The Erasmus+ KA151 project, hosted by Bülbülzade Foundation and bringing together young people from different countries around the world in Gaziantep, opened its doors with exciting activities.The Erasmus+ KA151 project titled “Borderless Youth for an Inclusive Future,” carried out by Bülbülzade Association and supported by the Turkish National Agency, was launched with its first activities in Gaziantep on Monday, April 13. Coordinated by Bülbülzade Foundation, this meaningful program, which adds an international dimension to youth work, will continue for five days with an intensive schedule. Participants from different cultures will gather around common goals and gain valuable experiences in cultural interaction and the practice of living together.PRODUCTIVE SESSIONS FROM THE FIRST DAYThe first day of the program witnessed highly productive sessions that enabled participants to socialize with one another. Ice-breaking activities conducted by Clinical Psychologist Sena Aldemir allowed young people to both have fun and get to know each other better. Following the introduction phase, presentations of the institutions involved in the project were carried out, strengthening the grounds for cooperation. In the morning session, Mesut Aydağ addressed the youth with his presentation titled “The Key to Living Together: Youth and Shared Values.”THEY DISCOVERED GAZIANTEP CULTUREAs the activities continued, participants toured various units and application centers within the Bülbülzade Foundation complex in detail. Young people who examined the foundation center on-site received information from officials about ongoing activities and closely observed how the institution operates. One of the most interesting parts of the day, the city tour, took place under the guidance of Hüseyin Rahmi Açıkkol and Asım Mıhçıoğlu. Participants had the opportunity to closely learn about the historical and cultural texture of Gaziantep through expert narration.THEORETICAL TRAININGS AND FIELD ACTIVITIESIn the following days of the project, theoretical trainings and field activities will be carried out together. The session titled “Youth and Cultural Identity” will be held under the moderation of Hacı Abuzer Nas, with the participation of Salih Ekrem Oğlakcı and Dilara Osanmaz. In sections addressing psychological and social perspectives, Sena Aldemir will present “Same Island: The Social and Psychological Effects of Living Together,” while Zehra Aldemir will discuss “Common Ground: Living Together with Boundaries and Flexibility.” Additionally, BEKAM President and Bülbülzade Foundation Board Member Mehmet Ali Eminoğlu will meet with young people through his speech titled “Active Citizenship Models for Youth as the Key to Social Participation.”YOUTH WILL PLANT SAPLINGS IN KURTULUŞ FORESTAs part of field activities, participants will contribute to nature by taking part in a sapling planting event in the Bülbülzade Foundation Kurtuluş Forest. In the “Human Library” event, which is one of the most remarkable parts of the program, Mustafa El-Huseyin, Nadia Cuma, and Lütfiye Güvenç will share their life experiences. The program, which will continue with the session titled “NGO Policies for Inclusive Coexistence: The Role of Youth,” will conclude with a general evaluation and certificate ceremony on Friday, April 17.

The delegation of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (ISDB) was in the region under the guidance of our foundation as part of the reconstruction efforts in Syria. The first stop of the visits was Aleppo.The field visit to Syria, organized by the Union of Islamic World NGOs (UISW) and scheduled for April 13–16, 2026, began yesterday. The delegation, which departed from Istanbul and traveled by road via Gaziantep to Aleppo, made one of its first stops at our foundation’s Aleppo Anatolian Cultural Center. The first day’s program was entirely dedicated to analyzing Aleppo’s current situation and strengthening coordination with local authorities. The delegation met with Aleppo Governor Azzam el-Garib and Turkish Consul General Muammer Hakan Cengiz to assess the latest on-the-ground conditions firsthand. Following the official meetings, delegation members conducted inspections around Aleppo Citadel and observed how the infrastructure destroyed by the war could be rebuilt.SOCIAL RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE THROUGH EDUCATION AND CULTUREAddressing the delegation at the Aleppo Anatolian Culture Center, Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir shared the current situation in the region and the strategic vision of the foundation. Stating that Syria cannot recover solely through physical reconstruction, Aldemir emphasized that social recovery is only possible through education and culture. Drawing attention to the pioneering role undertaken by our foundation across Syria, Aldemir noted that the real impact of humanitarian diplomacy in the field is reflected in the trust established with local communities.WE UNDERTAKE THE ROLE OF SOCIAL ARCHITECTUREIn his speech, President Turgay Aldemir elaborated on the progress of one of our foundation’s most important projects, the Anatolian Culture Centers. Stating that the centers operating in Aleppo as well as in Al-Bab, Jarabulus, Afrin, and Azaz are not merely educational institutions, Aldemir said that these centers have also become hubs where social peace is built. Expressing that thousands of young people and children have been reached through these centers, Aldemir reminded that our foundation has undertaken the role of social architecture in the reconstruction of Syria.

Mozaik Women and Family Association brought together its members and volunteers within the scope of the 2026 Spring In-Service Program organized under the theme of "Civil Movement."Participants who arrived at the camp area in the early morning took part in an intensive day-long training and interaction program. The first session, which began under the moderation of Elif Bozkurt, was followed by panels led by Songül Özkaya and Fadime Eminoğlu. In the afternoon part of the program, Habibe Er and Serap Nas led sessions addressing the dynamics of civil society. The civil drama activity held during the breaks between trainings provided participants with the opportunity to put theoretical knowledge into practice and to demonstrate collective creativity.THE CRITICAL ROLE OF NGOs IN SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONOne of the most remarkable moments of the day was the "36th Year Presentation in Civil Society" delivered by Rabia Aldemir, President of the Mozaik Women and Family Association. Aldemir emphasized the critical role of non-governmental organizations in social transformation by sharing her many years of experience. The program, which ended with dinner, offered important insights into the association’s vision for the upcoming period. This gathering once again demonstrated the association’s determination to enhance its professional capacity and strengthen the bonds of social solidarity.

With a festival organized together with its stakeholders, Bülbülzade Foundation brought smiles to the faces of children in Nurdağı. Young volunteers and little students came together at the heart of games, demonstrating one of the finest examples of solidarity.The “One World of Games, A Thousand Worlds of Smiles” event, prepared in cooperation with Bülbülzade Foundation, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, and Turkuaz Fikir Topluluğu, was held at Nurten Öztürk Primary School in Nurdağı. This special day, attended by Nurdağı District Governor Nurullah Cemil Erciyas and District Director of National Education Musa Yıldırım, delighted young hearts while bringing university students together around the spirit of kindness.YOUTH BUILT STRONG BONDS WITH CHILDRENColorful painting tables set up in the schoolyard and intelligence game corners in classrooms provided children with unforgettable moments. ESC (European Solidarity Corps) volunteers of our foundation and students from Gaziantep University engaged with the children one-on-one and led games. This strong bond between youth and children spread the spirit of solidarity throughout the school.THEY LIT A STRONG LIGHT OF HOPEThroughout the day, children released their energy through sports activities while improving their mental skills with chess and tangram games. Thanks to the game-based learning approach, the little ones gained new skills while enjoying themselves. This meaningful organization proved how institutions and young volunteers can come together to ignite a powerful light of hope in society.

Young volunteers from all around the world who have come to Gaziantep במסגרת the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) contribute to the city while closely experiencing Turkish culture through the work they carry out under the umbrella of our foundation.For the past month, Gaziantep has transformed into a center of solidarity and cultural interaction for young volunteers coming from different geographies. Through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), volunteers who have joined our foundation’s projects are both reaching out to the local community with their active fieldwork and discovering the depths of Turkish culture. While producing social benefit, they are also adding new layers to their personal development journeys. This diverse group of volunteers, ranging from Ukraine to France, from the Netherlands to Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina, describes their experience as an educational and inspiring journey.A HIGHLY ENRICHING EXPERIENCEThe volunteer team does not limit their activities in the city to theoretical training but becomes directly involved in real life. In particular, visits to earthquake-affected areas and social responsibility programs leave deep impressions on the young participants. Azerbaijani volunteer Ali Ghuliyev emphasizes that visits to earthquake zones and the connections established with local people in speaking clubs have left a very positive impression on him. French volunteer Sheyma Achir describes this process as a highly enriching experience filled with concrete steps taken in the field of humanitarian aid.A GREAT OPPORTUNITYThe multinational structure formed under the roof of Bülbülzade Foundation has also turned into a learning environment for volunteers. Ukrainian Viktoria Kotelevets enjoys the sincere atmosphere provided by the foundation and being together with people from different nations, while Dutch volunteer Elisa Dijkhuis considers the past few weeks as a highly educational and inspiring period. Expressing her gratitude for every moment she spent in Gaziantep, Dijkhuis is joined by Emir Fojnica from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fojnica states that personally experiencing Turkish hospitality and being part of these activities is a great opportunity to develop his personal skills.WE ARE BUILDING BRIDGES OF SOLIDARITY EXTENDING INTO THE FUTUREThis international mobility project carried out by the Bülbülzade Foundation not only enhances the professional competencies of young people but also builds lasting bridges of friendship between different regions. Young people who learn Turkish culture on site and actively take part in concrete aid activities carry messages of solidarity and brotherhood from Gaziantep to the world. This platform provided by the foundation continues to combine local development with global volunteering awareness.

Katre Science and Art Center brought audiences together with a striking story this week within the scope of the Art Films Generation.Katre Science and Art Center, which continues its artistic activities under the roof of Bülbülzade Foundation, continued its weekly film readings series with Blood Diamond. The event, which took place hosted by Zade Life Hotel, was completed with the participation of many cinema lovers who filled the Zeugma Hall. The participants carefully followed the production that tells the dark face of the diamond trade in the shadow of the civil war in Sierra Leone.A STRUGGLE IN THE SHADOW OF WARThe film, directed by Edward Zwick, centers on the lives sacrificed for the sake of precious stones and the ethical problems of global trade. The production, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly, carries to the big screen the intersecting paths of a fisherman and a smuggler in the middle of chaos. The film, which conveys the destructive atmosphere of the Sierra Leone civil war in a realistic language, not only offers the audience an action story, but also makes them question a human drama.NOT A HOLLYWOOD FICTIONDr. İbrahim Özhazar, who made a presentation to the audience in the analysis section of the film, revealed with documents that Blood Diamond is not only a Hollywood fiction, but also the geopolitical destruction behind it and the tragedy of child soldiers. Showing the sharp contrast between the shiny face of the diamond market and the dark reality of the mines in Sierra Leone, Özhazar drew attention to how luxury consumption finances wars thousands of kilometers away. In his analysis, Özhazar also examined how corporate social responsibility models collapsed in Africa.After the screening held at Zade Life Hotel, the participants shared their inferences about the subtexts of the film and the global exploitation order. Katre Science and Art Center will continue to bring together different disciplines of art with society and to contribute to cinema culture with qualified content in the coming weeks.