, Culture and Integration Academy Association

Association Information

Official German name: Schweizerisch-Türkische Akademie für Bildung, Kultur und Integration – Verein
Headquarters: Lenzburg, Canton of Aargau
Association address: Langsamstigstrasse 11, 5600 Lenzburg, Switzerland

Founding Members and Board

The founding members and board members are Eda Karli, Kadir Karli, Nilüfer Eris, Ertan Özbatur, and Melek Kaynak.

Our Purpose

ITEKA pursues public-benefit objectives in education, integration, culture, inclusion, support for children, young people and families, personal and professional development, and participation in society. Our activities are open to the benefit of the community, without discrimination based on origin, nationality, language, religion, gender, disability, or social status.

Education, Language, and Integration

ITEKA may develop and support educational, language, cultural, and integration programs, including courses, workshops, seminars, learning support, mentoring, and guidance. We help newly arrived children, young people, students, adults, and families find their way in Switzerland by providing practical information about daily life, education, municipalities, housing, transport, insurance, and other everyday topics.

Where a matter requires specialist authority or professional approval, we guide people to the responsible expert institution. ITEKA may provide practical information and support during a housing search, but it does not carry out regulated estate agency activities without the required authorisation.

Inclusive Opportunities for Families and Communities

ITEKA may offer language, integration, information, education, meeting, and skills-development programs for women, parents, and families. We also support the participation of children, young people, and adults with disabilities or special educational, developmental, or support needs in inclusive education, cultural, leisure, and integration activities.

For this purpose, ITEKA may cooperate with schools, special education institutions, specialist centres, and competent authorities.

Education and Career Pathways

ITEKA may provide information, orientation, and application support to students and families looking for secondary schools, vocational education, colleges, universities, language education, continuing education, or exchange programs in Switzerland or abroad.

Guidance may cover admission requirements, language conditions, diploma recognition, scholarships, financing, accommodation, and the practical steps involved in planning an international education pathway.

ITEKA may also organise career guidance, CV and job-application training, interview workshops, mentoring, digital-skills programs, media literacy, STEM and AI education, company visits, networking opportunities, and career events.

Culture, Exchange, and Public Participation

ITEKA may organise or participate in education, culture, integration, career, and information fairs; conferences, panels, exhibitions, cultural evenings, concerts, performances, and festivals, provided that these activities serve the association’s public-benefit objectives.

The association may also organise educational and cultural visits, study trips, language and culture journeys, camps, and exchange programs in Switzerland and abroad, including visits to museums, historic sites, schools, universities, companies, and public institutions.

Working Together

To achieve its purpose, ITEKA may cooperate with federal, cantonal, and municipal authorities; schools, universities, vocational institutions, social services, child and adult protection authorities, integration and specialist centres, youth organisations, associations, federations, foundations, public-benefit organisations, companies, and other public or private institutions in Switzerland and abroad.

Our Legal and Ethical Framework

ITEKA primarily operates in Switzerland and may work abroad when this supports its purpose. The association does not pursue profit or the economic interests of its members. Its resources are used exclusively for its stated objectives, and it does not take over the responsibilities of public authorities.

Legal, therapeutic, employment-placement, real-estate, school-operation, and other regulated services are provided only when the necessary legal requirements and authorisations are in place. Otherwise, ITEKA’s role is limited to information, orientation, accompaniment, education, and referral to competent specialist institutions.