FISEK INSTITUTE is a non-governmental organization. The main focus of the Institute is social risk groups (working children, girl child labours and women are given a special emphasis). Before the establishment of the institution at the organisational level, the studies begun in 1979, following the International Child Year. Being based upon the individual studies of its founding members at the first years, these studies gained a momentum, in 1982, with the ones seeking to get an identity at the organisational level. Finally, Fisek Health Services and Research Institute established in 1986, and then its speciality institution, Fisek Institute - Science and Action Foundation for Child Labour, in 1997.

The Institute aims to implement community medicine approach by enriching it with the practices in social life. During these studies, working children and women are given a special emphasis, as they are considered as the important social risk groups. It appropriates the concept of ?health for all?, and considers that this concept should include the others, particularly about social development, public education, relations with non-governmental organisations and social medicine policies.

For the early years of its establishment, the foundation did not receive any social fund or an international support. However, our one to one relations with society, financial contributions in return for the services from small scale industrial enterprises and self-sacrifice of the Institute's personnel helped us to achieve our sustainability. Still today,they are our strongest supporters. While payment for the occupational health and safety services that we give to the employees are paid by the employers, these services are free for the children under fifteen. Additionally, the institute frequently visits the workplaces in which child labourers have a great majority in order to provide medical examination and consultation services.

Since the establishment of our foundation, we've received additional supports from two international organisations. In 1985, we received support from the Population Council/MEAwards; and in 1992-99, from International Labour Organisation/International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO/IPEC). These two institutions have encouraged us and provided a convenient working atmosphere for our studies to make a dash. Lastly, we would like to thank small-scale enterprises' employers and employees and working children in Turkey once more.