Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir hosted Hidayet Gelişkan, one of the families supported by the foundation, and volunteer writer Hamide Yüksel Er in his office. During the emotional visit, the emphasis was placed on loyalty and solidarity.The Bülbülzade Foundation continues to touch different segments of society through its social solidarity-based activities. In line with this vision, our Foundation President Turgay Aldemir welcomed Hidayet Gelişkan, from one of the orphan families, and foundation volunteer Hamide Yüksel Er. During this meaningful gathering, which took place in a very sincere atmosphere, the values brought to life by the foundation’s long-standing social support projects were once again clearly demonstrated.TEN YEARS OF SOLIDARITYHidayet Gelişkan stated that his path crossed with the Bülbülzade Foundation ten years ago. Recalling that a library was established in their home through the foundation’s “My Home Library” project, Gelişkan said that since that day they have always felt the support of the foundation by their side. Expressing that the foundation stood by them under all circumstances while overcoming the difficulties encountered in life’s struggle, Gelişkan extended his gratitude to President Turgay Aldemir and the foundation management for all the support provided.“THOSE LEFT ON THE ROAD” IS COUNTING DOWN TO MEET READERSAnother participant of the gathering, foundation volunteer Hamide Yüksel Er, shared her new works in the field of culture and literature. Er discussed the details of her new book titled “Those Left on the Road,” whose preparation process she has carried out meticulously, with President Aldemir. Providing information about the writing stage of the work, Er announced the good news that the book will meet readers very soon.This sincere visit, which constituted a fine example of foundation culture and institutional belonging, ended after a commemorative photograph was taken to mark the day.

The Mosaic Women and Family Association, operating under the umbrella of the Bülbülzade Foundation, analyzed Samiha Ayverdi’s unforgettable work İbrahim Efendi Konağı through a special program. During the event, the conflict between tradition and modernization, as well as issues of cultural transformation, were discussed in depth.Continuing its activities under the roof of the Bülbülzade Foundation, the Mosaic Women and Family Association proceeds with its book analysis programs without slowing down. Within this scope, İbrahim Efendi Konağı, regarded as the masterpiece of one of the important figures of Turkish literature, Samiha Ayverdi, was recently examined. During the event, held under the guidance of Bahar Dinç, a graduate of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Gaziantep University, the literary and social aspects of the work were evaluated. Participants had the opportunity to examine the world represented by the mansion, character analyses, and changing value judgments.THE COLLAPSE OF A CIVILIZATION AND THE LANGUAGE OF SPACEDuring the program, the perception of space flowing from Samiha Ayverdi’s pen was discussed in all its dimensions. Bahar Dinç emphasized that the author did not use spaces as ordinary backgrounds, stating that mansions symbolized the collapse of a civilization. Through the question of whether the work was a novel or a memoir, its reflections in the literary world were opened to discussion. At the same time, the internal erosion that began with the Tanzimat period and the loss of lifestyle accelerated by the Constitutional Era were discussed in detail in terms of how they were reflected in mansion life. Through a short slideshow presented to the audience, the author’s life and mystical depth were also conveyed.WOMEN AS THE BEARERS OF ORAL CULTUREOne of the most striking parts of the analysis was the role of women in cultural transmission. It was stated that Ayverdi did not limit women in her works solely to intellectual competence, but regarded them as the main pillar of the construction of national identity. Insightful evaluations were made regarding the effects of oral culture on family structure and the contemporary equivalent of the idealized female figure. In the question-and-answer section, participants reflected together on where today’s İbrahim Efendi Konakları are and what messages the work should convey to new generations, thereby concluding the program. A common conclusion was reached that the true element keeping places alive is not merely stone, but the morality and manners of the people within them.

The book analysis and competition for “Don’t Give Up on Yourself” organized by the Bülbülzade Foundation Secondary Education Unit at BEKAM took place with intense participation. Students experienced both the excitement of competition and gained important achievements for their personal development during the program.The Bülbülzade Foundation Secondary Education Unit continues its activities without slowing down in order to enrich the intellectual world of young people and reinforce their reading habits. In this context, a meaningful book analysis and award-winning reading competition was organized hosted by the Science Education Culture Research Center (BEKAM). In the program, which attracted great interest from secondary school students, the work titled “Don’t Give Up on Yourself” written by Clinical Psychologist Mehmet Dinç and published under the Aşina Kitap label was discussed. The event, where young people both became acquainted with the author’s delicate narrative and embarked on a journey into their own inner worlds, received great appreciation.A BOOK FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND BE UNDERSTOODThe work “Don’t Give Up on Yourself,” which was the focal point of the event, succeeded in attracting the attention of young people with its original structure that distinguishes it from ordinary personal development books. In the evaluations made through the author Mehmet Dinç’s striking expressions, “Sometimes moments are difficult, sometimes days, sometimes periods; do not give up on yourself,” the subject of psychological resilience in the face of difficulties was discussed. Students discussed together the sections in the book explaining how a person can support themselves during moments when emotions, thoughts, or behaviors become difficult. Written for everyone who carries a concern for understanding and being understood in their hearts, this work brought a brand new perspective to the students’ outlook on life.INTENSE INTEREST AND PRODUCTIVE PARTICIPATION FROM STUDENTSIn the program, where participation was extremely high, young people not only read the work but also had the opportunity to analyze it in depth and express their ideas in front of a community. The competition held at the end of the program added a pleasant sense of rivalry and excitement to the event. Students stated that thanks to this organization, they gained both an intellectual accumulation and important clues about coping with the difficulties brought by daily life. The Bülbülzade Foundation Secondary Education Unit will continue to contribute to the personal and academic development of young people through such qualified programs.

While the reconstruction of Syria was discussed at the 14th Common Future Meeting held in Gaziantep, the brain drain taking place on the ground and the adaptation problems experienced by young people marked the summit.The 14th Common Future Meeting, implemented by the Migration Services Center under the coordination of the Gaziantep Governorship, Metropolitan Municipality, and Bülbülzade Foundation, brought together Turkish and Syrian opinion leaders on May 9 at the municipality’s Çetin Emeç Meeting Hall. In this year’s session of the program, organized with the aim of strengthening the culture of unity between Türkiye and Syria, realities experienced in the field were voiced loudly beyond protocol speeches.THE WILL FOR SOLUTIONS AND HOPE WERE KEPT ALIVEAt the meeting attended by Migration Services Center Coordinator Remzi Yılmaz, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Gazikültür Inc. General Manager Prof. Dr. Halil İbrahim Yakar, President of the Gaziantep Syrian Community Mustafa El Hüseyin, and many opinion leaders, the loss of qualified human resources to Europe and the deep cultural conflicts experienced by Syrian youth raised in Türkiye in their own country were discussed in all aspects. Despite all these difficulties and the heavy picture drawn, the will for solutions and hope were constantly kept alive in the hall. While it was emphasized that a common future could not be built with pessimism, the main philosophy of the meeting became the belief that Syria’s bright tomorrow could only be shaped by an educated and founding generation blended with the richness of both cultures.IF ISTANBUL FALLS, ALEPPO WILL REBUILD ITSpeaking during the opening speeches, Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir drew attention to the enormous scale of the activities carried out by civil society organizations in Syria. Stating that the annual service planning of civil society organizations in the region had reached 157 million dollars, Aldemir emphasized historical ties and said: “The elders used to say, ‘If Istanbul falls, Aleppo will rebuild it. If Aleppo falls, Anatolia will rebuild it. If the whole world falls into hardship, these lands will once again become the source.’”Aldemir also expressed his disappointment over the loss of trained human resources due to bureaucratic obstacles. Pointing out that brilliant young minds and specialists were being lost to Western countries, Aldemir painted a grim picture by saying: “At the moment, Germany’s healthcare system is in the hands of Syrian medical doctors. When they go there, the Germans beg us not to pull them back and offer us money. They all left from here. We could not grant equivalency.”MIGRATION IS LIKE TRANSBOUNDARY WATERSThe main speaker of the program, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Altan, approached the phenomenon of migration from a different perspective in his presentation titled “Youth, Values, and the New Language of Civil Society.” Saying that “Migration is like transboundary waters,” Altan stated that these waters carry the resources of one country to another and that great benefit could be achieved if seen as an opportunity.Arguing that the expectations of the new generation had changed, Altan stated that civil society needed to update its language. Emphasizing that young people want to be included in decision-making mechanisms, Altan said: “What do young people want from us? First, they want to be listened to. They want to be addressed and acknowledged by us, the elders.” He thus demanded greater transparency from traditional structures.Altan also referred in his presentation to the initiative shown by a 12-year-old Syrian boy who stopped traffic to make way for an ambulance, pointing out the great value such individual acts add to relations between societies.THE “YOU ARE TRAITORS” CONFLICTDuring the discussion section of the meeting, Syrian academics, students, and civil society representatives voiced the current crises experienced on the ground. The observations shared by university student Fatma Zehra regarding the integration of young people had a major impact in the hall.Pointing out the growing cultural gap between Syrian youth raised in Türkiye and those who remained in Syria, Zehra said: “Children who were born and raised here no longer find common ground when they go to Syria. Young people going to Syria encounter ideas such as: ‘You grew up in Türkiye, you are rich, we stayed here and defended our homeland. You are traitors.’ Problems are arising among the children.”With these words, she drew attention to an approaching sociological danger.CIVIL SOCIETY MUST TAKE MORE INITIATIVEOne of the most remarkable speeches of the meeting was delivered by university student Faysal, whose father is a pharmacist in Damascus and who brought great pride by being accepted to Harvard University.Presenting a highly strategic analysis regarding the priorities of civil society in Syria, the young student pointed out that nearly 15 million people remaining in Syria had lived completely isolated from the technological, social, and economic developments in the world for 14 years. Stating that this disconnected population had no opportunity to build the future and that the Syrian government also lacked the resources to remove this sociological wreckage, Faysal emphasized that civil society organizations urgently needed to focus on this area.The young student also criticized the process of international capital returning to the country and said: “Qatari or American companies sign agreements, but they do not return due to security concerns. Civil society leaders need to take initiative and ensure that people put their hands under the stone,” calling on the audience to shoulder a historic responsibility.INJUSTICES CAUSE DEEP SUFFERING IN SOCIETYArabic teacher Adil Çavuş, who spoke at the meeting, described in striking language the grievances experienced at border crossings and within the education system.Çavuş criticized the meaningless situation in which Syrians who had obtained citizenship could cross to the other side of the border every day with ease, while other members of the same family who had not obtained citizenship had been unable to visit their homeland for years, and called on the Ministry of Interior to solve this issue.Çavuş also drew attention to the high costs in education, describing it as a major injustice that Syrian youth born and raised in Türkiye were treated the same as foreign students arriving from the other side of the world. Reminding the audience that these young people share the same living conditions as Turkish citizens, Çavuş demanded a special discounted status for Syrian students regarding university tuition fees.Stating that no progress had been made despite ten months passing since the steps promised last July, Çavuş said that this situation was causing deep suffering within society and called for an urgent end to the dramas experienced by patients and separated families.

Representatives of the Reyhanlı Ufuk Association visited our foundation, received comprehensive information about the activities we carry out, and completed the program with a city tour.During the meeting held at our foundation center, we delivered a detailed presentation to the guest delegation regarding our institutional structure and the projects we continue to implement. Throughout the sharing session, we exchanged ideas mutually and evaluated the social impacts of the activities we carry out. Following the presentation, we organized a tour covering the historical and cultural landmarks of Gaziantep accompanied by our board members.WE STRENGTHENED OUR DIALOGUEThis visit, during which we had the opportunity to introduce the rich heritage of our city on-site, strengthened the dialogue between the two institutions. We extend our gratitude to the Reyhanlı Ufuk Association delegation for their kind visit and the strong interest they showed in our work. We believe that such meetings will enhance solidarity among civil society organizations.

The Bülbülzade Foundation Education Teachers Unit came together in a planning meeting to determine the roadmap for year-round workshops and exciting summer activities.Our Education Teachers Unit, aiming to make educational processes more qualified, held a comprehensive planning meeting. During the meeting, which was attended by teachers serving within the foundation, the outcomes of previous term activities were analyzed while the strategic steps for the upcoming period were determined.WORKSHOP PROCESSES WERE EVALUATEDOne of the main agenda items of the meeting was the workshops conducted under the titles of children, concepts, youth, and digitalization. The “Workshop on Methods and Techniques in Religion and Values Education,” held last week, was discussed in detail. It was noted that the targeted success had been achieved in terms of participant interest and the quality of the program.SUMMER ACTIVITIES AND ANATOLIAN GATHERINGSAs part of the preparations for the summer period, a wide-ranging activity calendar consisting of camps, summer schools, trips, and workshops was created. The first official meetings regarding the planning phase of these activities were completed. In addition, presentations were made about the scope and content of the Anatolian Gatherings, and the suggestions of our teachers regarding the topic headings were recorded.FINAL WITH A BOOK REVIEWIn the closing section of the meeting, an intellectual evaluation was carried out. A comprehensive review was conducted on the article “The Middle East in Postnormal Times” included in the work “Postnormal Times Anthology,” edited and translated by Ziauddin Sardar. Through the observations in the article, current situation assessments were made, and the meeting concluded.