Meet the Pioneers Behind
DronesForChange
DronesForChange
We are not just enthusiasts; we are champions of the craft. Co-founded by Ali Mehmet Baler and Batu Aydınlar, Captains of the Turkish National Drone Soccer Team and World Cup Medalists, Drones For Change is a movement that bridges the gap between elite competitive skill and humanitarian aid.
From Awareness Into Action
It started with a game.
We built Türkiye’s first Drone Soccer team and competed internationally, chasing innovation and achievement.
But the earthquakes of 2023 changed our definition of success.
In the disaster zone, we witnessed how communication failures cost lives. That moment reshaped our purpose. Drones could do more than compete. They could reconnect communities, locate survivors, and support rescue efforts.
This realization led us to the creation of Phoenix Signal, a disaster response initiative focused on the critical first 72 hours. Through tethered drones, we can help restore communication in crisis zones when infrastructure collapses. Our work received global recognition, earning a Top 10 ranking at the Conrad Challenge among 1,371 projects from 71 countries.
The desire to ensure that knowledge served people, not only technology, gave rise to Fly For Hope. In Hatay, an earthquake damaged city located in the southeastern part of Türkiye, we mentored traumatized youth through STEM and drone soccer initiatives.