The 2nd Concept Workshop, organized by the Bülbülzade Foundation, brought together foundation volunteers and educators at Zade Life Hotel with the aim of rebuilding the intellectual framework of societies.The second of the Concept Workshops organized by the Bülbülzade Foundation was held at Zade Life Hotel with high attendance. At the program, which attracted the interest of foundation volunteers, educators, foundation staff, and numerous guests, the concepts forming the foundation of our intellectual world were discussed. Focusing on the importance of societies finding their own language in the process of defining themselves and building the future, the workshop featured rich presentations and in-depth discussions. The program, shaped around the theme “The Ontology of Concepts: How Is a Tradition of Thought Established?”, addressed the establishment of a tradition of thought.SOCIETIES THAT LOSE THEIR CONCEPTS LOSE THEIR WAYIn his opening speech, Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir emphasized the need to move forward with new concepts in a new era. Stating that they aim to rebuild the intellectual framework of societies, Aldemir said, “Concepts offer us a perspective that reveals how a society sees itself and how it reads and interprets the world. For this reason, as we also see throughout history, societies that lose their concepts lose their way.” Drawing attention to the characteristics that the language of civil society should embody, Aldemir continued, “The language of civil society needs to manifest itself as a language that aspires to transform society, is inclusive, assumes responsibility, and produces solutions.” Pointing to the importance of investing in ontology rather than physiology, Aldemir reminded participants of the necessity of building a new language that appeals to the hearts and minds of young people simultaneously.HOW IS A TRADITION OF THOUGHT ESTABLISHED?The main speaker of the workshop was author Tahsin Görgün, whose works are published under the Tire Kitap imprint. Leaving a profound mark on our intellectual world through his books, Görgün evaluated the historical process of Islamic civilization and Muslim societies within an ontological framework in his comprehensive speech at the workshop. In his thought-provoking analysis comparing Islamic and Western civilizations, Görgün highlighted how a tradition of thought is established.THERE CAN BE NO CONCEPT WITHOUT KNOWLEDGEAddressing the struggle for existence and historical stance of Muslims, Görgün said, “We Muslims, as an entire ummah, have gone through a great ordeal over the last 150 years. We are only now beginning to recover, and our greatest achievement is preserving our existence despite all these negative conditions.” Explaining that we need to understand the conditions of our own existence, Görgün pointed to the heart of the matter with the words, “We exist; what are our own categories of existence, and within which categories does our existence unfold? The answer to these questions lies in concepts.” Stating that the construction of concepts depends on self-awareness, the author observed, “A society that lacks self-awareness and is therefore deficient in making itself an object and source of knowledge cannot have its own concepts and terms.”KNOWLEDGE AND THOUGHT CANNOT BE TAKEN FROM ANOTHER SOCIETYExplaining the distinctiveness of Islamic civilization by comparing it with the West, Görgün stated in his speech, “We are increasingly realizing that the formation of what we call the modern Western world is actually related to the misuse of the accumulated heritage of Islamic civilization.” Emphasizing that knowledge and thought cannot be obtained by copying them from one society to another, the author explained that every society must find its own reasonable ways of solving problems, saying, “A society cannot obtain knowledge and thought from another society. They talk about technology transfer and so on, but such a thing is not possible.”WORKSHOPS WERE HELD FOR NEW SETS OF CONCEPTSFollowing the joint sessions and speeches, participants divided into three different groups and moved on to workshop activities. While these workshops aimed to identify institutional sets of concepts, brainstorming sessions were also held to develop new concepts. The working groups, which sought practical applications of the theoretical framework in everyday life, concluded productively with contributions from the participants.

Within the scope of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), supported by the Turkish National Agency and coordinated by the Center for Science, Education, Culture and Research (BEKAM), four young people completed their month-long individual volunteering activities in the city of Cambados, Spain.Four young people, Şamil Efe Daşdemir, Azra Er, Başak Eminoğlu and Zehra Aydağ, participated in the programme held between 1 September and 1 October 2026. In addition to activities focused on the environment and sustainability, the young people took part in various events supporting intercultural interaction.The activities were carried out within Fundación Condado de Taboada – Casa dos Maza. The volunteers contributed to the preservation of shared living spaces by participating in the maintenance of the historic building where they stayed and its surrounding garden. They also supported efforts to raise awareness about environmental cleanliness and sustainable living through waste collection activities organised in the streets and along the beaches of Cambados.Various activities aimed at intercultural learning were also organised within the scope of the programme. Through language learning activities, presentations, educational games and group activities, the young people had the opportunity to discover different cultures and work together.During the volunteering period, the volunteers also visited the cities of Vigo, Porto, Madrid, Barcelona and Santiago de Compostela, gaining the opportunity to experience Europe's historical and cultural heritage firsthand.The month-long volunteering experience contributed to the development of the young people's foreign language, communication, teamwork and social responsibility skills. Participating in volunteering activities in a different country, the young people experienced a process that both supported their personal development and strengthened international solidarity.Bülbülzade Foundation and BEKAM continue to support young people's participation in international volunteering activities and create new opportunities for interaction with different communities through their work carried out within the scope of the European Solidarity Corps.

The future of Syria and recovery efforts in the region were discussed at the “Let’s Build Hope” meeting hosted by the Gaziantep Branch of the Anadolu Student Union and Bülbülzade Foundation.In Gaziantep, civil society organizations came together to establish regional peace and stability and held a comprehensive discussion meeting. Organized under the leadership of the Gaziantep Branch of the Anadolu Student Union (AÖB), in cooperation with Bülbülzade Foundation and the Migrant Services Center (GHM), the meeting titled “Let’s Build Hope: Discussion Meeting on Good Ideas for Syria’s Recovery” was held in the Bülbülzade Foundation Meeting Hall. A large number of civil society representatives and students attended the program, which was organized with the aim of permanently resolving the current situation in Syria and revitalizing social life.QUALITY EDUCATIONThe meeting placed particular emphasis on the work carried out by Bülbülzade Foundation across the border. The support provided to the educational and cultural life of the local population through the Anadolu Cultural Centers opened in safe areas, particularly in Azaz and Aleppo, was evaluated in detail. It was emphasized that these centers have gone beyond being merely educational spaces and have become centers of social recovery. Participants stated that supporting children and young people in the region with quality education plays a critical role in building Syria’s future.LET’S ACT WITH COLLECTIVE WISDOMThe outcomes of previous meetings on a shared future were also evaluated as part of the program. It was stated that meetings held with Syrian mothers and civil society representatives in the region are of great importance in understanding the actual needs on the ground. New strategies were shared on how promising ideas can be integrated into the field during the process of harmony between the two communities and the reconstruction of Syria. The event highlighted the importance of acting with collective wisdom and conveyed the message that civil society’s responsibility for the development of the region will continue to grow.

The Gaziantep Branch of the Anadolu Student Union organized a comprehensive and enlightening cultural tour for university students.The event, organized with the aim of conveying Gaziantep's historical and cultural richness to younger generations, attracted considerable interest from a large number of university students. This meaningful organization, carried out by the Gaziantep Branch of the Anadolu Student Union, enabled participants to get to know the city where they study more closely and strengthen their cultural ties. The tour route, which covered the city's significant historical landmarks, offered students a rich and fulfilling experience.THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE CITY'S ANCIENT PASTThe most notable aspect of the program was that Hüseyin Rahmi Açıkkol, a Member of the Board of Trustees of Bülbülzade Foundation, undertook the guiding activities. Açıkkol's in-depth narratives about Gaziantep's history, architecture, and social structure transformed the city tour into an interactive cultural feast. Accompanied by Açıkkol's experience-based insights, the participating young people had the opportunity to learn about the spirit of the sites and the city's ancient past firsthand.The program, which refreshed cultural memory and increased young people's awareness of the city, was further enriched by question-and-answer sessions. While the students left the event pleased to have learned about the city they live in from such a knowledgeable figure, the program concluded with commemorative photographs taken to mark the day.

The launch meeting of the Pusula project, which aims to protect young people from digital addiction, was successfully held at the BİLİM-DER headquarters in Gaziantep with the participation of educators.BİLİM-DER (Science Youth Education Social Health Culture Assistance and Solidarity Association), operating in Gaziantep, hosted the launch meeting of the “Pusula: Reading, Thinking, Producing Youth” project. The event was held at the BİLİM-DER headquarters with the participation of officials from the Gaziantep Provincial Directorate of Civil Society Relations, as well as numerous school principals and teachers working at schools across the city. During the meeting, the vital importance of the project for the cultural development of young people was emphasized.LET US ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO READ AND THINKAddressing the participants at the opening of the meeting, BİLİM-DER President Adem Er drew attention to the power of reading in developing young people intellectually. Emphasizing the importance of protecting young people from bad habits and digital screen addiction, one of the biggest problems of our time, Er explained the necessity of activities that would reduce screen time and encourage young people to read and think.WE MUST ACQUIRE NEW CONCEPTSBülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir, who attended the event, also emphasized in his speech the pace of life and the necessity of acquiring new concepts in order to understand the problems of the age. Referring to the role of books as witnesses in human life, Aldemir stated, “When a man gives up his soul somewhere and there is no book beside him, he remains without a witness.” Pointing out that it has become impossible to understand today's children through old reading methods, Aldemir explained that engaging young people in thematic discussions of ideas and gradual reading activities are endeavors that revive people and bring life.The highly productive launch meeting concluded after an exchange of ideas regarding the project and an evaluation of joint activities to be carried out in the field with educators.

The outcomes of the 20th Anatolian Gatherings were discussed within the scope of the Tafsir Readings organized by Mozaik Association at Bülbülzade Foundation.Mozaik Tafsir Readings, organized by Mozaik Women’s Association, held the first session of the new term with a special opening lecture. At this gathering, held on October 16, 2026, the outcomes of the 20th Anatolian Gatherings, organized by the Anatolian Federation, were comprehensively evaluated. At the program, where the reflections of the symposium shaped around the main theme of “Türkiye Yüzyılı ve Sivil Diplomasi” (The Century of Türkiye and Civil Diplomacy) were discussed, the role of civil society in global crises and the importance of building cultural bridges were emphasized. Accompanied by presentations, participants discussed new approaches to civil diplomacy that go beyond traditional state diplomacy in international relations, social memory, and opportunities for human-centered global communication.FOUR FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CIVIL DIPLOMACYIn the first part of the meeting, details of the opening speech delivered at the symposium by Turgay Aldemir, Chairman of the Board of the Anatolian Federation, were shared. The importance of the transformative role undertaken by civil society organizations in conflict zones and during times of crisis was emphasized. It was stated that civil society actors can establish much faster and more constructive contacts when official diplomacy reaches an impasse or proves insufficient. It was underlined that, for civil diplomacy to be legitimate and lasting, institutions must strictly adhere to the principles of transparency, competence, humility, and consistency, avoiding attempts to act as the state. It was stated that the primary role of civil society is not to replace the state, but rather to open the doors of the official sphere through experience gained on the ground and to position itself as a complementary force.CULTURAL BROTHERHOOD NETWORKS ARE BEING ESTABLISHEDIn the second part of the session, the strong connection between the international activities carried out by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) and TİKA and the “Türkiye Yüzyılı” vision was shared. It was explained that Türkiye’s historical and cultural heritage is being safeguarded across vast geographies extending from the Balkans to Africa. It was reported that brain drain is being reversed through scholarship and internship programs that have been implemented. Through associations established and projects carried out by Türkiye graduates in countries such as Sudan, participants were given examples of how a model based on humanitarian development and brotherhood, in opposition to colonial approaches, has been successfully built.EMPHASIS ON EGALITARIAN LANGUAGE AGAINST CONFRONTATIONAL MINDSETSIn the final presentation of the meeting, global double standards and Western-centric discriminatory discourse were criticized, drawing on Prof. Dr. Bekir Berat Özipek’s paper presented at the symposium. While objections were raised against the suspension of human rights on the grounds of extraordinary circumstances, discussions addressed how humanity has been desensitized throughout the process extending from historical genocides to today’s tragedies in Gaza and Palestine. Referring to the concepts of thinkers such as James Baldwin, Hannah Arendt, and Jean-Paul Sartre, the need to break free from a dualistic system of thought that portrays oneself as a savior and declares the other as an outsider or a monster was emphasized. It was noted that peace and justice can only be established through a holistic language that is non-hierarchical, egalitarian, and open to dialogue.It was announced that the next session of Mozaik Tafsir Readings would continue on Friday, October 30, with the theme “The Family of Imran, Prophet Jesus, and Prophet Mary.” It was also announced that an analysis of the book Rozalya Ana by author Sevinç Çokum would be held on Saturday, October 31.