As the Bülbülzade Foundation, we organized a broadly attended consultation iftar with our organizational units. Gathering in the spiritual atmosphere of the month of Ramadan, we refreshed our foundation’s future vision and our goals of “building meaning.”Since the day we began our journey in 1994, under the umbrella of the Bülbülzade Foundation we have continued to be the conscience of civil society and to bring our ancient values together with the needs of the modern world. In the Organizational Units Consultation Iftar, which we organized in order to carry our 30 years of deep-rooted experience into the future by enriching it with the new concepts of a changing world, we came together with our colleagues. In this gathering where we shared the blessings of Ramadan, we both evaluated the past and, through collective wisdom, shaped our roadmap for a new era centered on “meaning and humanity” in every field from education to humanitarian aid.WE ARE FIGHTING A STRUGGLE OF VALUESOur Foundation President, Turgay Aldemir, emphasized in his speech at the meeting that our institution is not merely a field of activity but a “unity of spirit.” He summarized the foundation of the institution’s identity with the following words:“A foundation is not the sum of disconnected entities. In fact, a foundation is the art of bringing hearts, minds, and efforts together in a shared direction within a single sentence. Here we are not concerned only with our own success; we must not forget that we are different sentences of the same great story. If one of us falls behind, the chain weakens. Therefore we must move forward by strengthening every segment of society without leaving anyone behind. We are neither a pressure group nor a political party; we are a struggle for values.”WE CAN BECOME PART OF THIS ERA BY PRODUCING MEANINGDrawing attention to the global crisis of meaning, our President emphasized that our work consists not only of practical services. Stating that those who produce solutions in a period when the world is narrowing will shape the future, Aldemir made the following critical evaluation:“The future will belong not to those who merely wait for it, but to those who think about it with truth, shoulder it with responsibility, and build it with determination. Our issue is not only to produce activities, but to produce discourse from our own center, to produce concepts, and to engage with the age by producing meaning. If we do not question our own methods, renew our language, and honestly recognize our shortcomings, we cannot develop.”WE ARE PREPARING FOR TOMORROWIn his presentation during the program, our Vice President Adem Er detailed the wide range of activities carried out by our foundation and their impact in the field. Emphasizing that we design our work with the vision of “preparing not for today but for tomorrow,” Er stated that in every field—from volleyball and basketball to dozens of different branches of art, and from technology workshops to our Teknofest goals—we prepare young people to become productive and capable individuals. Noting that our work is carried out entirely on a voluntary basis, Er also expressed that our international guests and institutional visitors admire the sincerity and working model of our foundation.THE SPIRIT OF SOLIDARITY AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONIn this meaningful gathering that shaped our vision for the future, we clarified our roadmap with valuable contributions from different levels of our organization. Our volunteer Musab Kahraman, who came from Germany and worked tirelessly for six months in our earthquake region, highlighted the difference in social solidarity between Europe and Türkiye, emphasizing the unique spirit of unity in our country. Our earthquake region coordinator Zemzem Çetin stated that as a result of our three years of effort in the region, the people have not only received aid but have personally embraced the culture of foundations and volunteerism.WE MUST CONSTANTLY UPDATE OURSELVESOne of the veteran contributors to our Syria efforts, Mustafa El Hüseyin, spoke about the atmosphere of trust created by our stable presence in the region for 14 years and the positive response to the hand of brotherhood extended by Türkiye from Damascus to Aleppo. Addressing our institutional development processes, Mehmet Ali Eminoğlu reminded that in order to build a sustainable structure, we must continuously update our human resources and vision according to the changing conditions of the world. Educator and writer Bozan İnce emphasized that when individuals filled with meaning are raised, our activities naturally gain momentum and that our 20 years of experience have now reached an international dimension. In light of all these evaluations, we remain determined to continue producing social benefit and spreading goodness by focusing on digital transformation, strategic foresight, and next-generation advocacy in 2026.WE ARE ONLY A BRIDGEAs a foundation, we continue to deepen the network of services we carry out with the aim of social transformation. Our Education and Teachers Unit is conducting a process of intellectual construction by introducing modern concepts such as weak signals, collective responsibility, and experimental thinking into our literature. In our humanitarian aid and orphan programs, we preserve our principle of building a “bridge between the giving hand and the receiving hand,” operating a model that places human dignity at the center without exposing those in need. In the earthquake region, through the Child Life Centers we have established in Nurdağı and other strategic locations, we provide sustainable psychosocial support to children and families living in container cities. Beyond the borders, through the cultural centers we have opened across a wide geography from Azez to Damascus, we are building the future today by raising generations who possess national, local, and moral values even in the midst of war and crises.COMMON MIND, COMMON CONSCIENCEIn order for our civil society work not to lose its spirit, we constantly act with self-assessment and renewal. As our President Turgay Aldemir also stated, we consider self-criticism and consultation as conditions of our institutional maturity with the principle that “critical thinking is not for destruction but for building more solidly.” With the belief that this era will belong not to those who raise their voices the loudest but to those who deepen their words, we continue our work.

The Charity Store of the Bülbülzade Foundation, which has been a center of goodness for more than a quarter of a century, is sharing the joy of hundreds of families through its traditional clothing aid campaign held between March 1–14.As the Bülbülzade Foundation, we have continued to stand by citizens in need since our establishment in 1993. With the intensive program we carry out in our Charity Store—one of the most important centers of this long-standing tradition—specifically for the month of Ramadan (March 1–14), we reach hundreds of families. In our store, we bring together our orphaned, poor, and migrant brothers and sisters, strengthening our social solidarity.WE STAND BY OUR FAMILIESAll operations in our store are carried out through a professional appointment system that preserves the dignity of our families. Our teams call the families we will host each day one day in advance to confirm their appointment times. Starting at 09:00 in the morning, we open our doors, give our guests queue numbers, and invite them to our sections accompanied by volunteer staff. Without any confusion, our citizens can choose and take what they need just as they would while shopping in a regular store. While families are selecting clothes, we organize games and various activities in special areas prepared for our children so they can also spend their time productively.THOSE WHO GIVE RECEIVE PRAYERSOur Foundation President, Turgay Aldemir, who examined our work on site, shared the spiritual depth of this long-standing service. Our president summarized the essence of our solidarity with the words: “As the Bülbülzade Foundation family, we bring together the orphan, the poor, the displaced, the migrant, and the refugee in this store; we become one, we unite, and we heal each other’s wounds.” Reminding that the store has been active since the establishment of the foundation, Aldemir expressed the spirit of the work with the following words: “In fact, more than the one who receives the aid, it is the one who gives who gains: they receive prayers, strengthen their sense of brotherhood, and reflect upon themselves.”

Aleppo, which has left behind the darkness of war, once again hosted peace and the smiles of children this year with the Brotherhood Table that we organized for the 10th time.The weary streets of Aleppo, where bombs echoed for years and the sky witnessed nothing but the smell of gunpowder, gave way this Ramadan to a deep tranquility and the warm breath of brotherhood. On the peaceful evenings of Free Syria, we once again wove the borderless bonds of our spiritual geography stitch by stitch. The large table we set on Thursday, March 5, was not merely an iftar meal; it became the renewed hope of a people shaped by pain, the endless joy of children, and the long-awaited serenity of the “Ramadans of the past.” In this evening warmed by the abundance of brotherhood, far from the shadow of war, we witnessed thousands of hearts beating with love in the heart of Aleppo.THEY WERE THE TRUE HEROES OF THE NIGHTThe Brotherhood Table, which we have made a tradition together with the Anatolian Student Union, was established for the 10th time this year in the Syrian city of Aleppo. The program, which we organized through the Aleppo Liaison Office of the Bülbülzade Foundation and hosted by Al-Raja Association, was attended by our foundation members, volunteers, and many residents of Aleppo. On this special evening where we shared the blessings of Ramadan, we presented one of the most beautiful examples of social solidarity. After the iftar, the stage was left to the true heroes of the night — our children with Down syndrome. Our children, who proudly presented the activities and performances they had prepared with their own hands, gave the audience deeply emotional moments.WE BROUGHT JOY FROM TURKEY TO ALEPPOMustafa El Hüseyin, President of the Gaziantep Syrian Community, who attended the program and emphasized our foundation’s mission in the region, stated that the support provided by the Bülbülzade Foundation for Syrian migrants, orphans, and community leaders in Türkiye for the past 14 years continues in Syrian lands without discrimination. El Hüseyin summarized the meaning of the night with these words: “Today, as volunteers of the Bülbülzade Foundation and the Anatolian Student Union, we brought not only aid from Türkiye but also joy, happiness, and brotherhood. The table we set with our children with Down syndrome in the hall of Al-Raja Association is the most concrete sign of the heartfelt unity that transcends borders.”A NIGHT FULL OF MUSIC AT ALEPPO AKMWe crowned the finale of the evening with a musical visit at the Aleppo Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM). The weary sounds of war and chaos were replaced this time by the peace of melodies rising from the heart. The classical works performed in the program were also shared cultural values that hold deep meaning in Turkish culture and touch the souls of both peoples. With popular songs sung together in one voice, we once again proved how alive the ancient bond between us remains. With this warm and sincere musical recital, we all breathed in the peaceful social life that Aleppo has long missed.

During our Aleppo program carried out under the guidance of Gaziantep Syrian Community President Mustafa Al Hussein, we examined social cohesion efforts in the region on site and came together with Aleppo Anatolian Culture Center (AKM) and local units.We conducted a meaningful visit to the ancient Syrian city of Aleppo with a delegation consisting of volunteers from the Bülbülzade Foundation. In this program, which we organized with the aim of strengthening social integration and building a common future hand in hand with the people of the region, academics from Türkiye and the region, as well as our field teams, came together. Gaziantep Syrian Community President Mustafa Al Hussein, who accompanied us throughout our visit, shared with our delegation the new process in the region and the ongoing initiatives.ART AND CRAFT EDUCATION TOGETHERWithin the center we visited, our library—hosting a rich collection in the fields of ideas, culture, and history in Turkish, English, and Arabic—also presents books from Anadolu Federation Tire Publishing House and our President Turgay Aldemir to readers. While art rooms where music lessons are held, well-equipped classrooms for interactive education, and language workshops are actively used in our center, we especially provide Arabic lessons for children coming from Türkiye to improve their language proficiency. For adults, we regularly organize English and Turkish language courses. In our center, where the establishment process of a computer laboratory is ongoing, craft education is also provided in areas used as handicraft workshops.HEALING TOGETHERDuring this visit, despite the challenges of the new period, we witnessed hope gradually flourishing again in the region. During our cultural tour, we visited Aleppo Citadel, the Historic Aleppo Bazaar and its streets, and the Zakariya Mosque. On this platform, where representatives of state institutions, other civil society organizations, and the business community came together, we continue our determination to rebuild Syria through collective effort.We are very pleased to be part of this structure that is gradually healing and uniting, and to touch the future of our brothers and sisters in Aleppo.

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.

Our Erasmus+ KA151 Youth Mobility project activity titled “Civil Awareness and the Culture of Volunteering,” coordinated by the Bülbülzade Association and hosted by the Novi Pazar Turkish Cultural Center, has begun in the city of Novi Pazar (Yeni Pazar), Serbia.In our project, which aims to strengthen young people’s participation in civil society processes, we are experiencing the future of civil society and the awareness of volunteering on-site together with 20 young participants. Our young people, who will shape the future of civil society, receive both theoretical and practical training within the program. Following the opening presentation by Nejra Mujovic Zupljanin, which covered institutional processes, we laid the scientific foundations of the project with Ahmet Çam’s seminar titled “What is Civil Awareness?” Our training marathon continued with Lütfiye Güvenç’s presentation titled “The Concept of Active Citizenship – Youth Participation in Decision-Making Processes.” Through comprehensive workshops, we discussed how our young people can take a more active role in social issues and how they can be involved in decision-making mechanisms.In the later stages of the program, we will strengthen the digital dimension of our project through social media campaign analyses and digital field studies under the theme “Digital Activism and Media Literacy.”THE TRAINING PROCESS IS SUPPORTED BY FIELD VISITSWe support this intensive training and workshop-focused process with field visits where we observe the local government and civil society structure of the region. Technical visits to Belgrade and the Sandžak region, along with intercultural activities, are included in the program as complementary elements that combine the theoretical achievements of our young people with a cultural vision. After the evaluation processes, our young participants will receive their certificates and return to Türkiye with new skills in the field of civil society and an expanded perspective.