The second term of the Oku-Yorum Project, carried out by the Gaziantep Anatolian Student Union operating under the umbrella of the Bülbülzade Foundation, has come to an end.The closing program of the project, which was launched to contribute to the intellectual development of students and attracted great interest, was held on Wednesday, May 13, at the Gaziantep University Youth Center. Participants who came together at the final event of the term carried out an insightful book analysis. The final book discussion organized within the scope of the closing program was moderated by Dr. Mine Bindal.CULTURAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVESDuring the event, the work titled “Dünyayı Bilmeyen Dünyanın Maskarası Olur” by Alev Alatlı, one of the important figures of Turkish intellectual life, was examined in depth. Readers exchanged ideas on the cultural and sociological perspectives presented in the book. The analysis program, which saw strong participation from young people and featured qualified readings, was completed in a highly productive atmosphere.Gaziantep AÖB officials concluded the term by expressing their thanks to everyone who participated in the project and contributed with their valuable ideas throughout the term.

The third of the Focus Group Meetings organized by BEKAM was held at the Bülbülzade Foundation. During the program attended by Psychological Counselor Specialist Ahmet Taşkesen, the effects of social changes on the family structure and young people’s approach to the institution of marriage were discussed in all dimensions.The Focus Group Meetings initiated by the Science Education Culture Research Center (BEKAM) to address social issues continue at full speed in 2026. This year’s meeting topics largely focus on the transformations experienced by the family institution, which is the fundamental building block of society, within the framework of digitalization, modernization, and changing socio-economic dynamics. In this context, a comprehensive session titled “Youth, Marriage, and the New Generation’s Perspective on Family” was held on Thursday, May 21, 2026, in the Meeting Hall of the Bülbülzade Foundation. Moderated by Mesut Aydağ, the meeting detailed the emotional satisfaction young people seek in marriage, their social anxieties, and their own analyses regarding family-related problems. The meeting aimed to shed light on the future of the family institution by bringing together field experts, stakeholders who would discuss the study topics, civil society volunteers, and young people around the same table.In his opening speech, moderator Mesut Aydağ drew attention to the transformation process the family is going through. Emphasizing that technological developments directly affect human relationships, Aydağ expressed the purpose of the meeting with the following words: “While there are thousands of people we interact with on digital networks, we are becoming so distant that we cannot even talk to the person sitting next to us. While networks bring us closer, they also isolate us and distance us from one another.”WE HAVE ALL BECOME INDIVIDUALIZED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHERTaking the floor after the opening, Psychological Counselor Specialist Ahmet Taşkesen stated that the family institution in Türkiye has been exposed to the effects brought by the modern age. Emphasizing the disruptions within the family institution, Taşkesen said: “In Türkiye, the family institution is going through a silent yet deeply rooted process of structural transformation due to the effects brought by the modern age. This process is still continuing. We needed to organize these meetings in order to understand this transformation and protect the future of the family.” Referring to the loneliness caused by globalization, Taşkesen remarked: “A transformation from ‘us’ to ‘me’ has taken place here. What we call individualization has emerged. Individualization and the transition to the nuclear family are actually manifestations of this.”FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, FAMILY IS BOTH A SAFE HARBOR AND A RISKReferring to current studies covering all 81 provinces regarding young people’s perspective on the family institution, Taşkesen presented striking statistics to the participants. Summarizing the paradox in young people’s minds in his own words, Taşkesen said: “The most striking finding of the research is this: Young people define the family as the sole psychologically safe harbor with a one hundred percent rate. However, they code marriage as a field of risk due to responsibility concerns and economic uncertainties.” Explaining the expectations of young people, Taşkesen also stated: “Young people keep their distance from the institution of marriage because of the uncertainties, restrictions, and economic risks it contains. The family institution still maintains a high value in the eyes of young people as a structure that eliminates loneliness and provides security.”THE DILEMMA OF FREEDOM AND SECURITYIn the final part of the meeting, which progressed interactively in accordance with the focus group approach, participants took the floor and shared their opinions under various topics. The changing traditional roles, the effects of economic conditions on marriage decisions, and the reflections of digital culture on individuals were discussed in detail. The meeting, enriched by the contributions of educators, parents, and young participants in the hall, intensely debated the dilemma between freedom and security. Emphasizing the importance of value transmission within the family, participants stated that structural support mechanisms such as marriage schools should be expanded.

Cerablus Anatolian Culture Center and the Cerablus Yunus Emre Institute came together in a football match to strengthen friendship and solidarity.Operating under the umbrella of the Bülbülzade Foundation, the Cerablus Anatolian Culture Center added another activity to its regular efforts supporting social and cultural development in the region. The friendly match organized in cooperation with the Cerablus Yunus Emre Institute turned into a meaningful event aimed at strengthening the ties between the two institutions rather than competition on the field. The tournament was also followed with great interest by institution personnel serving in the region and local residents. The main purpose of the event stood out as elevating cultural relations, unity, and institutional brotherhood between these two distinguished institutions operating in Cerablus to the highest level. The sportsmanship displayed throughout the match showed that the two institutions were united as one heart on the field.A GENTLEMANLY COMPETITIONThe match, which witnessed great excitement throughout ninety minutes, turned into a complete visual feast thanks to the sportsmanlike struggle of the players. The regular time of the fiercely contested match ended in a 2-2 draw. Following the penalty shootout held to determine the winner, the victorious team was presented with its trophy and gifts. With the final whistle, players from both teams congratulated one another and delivered messages of friendship.

Dr. Mustafa El Hüseyin, President of the Bülbülzade Syria Association, and the accompanying administrative delegation paid an official working visit to Aleppo Director of National Education Anas Qasim and discussed educational cooperation between the two institutions.Operating under the umbrella of Bülbülzade Foundation, the Bülbülzade Syria Association has accelerated its diplomatic efforts to protect the rights of volunteer teachers residing in Türkiye who wish to cross the border in order to contribute to educational processes in Syria. In this context, a delegation consisting of Dr. Mustafa El Hüseyin, President of the Gaziantep Syrian Community and Bülbülzade Syria Association, along with administrative staff, came together with Aleppo Director of National Education Anas Qasim at a high-level meeting. During the meeting, which took place in an extremely sincere, friendly, and constructive atmosphere, strategic ways to improve the existing cooperation opportunities between the association and the directorate, as well as to increase educational and cultural support in the region, were discussed. One of the main agenda items of the meeting was the status of the interview screening committees to be established within the Aleppo Directorate of National Education and preventing possible grievances that volunteer teachers may experience during this process.STRONG COORDINATION IS REQUIREDEl Hüseyin conveyed to Anas Qasim the situation of teachers going through a sensitive process due to travel conditions and requested the creation of a flexible schedule in order to facilitate the process. As a result of the negotiations, it was decided that the interviews of volunteer teachers experiencing difficulties in travel planning would be held on June 2, 3, and 4, 2026, in a way that would prevent any grievances. Both parties reached a full consensus on maintaining strong coordination in order to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of educational activities in the region.

During our visits to Syria with the delegation of the Union of International Democrats, we inspected our Azez and Aleppo Anatolian Cultural Centers and closely followed our educational activities in the region as well as the “Common Heritage Gatherings” program.As Bülbülzade Foundation, we continue our cultural and educational activities in Syria without slowing down. With the participation of Union of International Democrats (UID) Vice Chairman Dilara Kılıç, UID member Eray Kılıç, and Executive Board Member Hasan Emre Aydın, we carried out a series of important visits in Syria. Within the scope of the visit, while examining the activities at our Azez and Aleppo Anatolian Cultural Centers, we organized broad-participation programs that strengthen the social and cultural dynamics of the region.SUMMER SCHOOL PREPARATIONS AT OUR AZEZ ANATOLIAN CULTURAL CENTERAs part of our Syria program, we first visited our Azez Anatolian Cultural Center. We listened to the current projects and educational activities carried out within our center from the Director of Azez Anatolian Cultural Center, Muhammed Eyüp. Stating that there is particularly intense demand in the region for learning Turkish and Arabic, Eyüp shared the scope of our center’s activities, including various courses, vocational trainings, and preparations for the upcoming summer school period. Together with our delegation, we toured the classrooms and examined our ongoing projects on site.OUR ALEPPO ANATOLIAN CULTURAL CENTER NURTURES HOPEAt the next stop of our visit, we examined our Aleppo Anatolian Cultural Center, which operates almost as a center nurturing hope in the region. We came together with our students receiving education in the classrooms, visited the English, Arabic, and handicraft classes, and chatted with our trainees. At our center, where we also closely followed the spring festival preparations and coordination meeting, we once again observed on site the great importance of our activities for the people of the region.COMMON HERITAGE GATHERINGS WITH HIGH-LEVEL PARTICIPATIONFollowing our visits to the cultural centers, we attended the “Common Heritage Gatherings” program organized by UID. A large number of high-level figures participated in the program, through which we aim to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and our shared cultural heritage in the region. Among the participants of this meaningful gathering were AK Party Deputy Chairman for Foreign Affairs Zafer Sırakaya, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Damascus Nuh Yılmaz, Consul General of Aleppo Muammer Hakan Cengiz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of İlim Yayma Foundation Bilal Erdoğan, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin, Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib, Hatay Governor Mustafa Masatlı, as well as the region’s administrative and civil authorities. During the program, we discussed joint projects and collaborations that we will carry out in order to preserve and carry into the future the common values based on the deep-rooted history of the two peoples.

Speaking at the conference titled “Where Are We Going: Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Our Values” organized by our foundation, Technology Philosopher Abdurrahman Bulut drew attention to the fact that artificial intelligence is a philosophical threat that transforms human nature and ancient values through the materialist codes it carries.At the conference titled “Where Are We Going: Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Our Values,” hosted by Bülbülzade Foundation at Zade Life Hotel Zeugma Hall, the philosophy of technology and the effects of artificial intelligence on humanity were discussed in depth. Abdurrahman Bulut, who managed information technology projects abroad for many years and has recently become known for his studies on the philosophy of technology, delivered a comprehensive presentation to participants about the opportunities offered by the digital future and the risks it carries. In his speech, Bulut emphasized that technology cannot be considered independently from its cultural and intellectual background and made important warnings.TECHNOLOGY IS NOT NEUTRALStating that technological tools are neither innocent nor neutral, Abdurrahman Bulut said that every product carries traces of the mentality that designed it. Emphasizing that technology cannot be separated from philosophy, Bulut said, “You cannot produce something independent of ontology, that is, the perception of existence. A technology or system is not independent from the fundamental codes, philosophy, thought system, and belief of the society from which it emerges.” Saying that the founding codes of today’s technology are built upon positivism and materialism, Bulut stated that this situation imposes a secular lifestyle that distances people from their values.ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS THE FIRST ENTITY TO MAKE DECISIONS OUTSIDE HUMANITYBulut noted that the most fundamental difference separating artificial intelligence from other technologies is its ability to make decisions, adding that this process is a first in human history. Emphasizing that humanity is currently in the first phase of artificial intelligence and that the next 25 years are likely to bring greater changes than the past century, Bulut said, “For the first time, an entity emerges outside humanity that learns and makes decisions on its own. This system learns by imitating the mental processes of humans in a synthetic environment.” Drawing particular attention to algorithms, Bulut stated that the main purpose of these structures is to keep individuals within the system regardless of content and to weaken control over free will.AN ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT OUR VALUESArguing that the current technological order is evolving toward the savagery of a “modern Rome,” Bulut said that Muslims cannot succeed in this process by remaining merely consumers. Stating that producing something domestic and national cannot be achieved simply by changing names, Bulut said, “The issue lies in the system and the model of thought. If you adopt an artificial intelligence architecture that does not carry your own ontology exactly as it is, you will have to bear its consequences. If we want to achieve success, we need to build a new architecture compatible with human nature and centered on our values.”A STRUGGLE OF WILLPOWER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONSIn the final part of his speech, Abdurrahman Bulut addressed families and young people, stating that the fight against technology addiction should be carried out within the framework of a methodology. Arguing that children are being pushed into the grip of exam- and career-oriented materialism, Bulut said, “For a child to be considered knowledgeable, it should not be enough merely to prove mechanical knowledge. They should also demonstrate that they possess values such as compassion and justice. If today we define the most successful student as the one who gets the highest score, then we ourselves have already become materialists.” Bulut concluded his speech by stating that the way to exist in the digital world passes through a moral stance that harmonizes technology with human nature.