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The Help Desk Outreach Network
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About us

About The Help Desk Outreach Network

We are a student-focused charity giving international students in Northern Cyprus monthly food assistance and community support.

Our story

How it all began

The Help Desk Outreach Network was born from a simple observation: many international students were struggling silently, skipping meals, worrying about expenses, and facing it alone.

Rather than looking away, The Help Desk Outreach Network was created to provide practical support and hope.

What began as a personally funded initiative has grown into a recognized student support platform reaching students across multiple universities in Northern Cyprus, and it continues to expand through food distribution, community outreach, and strategic partnerships.

A community gathered around a table of fresh food

We care · We support · We serve

Our mission

No student left to face hunger alone

Every month we put food, welfare support, and a sense of belonging into the hands of international students across Northern Cyprus — students far from home and facing hardship — so they can focus on their studies, not their next meal.

Our vision

A student community that looks after its own

To become Northern Cyprus's leading student-welfare movement — where every student, on every campus, can reach essential support, real opportunity, and a community that genuinely cares.

1+
Years of service
450+
Students reached
0
Campuses in our rotation
Gideon Akintola

Gideon Akintola

Founder, The Help Desk Outreach Network

The founder

No student should go hungry.

Gideon is a Nigerian entrepreneur, humanitarian, and technology professional with extensive experience working across Asia, Europe, and the Gulf region.

Having lived abroad and witnessed the challenges international students face firsthand, he founded The Help Desk Outreach Network to address one of the most pressing yet often overlooked issues among students — food insecurity.

Driven by compassion and a strong desire to give back, Gideon personally funded The Help Desk Outreach Network through its early stages, and continues to lead the organization's growth and vision.

Through The Help Desk Outreach Network, he hopes to build a lasting support system that empowers students and restores hope during difficult times.

On the ground

University Representative Program

The Help Desk Outreach Network operates through a network of trusted university representatives across Northern Cyprus. It keeps our selection structured and fair, so support reaches the students who genuinely need it.

  1. Identify students in need

  2. Share information about upcoming distributions

  3. Coordinate applications

  4. Support communication between students and The Help Desk Outreach Network

What we stand for

What we stand for

Five commitments shape every campus we reach and every student we meet.

  • Compassion

    We serve students with empathy, dignity, and respect.

  • Integrity

    We operate transparently and responsibly with every gift entrusted to us.

  • Community

    We believe stronger communities create better outcomes for students.

  • Service

    We are committed to showing up for those in need.

  • Impact

    Every action we take aims to create meaningful, lasting change.

Sponsorship & partnerships

Grow this with us

The Help Desk Outreach Network welcomes partners who want to help us reach and support more students. Together, we can expand across Northern Cyprus.

Businesses
NGOs
Community organizations
Universities
Individual donors
Corporate sponsors

FAQ

Questions, answered

The things students, volunteers, and partners ask us most.

Who can apply for support?

International students currently studying in Northern Cyprus.

How are students selected?

Through our representative network and an application process, based on genuine need and the resources available.

Can I volunteer?

Yes — we welcome volunteers who share our mission of supporting students.

Can businesses sponsor a distribution?

Absolutely. We welcome sponsorships and partnerships of every size.

Is The Help Desk Outreach Network a non-profit initiative?

Yes. The Help Desk Outreach Network operates as a humanitarian initiative focused on student welfare and support.

We care · We support · We serve

Support our work

Explore the campuses we reach, or donate today to keep students fed.

No student should go hungry.