“Umut Dali Projesi” is the selected 2025-2026 Grand Master’s Charity

Umut Dalı Projesi – A Branch of Hope for the Children of Türkiye

By MW Arda Çilingir, Grand Master, ACGL (2025–2026)

It is with profound conviction and a heart guided by Masonic charity that I present the Grand Master’s Charity Program for the 2025–2026 term: Umut Dalı Projesi—“The Branch of Hope.”

This initiative holds a deeply personal significance for me. Children represent not only our future but our highest moral responsibility. Across the rural reaches of Türkiye, far from the light of abundance, there are children who have never tasted cake, never owned a toy, never worn dry socks in winter. Umut Dalı Projesi exists to change that.

My Mission

The purpose of this project is to bring dignity, warmth, and joy to children in Türkiye’s most disadvantaged and overlooked regions. Through this program, we will:

Provide Winter Clothing – Many children endure freezing temperatures with soaked shoes and inadequate garments. We supply warm coats, dry socks, boots, and winter gear to shield them from the cold.

Deliver First Joys – For many, a toy or a bicycle is a dream never realized. We fulfill these dreams—gifting toys, bicycles, and moments of joy.

Let Them Eat Cake – Through our support, children are offered something as simple yet profound as a birthday cake — often for the first time in their lives.

Build Playgrounds – We create safe, welcoming spaces for play and imagination, bringing laughter to places where hardship has been too loud.

Charity in Motion

This is not a one-time initiative, nor shall it wait for ceremonial dates. Umut Dalı Projesi is active throughout the year, and it is my commitment as Grand Master to keep our Brethren informed and engaged regularly. You can follow the project and witness its impact firsthand via Instagram:
@umutdaliprojesi (https://www.instagram.com/umutdaliprojesi).

A Call to the Craft

I invite every Lodge, every Brother, and every family within the American Canadian Grand Lodge to join me. Let us unite in labor – not just in words or sentiment, but in action. Together, let us show that the principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth are not confined to our rituals, but are made manifest through our deeds.

May this Branch of Hope grow, with the nurturing strength of our Masonic family, into a lasting tree of compassion.

Fraternally and Sincerely,
Brother Arda Çilingir
Grand Master  (2025–2026)
American Canadian Grand Lodge

“Umut Dali Projesi” is a story of continuing success:

“We set out by saying, “Parks should be in school gardens, not in children’s dreams!”

It all started with the first swing we installed two years ago. As the Branch of Hope Project, we wanted to have areas where children in rural areas can run and play joyfully in their school gardens. Because every child should grow up with play; They should learn through playing, laughing, falling and getting up again, and they should build their own world.

Today, we are experiencing the indescribable happiness of dedicating our 75th playground for our children. These parks, each of which is a dream come true, each of which is established with hope and equipped with joy; It has become not only a playground, but also a symbol of love, sharing, solidarity.

We build these parks with people who want to give a meaningful gift not only to children, but also to their loved ones.

On their birthday, instead of buying flowers for your mother or father, support us building a slide in a village school that will bring joy to children; On your anniversary, instead of buying a necklace for your spouse, support a colorful swing in a schoolyard…
Imagine, the name of a loved one written on the wall of a village school; Children play, laugh and grow up in the light of that name every day…

You can also gift a park on behalf of your loved ones and touch a child’s life.

Unforgettable gifts are remembered every day, not just on one day. Every swing sound, every child’s laughter becomes the most beautiful letter ever written to someone you love.

The Branch of Hope Project continues to grow and color the world of our children with the power it receives from you.

Because a park is not just a park…
A park is hope.
It is unity.
It is laughter.
It will be.”

So mote it be!