Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir met with volunteers and university youth at the iftar program organized by Diriliş Association and held a heartfelt conversation themed “Ramadan and Civil Society.”As the Bülbülzade Foundation, in line with our vision of solidarity and brotherhood, we participated in the meaningful Ramadan gathering hosted by the Diriliş Association. The iftar program, held at the association center on Monday, March 3, took place in a festive atmosphere with the strong participation of volunteer families and university students who are the guarantee of our future.OUR PRESIDENT MADE CRITICAL EVALUATIONSOur Foundation President Turgay Aldemir and the accompanying delegation attended the program and shared the unifying spirit of Ramadan with the participants. The bridges of hearts built around the iftar table once again confirmed the key role of civil society in social solidarity.After the iftar meal, participants moved to the library in the association building and held a sincere conversation themed “Ramadan and Civil Society.” During the discussion, Aldemir made critical evaluations regarding the intellectual development of young people and their sense of social responsibility.HE DREW ATTENTION TO CHARACTER BUILDINGIn his speech, Aldemir emphasized character building, which aims to enrich the academic success of young people with their spiritual and intellectual worlds. Emphasizing that Ramadan should be seen not only as an individual act of worship but also as a season of social awakening and mutual assistance, Aldemir shared with the participants the strategic importance of institutionalized movements of goodness for the future of Türkiye.

As Hayata Dokun Yetim Association, we share the blessings of the month of Ramadan with our orphan families. We have completed the first two of our traditional iftar gatherings with great enthusiasm and strong participation.Operating under the umbrella of the Bülbülzade Foundation, Hayata Dokun Yetim Association experiences the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan — the month of mercy and forgiveness — by sharing the same table with our orphaned children, their esteemed families, and our volunteers. At the iftar programs we held on February 24 and March 3 at Zade Life Hotel, we experienced the happiness of demonstrating the finest examples of our unity and togetherness. At both programs, we shared sincere moments. Following the opening and greeting speeches, we broke our fast accompanied by prayers. With the traditional Karagöz shadow play performed after iftar, we provided our little guests with joyful and delightful moments of entertainment. At the end of the evening, while presenting various gifts to our children and multiplying the smiles on their faces, we also offered flowers to our devoted mothers as a token of our love and respect.CLIMATE OF UNITYSpeaking at our first iftar program on February 24, Hayata Dokun Yetim Association President Yunus Atilla Hamallar emphasized that our association is not merely a charity organization, but also embodies an atmosphere of unity and a spirit of solidarity with its ideas, heart, sincerity, and spirituality. President Hamallar stated, “Here, our beloved children — the light of our eyes — with Allah’s permission, by believing in themselves and having confidence, possess treasures that will serve both their cities and their country in the future. Together with our volunteer friends, we are striving to build a future by putting our hands under the stone and taking responsibility.” He also gave examples from the lives of the prophets, reminding that the success that comes after hardship is possible for every child.HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELVESAt our second iftar gathering on March 3, President Hamallar addressed our families by stating that every child is sent into this world with a purpose: “Trust your children, trust yourselves. Our bright generations, with Allah’s permission, will each accomplish something within their own capacity. My belief and confidence in this are endless.” He also added that in line with this belief, we organize art courses and provide academic lesson support.OUR GATHERINGS WILL CONTINUEWe will continue these meaningful gatherings throughout the month of Ramadan without slowing down. Our guests leave these events with beautiful memories in their minds and the peace of unity in their hearts. We will hold our next orphan iftars again at Zade Life Hotel on March 10 and 17, and we will continue to share the blessings of cooperation and solidarity together around the same table.

As the Children’s Activities Commission of the Bülbülzade Foundation, we came together with our families at our traditional children’s iftar, where we shared the abundance and joy of Ramadan. This special gathering, held at our foundation center, took place in a truly festive atmosphere.This time, we set our table of heartfelt hospitality for our children—the assurance of our future—and their esteemed families. With the strong participation of mothers and fathers, we experienced together the beauty of sharing as we prepared our iftar table hand in hand. As the time for iftar arrived, we broke our fasts in the sweet silence of dates. Following the meal, we shared the spiritual atmosphere by performing prayer in congregation at our foundation center. In the moments of supplication, when little hands were raised to the heavens and great hearts sincerely said “amen,” we felt the peace of our unity and togetherness.FAMILIES COMPETEDThe most colorful moments of the evening began as the curtain opened. Karagöz and Hacivat, the indispensable characters of traditional Turkish shadow theater, provided unforgettable moments for our children and their families with their performance. This special show, where laughter rose high and the joy of Ramadan danced with the shadows, further increased our energy and happiness. As part of our program, we organized small competitions and delightful activities with family participation. While some of our students stood out with their speed and others with their cheerfulness, the greatest achievement in these moments—filled with excitement and fun—was being together.MORE THAN JUST A TABLEAt the end of the evening, we kept alive the “tooth rent” tradition inherited from our ancestors. By presenting gifts to our little guests who attended our iftar, we crowned the program by sharing the smiles on their faces and the sparkle in their eyes. On this meaningful evening, where we ate together, laughed together, and prayed together, we once again deeply experienced that Ramadan is far more than just a table.We sincerely thank all the families who participated.

As part of the ESC-51 project carried out by Bülbülzade Foundation, our volunteers who traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina are taking active roles in many areas, from Ramadan preparations to social rehabilitation activities.The ESC-51 project, implemented by Bülbülzade Foundation and supported by the Turkish National Agency, continues to enhance young people's social awareness through international volunteering activities. Within the scope of the project, our volunteers Nisa Nur Bayrak, Feride Nisa Tanaş, and Feyzanur Üstün, who have started short-term volunteering activities hosted by one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reputable institutions, HO MFS-EMMAUS, are involved in humanitarian aid and social support efforts in the region.THE SPIRIT OF SOLIDARITY IN THE FIELDServing in the Klokotnica region, our volunteers undertook significant responsibilities in aid activities carried out in cooperation with Yetim Foundation and Islamic Relief USA prior to the holy month of Ramadan. Our team played an active role in preparing iftar tables and delivering Ramadan aid packages to those in need. From cooking in the kitchen to packaging, they worked wholeheartedly at every stage, reflecting the spirit of solidarity on the ground. Our volunteers also stood by the host institution during Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national and international observance days, supporting flag preparations for the Bosnia and Herzegovina Independence Day celebrations. In addition, on the occasion of March 8 International Women’s Day, they took part in fashion show preparations and various events, strengthening their cultural ties with the local community.MEANINGFUL TOUCHESOur volunteers are not limited to logistical support; they also touch hearts at the rehabilitation center in the region. Meeting with individuals with disabilities, orphaned children, and the elderly, our team contributes to the development of manual skills and socialization through activities such as painting and handicraft workshops, cardboard design and assembly works, and social adaptation games.

The traditional iftar program organized by the Secondary Education Commission of the Bülbülzade Vakfı was crowned with the energy of youth and the blessings of Ramadan, hosted by Zade Life Otel.As Bülbülzade Foundation, we continue to strengthen our bridges of hearts with our youth, who are the guarantee of our future. At the iftar program organized by our Secondary Education Commission, our students raised under the roof of our foundation came together around the same table and in the same prayer with our teachers and volunteer elder brothers. Our program began with a soothing recitation of the Holy Qur’an. On this night, where the spirit of solidarity and mutual support of the month of Ramadan was emphasized, the enthusiasm of the youth added a special color to the program. While our guests enjoyed pleasant moments with the traditional Karagöz shadow play staged before iftar, our students both had fun and refreshed their knowledge through the quiz competition organized.BÜLBÜLZADE FOUNDATION IS OUR SECOND HOMEOur young people, who stepped through the doors of our foundation at an early age and embraced it as a spiritual refuge, almost a second home, expressed that under this roof they gained not only intellectual development but also an unshakable character shaped by life itself and the spirit of Islam. They stated that, in addition to thematic camps, in-depth book analyses, and overseas projects that transcend borders, social activities such as futsal instilled self-confidence in them and taught them the consciousness of acting together. Going beyond academic success, our youth, who grasped the importance of morality, intention, and discipline, expressed their gratitude to their teachers for the unbreakable friendships and life lessons they have gained.