The Malhıtalı Köfte Competition, organized by Bülbülzade Foundation at the Winter Garden, witnessed moments full of flavor.A special event was organized by Bülbülzade Foundation in Gaziantep with the aim of keeping local flavors alive and bringing families together. The Malhıtalı Köfte Competition, in which participants showcased their skills, was held on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the foundation’s Winter Garden. The event, which attracted great interest from families, offered participants the opportunity to spend an enjoyable time.THEY CHOSE THE BEST PLATEAt the event, for which Mustafa Uncuer was responsible for the organization, participants prepared all the ingredients, such as köfte, salad and pickles, at home and brought them to the competition venue. In this competition, where family participation was the main principle, evaluations were carefully conducted based on presentation and taste criteria. Jury members Mustafa Uncuer, Hüseyin Rahmi Açıkkol, Terzi Emel (Emel Soysal) and Asım Mıhçıoğlu tasted the beautifully presented plates and scored them to select the best one.Following the excitement of the competition, all participants sat down at the table together and enjoyed the menu consisting of the prepared malhıtalı köfte. At the event, where surprise gifts were presented to the contestants who placed in the top three, Buket Açıkkol came first, Ülkü Çıngı came second, and Ayşe Erdoğan came third.

A special workshop for young people was held within the framework of the Pusula project, supported by the Ministry of Interior.The “Pusula: Reading, Thinking, Producing Youth” project, implemented with the support of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Interior, Directorate General of Relations with Civil Society, continues to contribute to the personal development of young people. Within the scope of the project, carried out by BİLİM DER (Science Youth Education Social Health Culture Assistance and Solidarity Association), the “Competency Development Workshop,” scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, brought together participants.WE DEVELOPED BASIC SKILLSThe event, moderated by Merve İnce, was held at 13:30 in the Bilimder Farabi Book and Coffee Hall. The program aimed to develop young people's fundamental skills, such as strategic thinking and problem-solving. During the session, which proceeded under İnce's effective presentation, young people had the opportunity to engage in in-depth work on the competencies they would need in today's competitive environment.COOPERATION BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLEOrganized in line with the project's main motto of a youth that reads, thinks, and produces, such activities lay the groundwork for participants to prepare for the future with greater competence. This strong cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and civil society organizations plays a critical role in unlocking the potential of younger generations. The organizers stated that similar educational activities, which will also be announced through www.bilimder.org in the coming period, will continue without slowing down.

Children gathered on Sof Mountain for a hike organized in cooperation with the Secondary Education and Volunteering Units of Bülbülzade Foundation.This event, specially planned for secondary school students seeking to take a break from their busy school schedules and academic stress, instilled in children a love of nature. Coming together through the foundation’s organization, the young participants enjoyed the fresh air and spent a productive day socializing with their peers. Participants gathered in front of the Bülbülzade Foundation building at 10:00 a.m. for the event held on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Departing from there, the group set off toward Sof Mountain, designated as the hiking route, and enjoyed pleasant moments immersed in nature.A PROFOUND EXPERIENCEEvery step taken within the ecosystem of Sof Mountain turned into an open-air classroom for the children. Life lessons that cannot be fully understood simply by reading about them in books within four walls were conveyed to the young participants firsthand through the language of nature itself during this hike. Listening to the sound of the wind, feeling the texture of the soil, and closely observing the cycles of life in nature, the students developed a lasting awareness on their path toward becoming environmentally conscious individuals. Overcoming the challenging sections of the hiking trail by supporting one another and joining hands, the children learned through a profound experience the value of solidarity, patience, and, most importantly, respecting the world we live in.

Within the scope of the project supported by the Ministry of Interior, participants were introduced to the practical and theoretical intricacies of visual storytelling.The Young Career and Digital Media Skills Academy project, carried out by the Anatolian Technical and Office Employees Association (ANTEB), continues its training activities. Within the scope of the project supported by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Interior, Directorate General for Relations with Civil Society, participants received training in camera and lighting techniques. The certified training program, organized with limited capacity and free participation, enables young people to transform their technical knowledge into an artistic form of expression.FROM THEORY TO PRACTICEDuring the lessons, which covered the language of the camera, the architecture of light, and advanced movement techniques, participants had the opportunity to experience numerous fundamental topics in the field, ranging from exposure mathematics to three-point lighting. In the final project at the end of the process, students demonstrated their practical skills by creating lighting setups in a darkened studio environment that reflected the character concepts of trustworthy, mysterious, and melancholic.

The pickling workshop organized by the Children’s Studies Unit of Bülbülzade Foundation provided children with an unforgettable experience. The little ones shared the joy of making pickles with their own hands.The Children’s Studies Unit, operating within Bülbülzade Foundation, hosted a meaningful activity that enabled children to learn by doing and experiencing. Bringing a variety of colorful vegetables from their homes, the children prepared their own pickles under the guidance of instructors and following the recipes provided. As the orange of carrots, the white of cabbages, and the green of peppers came together, moments filled with joy unfolded throughout the workshop. The excitement and sense of accomplishment on the faces of the little ones, as they carefully filled their jars, were truly worth seeing.CHILDREN KEPT TRADITIONAL CULTURE ALIVEActivities aimed at developing such practical life skills are of great importance in children’s development. By establishing a direct connection with the process of production, children experience firsthand the value of putting in effort and being patient. Working as a team and creating a tangible product with their own hands boosts the little ones’ self-confidence while also supporting their fine motor skills. In today’s world, where ready-made consumption habits have become widespread, it stands out as an extremely valuable step for children to keep a traditional culture alive with their own hands.Bülbülzade Foundation continues to leave lasting and beautiful impressions on children’s inner worlds through these heartfelt touches.

The international study visit titled “Good Practices in Youth Work and Institutional Cooperation,” organized by Bülbülzade Association under the Erasmus+ Youth Accreditation (KA151) in cooperation with the Bosnia and Herzegovina-based International Solidarity Forum (IFS EMMAUS), has been completed in Gaziantep.The activity, carried out between 19–23 October 2026 within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme supported by the Turkish National Agency, aimed to share good practices in youth work, examine volunteering models on site, and develop institutional cooperation among civil society organizations. The IFS EMMAUS delegation, which came to Gaziantep as part of the programme, visited various institutions and organizations hosted by Bülbülzade Association and received information about initiatives supporting young people's participation in social life.IFS EMMAUS, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's well-established civil society organizations, operates in the fields of humanitarian aid, education, youth and social services in various regions of the country, particularly in Srebrenica and Doboj. Standing out for its support and solidarity initiatives for the Mothers of Srebrenica, the organization carries out comprehensive activities in supporting orphaned, disabled and economically disadvantaged children and young people, improving educational opportunities, strengthening communities and promoting sustainable environmental policies.YOUTH AND VOLUNTEERING ACTIVITIES EXAMINED ON SITEDuring the study visit, which began with an introductory programme, practices encouraging young people's participation in volunteering activities were highlighted. Participants visited the Migration Centre, the Orphan Coordination Centre and the Aid Store operating under Bülbülzade Foundation, where they examined the social assistance, solidarity and integration activities being carried out. During the visits, particular attention was given to the roles undertaken by young volunteers in aid activities for families in need, social support initiatives for disadvantaged groups and community solidarity processes. Experiences were shared regarding practices that enable young people to develop a sense of social responsibility and strengthen their active citizenship skills through volunteering. Within the scope of the programme, visits were also made to the Digital Museum, historical bazaars and Rumkale to introduce Gaziantep's historical and cultural heritage. These visits aimed to strengthen intercultural interaction among participants and promote local cultural heritage.GOOD PRACTICES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS EVALUATEDAn important part of the study visit consisted of stakeholder visits to centres operating under Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality. In this context, the Barrier-Free Living Centre, the Orthotics and Prosthetics Centre and the Moral Support Centre were visited, and the activities carried out for people with disabilities, individuals receiving rehabilitation services and various disadvantaged groups were examined on site. During the visits, officials provided information about the service models, institutional operations and social support mechanisms offered by the centres. In addition, discussions were held on how young people could contribute to such social service models through volunteering activities, opportunities for cooperation between local governments and youth organizations, and the dissemination of good practices in different countries.INTERNATIONAL YOUTH COOPERATION STRENGTHENEDThe study visit carried out within the scope of Erasmus+ Youth Accreditation contributed to the development of existing cooperation between Bülbülzade Association and IFS EMMAUS in the fields of youth work, volunteering, social inclusion and community solidarity. During the field visits and institutional meetings held throughout the programme, volunteering models and joint project opportunities that would enable young people to play a more active role in solving social problems were discussed.The study visit concluded with mutual evaluations aimed at developing sustainable cooperation between the two organizations in the field of youth.