Turkey's Changemakers: He saved pearl mullet from extinction, now he makes a change with bicycles

Sari was elected as an Ashoka fellow in 2004, and recognized as Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the Schwab Foundation in 2006.

In “Turkey’s Changemakers” program this summer, special “before-after” episodes will be aired in which Changemakers from the first and second seasons of the series will report on the new developments in their work.  

The latest episode of “Turkey’s Changemakers” features Prof. Mustafa Sari, who was struggling to stop the pearl mullet from becoming extinct in Lake Van. Sari continues to make a difference with his new project, a bike rental system for students at Van Yuzuncu Yil University.

In addition to being a faculty member of the Faculty of Aquaculture in Van Yuzuncu Yil University and the president of the Nature Observers' Society, Sari was elected as an Ashoka fellow in 2004, and recognized as Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the Schwab Foundation in 2006. 

In his new project, Sari helps preserve the nature by encouraging young people to ride bicycles. Within the project, he enables young people to rent bicycles for a very low cost, as well as teaching them that life on a bicycle, communing with nature,  supporting tourism and preserving the nature are inseparable.