Officials from the General Directorate of Foundations visited Bülbülzade Foundation and received information about the projects being carried out.Osman Güneren, Head of the Department of Foundation Services at the General Directorate of Foundations, together with his delegation, paid an important working visit to Bülbülzade Foundation. During the visit, the delegation had the opportunity to examine on site the foundation’s extensive humanitarian aid and development activities carried out on both national and international scales, and to hear detailed information from the foundation’s officials. In addition to Osman Güneren, Chief Inspector Ahmet Hakan Güney and Ömer Tayfun from the Presidency of Guidance and Inspection also attended this significant meeting. During the meeting, Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir welcomed the delegation and provided a comprehensive assessment of the foundation’s main fields of work and its ongoing projects.REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL SUPPORT ACTIVITIESThe main agenda of the discussions focused on the humanitarian aid efforts being carried out in Syria and the current situation in the region. The meeting also covered in detail the Kurtuluş Forest project, an environmentally conscious initiative, as well as the ongoing rehabilitation and social support activities in the earthquake-affected region. President Turgay Aldemir shared with the delegation the data obtained from the field and the steps planned for the future. The visit concluded with mutual exchanges of views between the institutions, an evaluation of the activities being carried out, and expressions of goodwill.

Syrian Deputy Minister of Emergency Affairs Hüsam Hallaq visited the Bülbülzade Foundation. During the meeting, the reconstruction of Syria and joint projects aimed at young people were discussed.Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir met with Syrian Deputy Minister of Emergency Affairs Hüsam Hallaq at the foundation’s headquarters. During the meeting, in which the transition process from humanitarian aid to humanitarian development was evaluated, comprehensive consultations were held regarding future projects to be implemented in Syria. The meeting particularly highlighted the education of Syrian youth, the activities of civil society organizations in the region, and civil diplomacy between the two countries.WE ARE ENGAGED IN CIVIL DIPLOMACYExpressing his satisfaction with the visit and making remarks about the foundation culture, Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir described their philosophy of solidarity with the following words: “Our civilization is a civilization of foundations. In the West, civil society is an interest and pressure group, whereas for us it is humanity and sharing. Every person is responsible for helping their neighbor and those in need. Everyone is entrusted to one another. In fact, in our civilization, this is called civil diplomacy.”A STRONG DAMASCUS IS THE FORTIFICATION OF JERUSALEMEmphasizing the importance of acting together for the revival of the region, Aldemir commented on the education of Syrian youth and the planned projects as follows: “We have a lot of work to do, but we will do it together. We stand by you so that you can rise again. Let us establish an area in Aleppo and build a container camp jointly with the governor’s office. Let us bring young people together and provide awareness training. Let us offer first aid, awareness, and religious education. We must carry out intellectual restoration. Our religion, our history, and our culture are one. If we struggle alone, we will be defeated; if Syria becomes weak, we will also be defeated. A strong Damascus is the fortification of Jerusalem.”THE SUFFERING OF THE OPPRESSED CANNOT WAITStating that civil society organizations should accelerate their activities in Syria, Turgay Aldemir made the following warning regarding the removal of bureaucratic obstacles: “You need to speed up the flow of work in Damascus. The suffering of the oppressed cannot wait. Syrian bureaucracy must become faster. If we are delayed in Syria, the people will turn away from us. Therefore, we must move quickly, step by step. The principles of the revolution must become part of everyday life as soon as possible.” Syrian Deputy Minister of Emergency Affairs Hüsam Hallaq, for his part, stated that foundations are institutions that keep society standing and thanked the Bülbülzade Foundation for the support they had provided over the past fifteen years.The meeting concluded with messages of determination to develop unused land in Syria through civil society cooperation and to establish new youth centers modeled on the Aleppo Liberation Forest.

Students of the Bülbülzade Foundation Summer Schools performed the Isha prayer together with their families and educators at an event held at Şahinbey Millet Mosque.As part of the Bülbülzade Foundation's 2026 summer activities, the Isha prayer gathering was held on the evening of Wednesday, July 22, at Şahinbey Millet Mosque. The children stood shoulder to shoulder in prayer with their families and educators in a spiritual atmosphere. The excitement and joy of the students who filled the mosque brought a lively spirit to the venue. Following the Isha prayer, the children offered prayers together. Afterwards, the students came together with the mosque's imam for a warm and sincere conversation. These moments, during which spiritual values were shared, were enlivened by the children's voices.A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL EDUCATION MODEL IS BEING IMPLEMENTEDAfter the conversation concluded, the children moved to the mosque courtyard, where they drew pictures reflecting their own imagination. In addition to activities that nurture the children's spiritual development, the Bülbülzade Foundation Summer Schools implement a multi-dimensional education model that prepares them for the future. The curriculum, designed especially for children between the ages of 8 and 14, also places significant emphasis on digital literacy and media studies. Supported by pedagogical games in the classroom, the interactive lesson program enables children to learn next-generation skills while having fun.Throughout the summer period, students participate in various workshop activities at Katre Art and Science Center, where they discover their talents. To support their physical development, the children receive swimming and self-defense sports training at İstikrar Sports Club. They also have the opportunity to become closely acquainted with the city's historical and cultural heritage through cultural excursions organized across the city.

Fidan-Der, operating under the umbrella of the Bülbülzade Foundation, held a parent meeting as part of its summer school program.Fidan-Der (Education, Social, Health, Culture, Solidarity and Assistance Association), which continues its education-focused activities uninterrupted under the Bülbülzade Foundation, is carrying on its summer school program at full pace. During the parent meeting organized within the framework of the institution’s educational vision, families and educators came together to evaluate the students’ development processes.AN ENJOYABLE DAYImmediately after the meeting, the activity area became the scene of joyful moments for the children. While their parents attended the meeting, the students spent time in a specially prepared area for them and, once the program concluded, all joined together in fun-filled games. Through various activities that helped develop their mental and physical skills, the children enjoyed a pleasant day with their friends.

Talented karate athlete Ayşegül Yavuz, who was trained within İstikrar Sports Club, became the Turkish champion at the Cadets, Juniors and U21 Turkish Karate Championship held in Samsun.Ayşegül Yavuz, an athlete of İstikrar Sports Club, which operates under the umbrella of the Bülbülzade Foundation, claimed the Turkish championship with her outstanding performance at the Cadets, Juniors and U21 Turkish Karate Championship held in Samsun. Following her remarkable achievement, Yavuz paid a courtesy visit to the Bülbülzade Foundation, where she shared the excitement she experienced throughout the championship and her competition experiences. Reaching the top in the challenging tournament, which brought together numerous athletes from across the country, the national athlete made both Gaziantep and her club proud. She stated that she aims to set even greater goals and achieve new successes on the international stage.LET US SUPPORT OUR YOUTHDuring the meeting, Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir expressed his satisfaction with the athlete’s achievement and emphasized the importance of supporting young people in both sports and moral development. At the end of the visit, Turgay Aldemir presented a congratulatory gift to champion athlete Ayşegül Yavuz in recognition of her valuable achievement and wished her continued success in her sporting career. The visit concluded with a commemorative photograph taken to mark the occasion.

As part of the project implemented by the REFAR Institute, young people came together in France to plan their careers in line with the requirements of the digital age.The mobility programme of the "Career Guidance for Youth in the Digital Age" project, carried out with the support of the Turkish National Agency and the European Union, has started in Strasbourg, France. Held between 14–20 July 2026, this organisation is being carried out in partnership with the REFAR Institute and New Horizon. The first day of the project, which aims to broaden young people's vision and provide guidance for their career goals, featured an intensive and productive programme of activities.FOCUS-ENHANCING ACTIVITIESOn the first day of the programme, Mesut Aydağ delivered the institutional introduction and opening speech. During his speech, Aydağ shared the institution’s vision, objectives, and the expected learning outcomes for the participants. The opening session was completed with an institutional presentation and interpretation provided by Ekrem Şahin. The first day's programme continued with introductory activities designed through the joint efforts of the New Horizon and REFAR Institute teams. Special focus-enhancing activities were conducted to ensure that participants paid attention to one another and that no one was overlooked. In this way, an environment was created where everyone listened to each other more attentively, got to know one another better, and strengthened team cohesion.COMMUNICATION AND VISIBILITYAs one of the project's main focal points is communication and visibility, participants were asked to write down their expectations and concerns on post-it notes. Thanks to this open-minded activity, everyone became aware of one another’s expectations and concerns, allowing a solid roadmap to be established that takes these issues into account in the subsequent stages of the project. At the end of the day, a bridge-building activity was organised to reflect team spirit and create a shared mindset. The introductory and team-building activities carried out in the morning were taken a step further through this bridge activity, successfully concluding the first day of the programme.