The Middle East Media and Communication Center (OMIM) finalized the comprehensive five-day media planning for the upcoming Anatolian Gatherings during a planning meeting.Preparations continue at full speed ahead of the Anatolian Gatherings, which will bring together prominent figures from civil society, the public sector, and academia. The Middle East Media and Communication Center (OMIM) team held a comprehensive planning meeting to coordinate the media and communication processes that will be carried out throughout the event. During the meeting, every detail of the five-day organization, from news flow to digital media management, was addressed meticulously.PROFESSIONAL STRATEGIESAs part of the meeting, clear task assignments were made regarding the live broadcast operations of the symposium sessions, photo and video recording processes, and the coordination of exclusive interviews with guests. With the objective of ensuring uninterrupted communication throughout the event, technical infrastructure requirements and logistical expectations were evaluated and finalized. Particular emphasis was placed on professional strategies that will enhance real-time information sharing and social media engagement across digital platforms.PREPARATIONS COMPLETEDThanks to this planning, in which the main media team of experts and operations assistants will work in an integrated manner, the intellectual output generated by the Anatolian Gatherings is expected to reach wider audiences in the most accurate and timely way. With the professional roadmap prepared, it has been ensured that all sessions, panels, and final declarations will be conveyed to the public completely and accurately. Team members have completed their final preparations to begin field operations in line with the established schedule.

The international convoy, which has set out in support of Palestine, will be welcomed in Gaziantep on August 6 with a large-scale gathering.As part of this meaningful journey, actively supported by Bülbülzade Foundation and aimed at strengthening international solidarity, preparations are continuing at full speed for the convoy's arrival in the city. At the major gathering to be held at Millet Mosque on Thursday, August 6, at 7:00 p.m., representatives of civil society organizations, community leaders, local administrators, and thousands of citizens of Gaziantep will come together to deliver a message of brotherhood. In this way, the city's strong support for the Palestinian cause will once again be reflected to the international community.A SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHEREThe Jerusalem Platform came together at Bülbülzade Foundation to organize this major gathering. During the meeting, a detailed action plan was discussed to ensure the smooth entry of the convoy into the city and the flawless execution of the welcoming ceremony. Responsibilities were assigned to ensure the event proceeds without any problems, and it was decided that the gathering would be conducted entirely in a spiritual atmosphere.PLACING HUMAN DIGNITY AT ITS COREThis independent civil initiative, named the "Palestine Convoy," set out from Srebrenitsa in Bosnia and Herzegovina to mobilize the global conscience, placing universal law and human dignity at its core. Beginning in Europe, joining together in Istanbul, and advancing eastward with its "Snowball Effect" strategy, the convoy reaches Gaziantep after passing through cities such as Sakarya, Ankara, and Konya along the Anatolian route. From there, the activists will cross into Iraq and Jordan through the Habur Border Gate, with their ultimate destination being Ramallah, where they aim to stand against the blockade, oppression, and forced displacement policies that have continued in Palestine for years.We invite all the people of Gaziantep to join this historic gathering at Millet Mosque on August 6, to raise their voices in support of the just struggle of our Palestinian brothers and sisters and to become part of this global solidarity.

Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin held a productive meeting to evaluate the foundation’s ongoing and planned projects.Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir paid a visit to Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin. During the consultation meeting, the foundation’s comprehensive work in the fields of education, culture, arts, and social development was discussed in detail. The meeting, which featured a mutual exchange of ideas, was of great importance in terms of developing joint projects and strengthening inter-institutional solidarity. One of the main agenda items of the meeting was the Anadolu Gatherings, which attract great interest every year. Fatma Şahin, who stated that she would personally attend the program, was informed about the content and framework of the new term.MANY ISSUES WERE ON THE AGENDADuring the meeting, the processes of mutual cooperation and support regarding the summer schools, which contribute to the development of young people, were also discussed. The ongoing recovery efforts in the earthquake region were evaluated extensively. The meeting also covered humanitarian and cultural activities across the border, with detailed information shared about the park currently under construction in Aleppo and the activities carried out within the Anadolu Cultural Centers. The foundation’s nature projects in Kurtuluş Forest and the activities to be held at the youth camp established there were also among the prominent topics of the meeting.At the end of the meeting, Mayor Fatma Şahin expressed her gratitude for the pioneering role undertaken by the Bülbülzade Foundation in all of these projects.

Organized by the Anadolu Federation, the 20th Anadolu Gatherings will be held in Ankara from 10–14 August 2026 under the theme "The Century of Türkiye and Civil Diplomacy."The symposium will bring together numerous civil society volunteers, academics, and bureaucrats from Türkiye and around the world under one roof, creating a common platform for dialogue between global thought leaders and international representatives. At a time when the multilayered crises of the twenty-first century can no longer be managed through classical diplomatic methods, the Anadolu Gatherings will reassess the constructive role of civil society in building trust and fostering bridges between societies. Drawing strength from the historical legacy extending from the early periods of Islamic civilization to modern humanitarian aid practices, the symposium prioritizes strengthening Türkiye’s civil diplomacy capacity in the international arena and developing new policy proposals by establishing multi-stakeholder platforms of solidarity.The list of speakers and the draft program are as follows:

The Closing Program of the 5-week Summer Schools organized by the Bülbülzade Foundation was held at the Şehitkamil Cultural Center with the strong participation of families.Reaching thousands of children in Gaziantep as well as in Syria and the Balkans, the Bülbülzade Foundation Summer Schools came to an end with a grand closing program held at the Şehitkamil Cultural Center. At the event, which attracted great interest from families and filled the hall, the stage performances prepared by the children throughout the summer provided the audience with unforgettable moments. The program, which was filled with colorful scenes, showcased the excitement and happiness of the young students.OUR STORY DID NOT BEGIN WITH SUMMER, NOR DOES IT END WITH SUMMERIn his welcoming speech, Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir emphasized that education is not limited to the summer months alone. Thanking everyone who contributed to this wave of enthusiasm, Aldemir stated that activities for children would continue throughout the entire year. Recalling the late Ahmet Mukdat Ziylan’s words, “There is no complaint, there is a solution,” Aldemir said that wherever there are children, there is always hope and a solution, concluding his remarks as follows: “Today we are at the graduation program of the summer schools. However, our story did not begin with summer, nor does it end with summer. We are concluding one period here, but our secondary education programs for our children, our activities in schools, and our social responsibility projects will continue throughout the year with the support of our parents.”WE WILL ALWAYS CARRY YOUR KINDNESS IN OUR HEARTSOne of the most meaningful moments of the closing program was the speech of gratitude delivered by Syrian student Avin Hac Musa to the Turkish people. Speaking on behalf of Syrian children, Hac Musa expressed her gratitude to the noble Turkish nation for providing them with educational opportunities. Stating that they would always carry in their hearts the kindness of the Turkish people, who stood by them during their difficult times, Hac Musa wished that the love and brotherhood between the two peoples would endure forever. The young student also expressed her special thanks to the Syrian community in Gaziantep, the Bülbülzade Foundation, and the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality.HIGHLY ENJOYABLE TO WATCHThe program began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and continued with a short film presenting the 5-week journey of the summer schools. Throughout the event, various groups took the stage and received great applause from the audience. The oratorios A Youth Speaks by Bilim-Der and The Pillars of Islam by Hayata Dokun Orphan Association, the Recycling Fashion Show and the musical The Ant Going on Pilgrimage presented by Bülbülzade Foundation students offered participants a visual feast. The songs performed by the children from the Nurdağı Children's Living Center and the performances by the students of the İslahiye Children's Living Center added a special color to the evening. The program also featured a zeybek folk dance performance, a piano recital, a rhythm ensemble performance, and taekwondo and sports demonstrations by the students of İstikrar Sports Club. The organization came to a joyful close with a commemorative group photograph taken with the participation of all the educators.

Students who successfully completed the Bülbülzade Foundation Summer Schools received their certificates at a ceremony.The summer school program organized by the Bülbülzade Foundation to contribute to the personal development and education of children concluded with a joyful certificate ceremony. Throughout the summer, children who participated in various activities, learning while having fun, experienced the well-deserved pride of successfully completing the educational program together with their friends and teachers. The excitement and happiness of the students as they received their certificates of achievement from their instructors were truly remarkable.THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM IN THE REGIONThe 2026 Summer Schools organized by the Bülbülzade Foundation together with dozens of partner organizations were held simultaneously between June 29 and July 31. In addition to the Bülbülzade Foundation headquarters in Gaziantep, summer schools were organized at the Anatolian Cultural Centers in Azaz, Al-Bab, Afrin, Jarabulus, and Aleppo in Syria; the Anatolian Cultural Centers in Gaziantep; the Hayata Dokun Orphan Association; Semt-i İbrahimli; Bilim-Der; Fidan-Der; Katre Art and Science Center; İstikrar Sports Club; Middle East Media Communication Center; and in the earthquake-affected regions of Nurdağı and İslahiye.CHILDREN ENJOYED A FULL AND PRODUCTIVE SUMMERThe summer schools offered educational modules for children aged 7–14, including the Holy Qur'an, Basic Religious Knowledge, Drama, STEAM Workshop, Digital Literacy, and English Speaking Through Games. Through sports and artistic activities such as swimming, karate, taekwondo, bağlama, guitar, violin, robotics coding, and painting, children both had fun and engaged in sports. In addition to the program, outdoor activities such as horseback riding, Science Center visits, Agro Park, clay workshops, and picnics were also included. The children enjoyed a full and productive summer season.INVITATION TO THE CLOSING PROGRAMThe Summer Schools organized by the Bülbülzade Foundation will conclude this evening with the Closing Program to be held at Şehitkamil Cultural Center. Let us come together this evening at 7:00 p.m. at Şehitkamil Cultural Center to share the joy of our children, who are the guarantee of our future, and to be part of their great excitement.