The 2026 Summer Schools, organized under the umbrella of the Bülbülzade Foundation to provide children and young people with both an enjoyable and enriching summer experience, officially opened their doors today with opening ceremonies and the first classes.The 2026 Summer Schools, launched this year by the Bülbülzade Foundation in cooperation with dozens of partner organizations, officially commenced simultaneously on June 29. Alongside the Bülbülzade Foundation headquarters in Gaziantep, the first lessons also began today in various cities across Syria, where hundreds of children and young people welcomed the summer season with a productive educational and activity program. This year's summer school program includes Semt-i İbrahimli Association, Bilim-Der, Katre Art and Science Center, İstikrar Sports Club, and Hayata Dokun Orphan Association, while the Bülbülzade Foundation's own Secondary School Summer Program also welcomed its students today. At the Anadolu Cultural Centers in Syria, classes for children aged 7 to 17 have started in Aleppo, Afrin, Azaz, Al Bab, and Jarabulus. The Summer School programs to be held in the earthquake-affected districts of Nurdağı and İslahiye will open their doors on July 7.FROM THE QUR'AN TO ROBOTICS, FROM SWIMMING TO WORKSHOPSThe Bülbülzade Foundation Secondary School Summer Program stands out with its comprehensive weekly curriculum designed for children aged 7 to 14. Classes begin at 9:30 a.m. and include modules such as Qur'an, Basic Religious Knowledge, Drama, STEAM Workshop, Digital Literacy, and English Speaking Through Games. In the afternoon, sports and arts activities including swimming, karate-taekwondo, bağlama, guitar, violin, robotics coding, and painting take place. Weekly outdoor activities such as horseback riding, visits to the Science Center, Agro Park, clay workshops, and picnics are also included in the program.A SUMMER SCHOOL FOR EVERY TALENTThe summer school conducted by Katre Art and Science Center aims to develop students according to their individual goals and skill levels in the fields of bağlama, guitar, violin, piano, painting, and robotics coding. The summer program organized by İstikrar Sports Club offers professional training opportunities primarily in basketball and swimming, as well as volleyball, karate, and taekwondo. The Ortadoğu Medya Summer School covers contemporary topics such as deepfake technology, social media algorithms, and digital manipulation. The summer activities organized by Anadolu Student Union, based in Gaziantep, for university students also began today and will continue until July 31.CAMPS TO BE HELD IN JULY AND AUGUSTIn addition to all these programs, the "Forest Camp Program" for participants aged 13 to 17 will be held at Gizem Doğan Camp Area on July 16–17 and August 5–6, while the Erikçe Adventure Camp will take place on July 21 and August 4. The three primary objectives determined for this summer are to provide practical instruction in basic religious knowledge, to help participants understand the relationship between people, nature, and society, and to ensure that every participant gains a tangible skill or ability. Registration for the summer schools, where these three main objectives will be implemented and which have now opened their doors to students, is still ongoing.Parents who wish to enroll their children in these productive programs can obtain detailed information and submit their applications by calling +90 533 227 44 40.

The 15th National Will Gathering, organized by the National Will Platform, brought together state officials and civil society organizations. Turgay Aldemir, President of the Anatolian Federation and Bülbülzade Foundation, also attended the meeting.Representatives of civil society organizations operating under the umbrella of the National Will Platform gathered at the summit held at the MÜSİAD Headquarters. The meeting was attended by Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the İlim Yayma Foundation Bilal Erdoğan, and MÜSİAD President Burhan Özdemir. The event, which was also attended by Turgay Aldemir, President of the Anatolian Federation and Bülbülzade Foundation, addressed the vital importance of civil society in social solidarity and times of crisis from a broad perspective. During the gathering, where the responsibilities undertaken by civil society organizations in the face of the challenges confronting Türkiye were evaluated, common goals and opportunities for cooperation for the upcoming period were discussed.STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER IN DIFFICULT TIMESSpeaking at the meeting with representatives of civil society organizations and providing information about the ongoing efforts, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum stated that the fundamental element that makes nations strong is their determination to stand united in difficult times. Referring to every critical period, from the treacherous coup attempt of July 15 to the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, described as the Disaster of the Century, Kurum emphasized that the stance demonstrated by civil society organizations has set an example for the world. He underlined that the sacrifices made in the earthquake region with a spirit of nationwide mobilization once again revealed the magnitude of this solidarity. Minister Kurum also expressed his gratitude to all institutions and everyone who contributed by taking responsibility for the sake of unity and togetherness.

At the consultation meeting organized by the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Türkiye, the field experience of civil society organizations was heard. Turgay Aldemir, President of the Bülbülzade Foundation and the Anatolian Federation, presented a strategic report prepared to transform migration into an opportunity.At the "Migration with Civil Society Organizations" Consultation and Evaluation Meeting held in Istanbul under the chairmanship of Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi, senior government officials and civil society representatives came together to discuss critical decisions. Deputy Minister of Interior Dr. Mehmet Cangir, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, and President of the Directorate of Migration Management Muhammet Selami Yazıcı also attended the summit, where the future of Türkiye’s new migration policy and the roadmap for the coming period were evaluated. More than thirty civil society organizations active in the field of migration took the floor to contribute effectively to the process by sharing their opinions and presenting the reports they had prepared. Minister Çiftçi stated that the accumulated experience of civil society would be highly beneficial and would make a significant contribution to transforming existing challenges into opportunities. Turgay Aldemir, President of the Bülbülzade Foundation and the Anatolian Federation, also delivered a comprehensive presentation and directly submitted their report titled "Strategic Policy Recommendations" to the ministry’s leadership.MIGRATION IS NOT A PROBLEM, BUT A MATTER OF OPPORTUNITYSpeaking at the meeting, Turgay Aldemir expressed his appreciation for the great effort and dedication demonstrated by the migration bureaucracy to date. Emphasizing the need for a visionary approach in the coming period, Aldemir stated that migration should not be regarded as a problem but as a regional opportunity. He underlined that the foreign policy initiatives implemented under the leadership of the President should be supported domestically through cooperation between relevant ministries and civil society organizations. Stressing the importance of restructuring the process within a legal framework, Aldemir also noted that the bureaucratic burden should no longer be concentrated solely in Ankara.WHEREVER THERE ARE PEOPLE IS WITHIN OUR SPHERE OF RESPONSIBILITYAldemir stated that new policies must be developed beyond the boundaries drawn by global powers, saying, “We are not on the periphery of the new world; we are at its very center. For countries like ours, borders do not begin with barbed wire fences. In this era, where the security of ideas is far more critical than border security, wherever there are people is within our sphere of responsibility.”Highlighting that the new migration policy should prioritize the ontological existence of individuals rather than merely their physiological needs, Aldemir said that policy should be guided by the principle, “Let people live so that the state may live.” He also stated that rebuilding the conceptual framework of this new era, while remaining faithful to the nation's founding values and working together with intellectuals, scholars, and opinion leaders, is a historic responsibility.GOODWILL AMBASSADORS SHOULD NOT BE VICTIMIZEDIn his speech, Turgay Aldemir also devoted special attention to the situation of international guest students studying in Türkiye. He stated that universities had recently increased tuition fees for guest students through unilateral decisions, causing many visionary young people from Syria and other countries to discontinue their education. Aldemir emphasized that tuition policies should not be left entirely to the discretion of university administrations and called for urgent action to resolve these grievances, stressing that these young people should be regarded as goodwill ambassadors between nations.THE "CENTURY OF TÜRKİYE AND CIVIL DIPLOMACY SYMPOSIUM"The strategic report presented at the meeting highlighted the need to clearly define the authority and responsibilities of local governments, establish permanent inter-ministerial coordination beyond temporary circulars, and create a transparent public communication system. The report also proposed launching a new era of social reconstruction through public institution–NGO cooperation to support stability across the Syrian border and argued that Türkiye’s qualified human capital and international graduates educated in Türkiye should be transformed into actors of civil diplomacy. In addition, it was announced that an international "Century of Türkiye and Civil Diplomacy Symposium" will be held in August.You can access the full report submitted by Turgay Aldemir to the Ministry of Interior here.

Bülbülzade Foundation participated in the panel titled "Discussing the Return of Syrians Between Hope and Pessimism" held at Ege University, where it shared its extensive field experience in Syria and Gaziantep, its educational activities, and its vision regarding the psychological dimension of return.As part of World Refugee Day on June 20, Ege University hosted an important panel. Organized in cooperation with Bornova Youth Center, Ege University Institute of Turkic World Studies, the Youth Studies Center Association, and the İzmir International Student Association, the event addressed the topic "Discussing the Return of Syrians Between Hope and Pessimism." The opening speeches of the panel, held at the Meeting Hall of the Institute of Turkic World Studies, were delivered by Ege University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Boyacı, Director of the Institute of Turkic World Studies Prof. Dr. Atıf Akgün, and Vice President of the İzmir International Student Association and Board Member of the Youth Studies Center Association.EVERY PERSON'S STORY IS UNIQUEThe program, attended by expert academics, researchers, and representatives of civil society organizations, evaluated the return processes of Syrian refugees in light of academic studies and field experiences. During the panel, where voluntary return, integration processes, security conditions, and regional developments were discussed, the importance of inter-institutional cooperation in producing sustainable solutions was emphasized. Representing Bülbülzade Foundation at the program to present the foundation's migration studies and the activities of its cultural centers across Syria and Gaziantep, Şehadet Gerçek delivered a speech. Referring to the foundation's comprehensive migration efforts since 2011, Gerçek stated that they act in accordance with the principle, "Let people live so that humanity may live." She emphasized that they value every individual's story and strive to make these stories partners in solutions and hope.WE ARE TRYING TO TURN PAIN INTO HOPEAnnouncing that the Anatolian Cultural Centers established throughout Syria continue their activities in Aleppo following Azez, Afrin, Jarabulus, and Al-Bab, and that educational programs and activities will soon begin in Damascus, Gerçek continued her speech as follows: "This is like talking about flowers among the ruins, transformed by hope, culture, and art. We walk for kilometers and witness lives being transformed. From a 70-year-old woman learning Turkish to women attending handicraft classes stitch by stitch, we encounter countless stories that inspire hope for the future. We can think of our cultural centers as saplings through which culture, art, reading, and education are being revived for a society emerging from war. We are now preparing summer schools that will bring together students from the age of 5 to 70 across many different fields. Through ideas and art, we are striving to overcome difficult times and transform pain into hope."RETURN IS A NEW MIGRATIONStating that they continue to hold joint future meetings with Syrian opinion leaders without interruption, Gerçek emphasized the importance of ensuring that refugees remain engaged as active participants in the process and partners in the solution. Drawing attention to the psychological dimension of return, Gerçek said, "Return actually means migrating once again, and it requires serious psychological preparation. How many times can a person start life over in one lifetime? We also maintain contact with many of the families who have returned to Syria and continue our communication with them." Concluding her speech by emphasizing a shared past and a shared future, Gerçek said: "The stories of these lands did not begin recently; they began 100 years ago. Our shared story will continue for centuries. We will continue striving to make this story more beautiful and to bring our efforts together."The panel, which attracted great interest, concluded with a plaque presentation following the question-and-answer session in which participants' questions were answered.

Volunteers who came to Gaziantep under the European Solidarity Corps shared the richness of Middle Eastern and North African cultures, as well as their experiences in Gaziantep, on the "Youth Podcast" program broadcast on Fecr Radio.The ESC-51 project, carried out by the Science Education Culture Research Center (BEKAM) and supported by the Turkish National Agency, continues to strengthen young people's social awareness through international volunteering activities. Young volunteers who came to Gaziantep under the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) contribute to the activities carried out under the umbrella of the Bülbülzade Foundation while also having the opportunity to experience Turkish culture firsthand. As part of the project, Oussama Hannouch and Asrar Hantouli, two of the volunteers currently in the city, were guests on the "Youth Podcast" program broadcast on Fecr Radio. During the enjoyable conversation, the similarities and distinctive differences between the cultures of Morocco, Jordan, and Syria were discussed.EMPHASIS ON CULTURAL RICHNESSSupporting local activities in Gaziantep with their energy, the international guests spoke about the traditions, social life, and culinary cultures of their home countries during the program. Stating that the time they spent in Türkiye, and especially in Gaziantep, had given them a broader perspective, the young volunteers expressed that the activities they carried out within the foundation had strengthened their awareness of social solidarity. The broadcast also emphasized the cultural richness created by people from different regions coming together under the same roof.The ESC-51 project continues to contribute to the personal and professional development of young people while laying the groundwork for strengthening intercultural dialogue through the connections established between international volunteers and the local community.

Bülbülzade Foundation has published the "2026 Summer Schools Information Booklet" prepared to help children and young people spend their summer period productively. Registrations for the new term activities are continuing at full speed, and students are being welcomed with rich content.Bülbülzade Foundation has shared with the public its comprehensive summer program, designed to transform children’s and young people’s holiday periods into a process that is both enjoyable and contributes to their personal development. The main objective of this year’s summer schools is to provide students with practical religious knowledge while equipping them with lasting talents and new skills. At the center of the educational programs are deeply rooted principles that prioritize human-to-human, human-to-environment, and human-to-God relationships. Through these programs, it is aimed to strengthen young people’s social skills such as self-awareness, empathy, leadership, and teamwork. These seasonal activities, designed with a multifaceted structure ranging from workshops to nature camps, from sports activities to artistic education, support value-based thinking and the search for meaning, with the primary goal of raising young people with a sense of social responsibility.MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SUMMER EDUCATION PROGRAMS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE FUTUREThe details of the programs feature a wide range of activities tailored to each age group. In secondary education and orphan association summer schools, practical courses such as the Holy Qur’an, principles of faith, the life of the Prophet, and etiquette are offered alongside drama, STEAM, robotics coding, horseback riding, archery, and swimming. At the Child Life Center summer schools established in Nurdağı and İslahiye for children affected by the earthquake, children are supported in overcoming trauma through mind games and sports activities, while artistic talents are developed in guitar, violin, piano, and painting branches within the Katre Art Center. At the Middle East Media Summer School, which is aimed at high school and university students, contemporary subjects such as digital media literacy, artificial intelligence, cyberbullying, and web design are taught by expert instructors. Meanwhile, the Anatolian Student Union organizes intellectual analysis programs, research techniques sessions, and social camp programs for university students. All of this structured content provides a foundation for children and young people to discover their potential.You can fill out the form to register for the Bülbülzade Foundation 2026 Summer Schools.