Zehra Budunç, a pioneer woman from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic

Zehra Budunç was born in 1896 at Thessaloniki. She graduated from the Skopje secondary school in 1905 and she started teaching at a very young age. While she was working as a teacher, The Balkan Wars started and she had to emigrate to İstanbul. After a while later she assigned to Bursa Muradiye İnas School to work, because of this she settled in Bursa and continued her life in this city. Zehra Hanım, an experienced teacher, opened and founded a private school called Bizim Mektep in 1919 at Bursa with her own effort. The school is a modern educational institution compared to its contemporaries and graduated over two thousands. After the occupation of Bursa by Greeks on July 8,1920; Zehra Hanım, knew very well what the meaning of war and losing a motherland did not observe occupation passively. Zehra Hanım and her school "Bizim Mektep" provided important services in order to win the Turkish National Struggle in Bursa. Zehra Hanım was a key figure in the communication between Bursa, occupied by Greeks and Ankara. She also was involved in security intelligence activities. This situation was noticed by Greeks and she exiled to Greece. Zehra Hanım was transferred to Thessaloniki Prison, then to Milos İsland and she was taken into captivity approximately one year. She was awarded the National War of İndependence Medal for her contributions to the National Struggle. After The National Struggle ends with victory, as a teacher who adopted republican ideology, she dedicated her life to children's education. She strived to be adopted of republican principles in public. Her school Bizim Mektep, with modern education it gives and it's teacher staff, became one of leading educational institutions in Republican period at Bursa. Due to her educator identity, at process of creation of ideal Turkish woman, she has become a prominent name at Bursa. Beside she was one of the first women who elected as Bursa councillor in 1930, also elected deputy mayor of Bursa in 1934. n 1946 Turkish general elections, she elected parliamentarian for Bursa from CHP and made powerful speechs at the parliament. She participated in staffs of Bursa Turkish Corps, Children Protection Agency, Turkish Aeronautical Association and Red Crescent Association. Also she took charge in Bursa branch of Community Home about ten years and also worked as public speaker. Zebra Hanim who ended her political life after one election period, pass away at May 25, 1956. In this study, the educator identity, support for National Struggle and political and social activities of Zehra Budunc was examined. The biography of Zehra Budunc, was a vanguard woman not just for Bursa, but also for Turkey, was mentioned chronologically from Ottoman to Republic term and was written.