Nurdağı District Governor Nurullah Erciyes, together with his esteemed wife Fatma Zehra Erciyes and Nurdağı District Director of National Education Musa Yıldırım, visited the Sewing Workshops of the Bülbülzade Foundation in the earthquake-affected region on Monday, October 27.During the visit, Zemzem Çetin, the Bülbülzade Foundation Earthquake Region Coordinator, provided information about the ongoing handicraft and sewing workshop activities in the earthquake zone.“We extend our gratitude and thanks to them for their kind visit and interest.”

Organized by Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University, Gaziantep Forum 2 was held this year under the theme “Where is the Islamic World Heading? Perspectives for a Strong Future.” The forum featured significant ideas, intellectual discussions, and comprehensive evaluations on the future of the Islamic world and the role of civil society.At the end of the forum, national and international non-governmental organizations operating in Gaziantep came together with Muslim intellectuals from different parts of the world to hold a Civil Society Session. The session was carried out with the participation of numerous NGOs under the umbrella of the Gaziantep Volunteer Organizations Platform (Gönül-Kur). Current developments on the agenda of Turkey and the world were discussed during the session.One of the speakers, Dr. Waddah Khanfar, President of the Sharq Forum, drew attention to the role of youth in the new world order. Stating that he has been involved in projects in more than 60 countries, Dr. Khanfar said, “Young people should not only be the subjects of ongoing efforts but also the actors shaping the future. Opening doors for them and contributing to their productivity is the foundation of a strong Islamic world.”Turgay Aldemir, President of the Bülbülzade Foundation, attended the session on behalf of his foundation. Emphasizing the importance of addressing the forum’s theme through civil society organizations, Aldemir said, “The world is undergoing major changes in a short period. Civil society organizations must adapt to this change, renew themselves, and create new and qualified areas of work.”President Aldemir also stressed the need to move away from a constantly problem-oriented perspective and instead focus on capacity-building and future-shaping initiatives in the new global order.

The regular meetings held with the participation of representatives from the Bülbülzade Foundation, the Migration Coordination Unit, BEKAM, the Gaziantep Syrian Community, the Migrant Services Center, and Fecr Radio continue.During the meeting held at the foundation center, general evaluations were made regarding the Anadolu Cultural Centers, which have been operating in northern Syria—particularly in Azez, Afrin, Jarabulus, and Al-Bab—since 2019. Poet Ahmet Kot and businessman Mahmut Farjad also attended the meeting. Detailed information was provided about the Aleppo Anadolu Cultural Center, whose construction has been completed and is planned to open soon. In addition, general information was shared about the current status of the sports facility project planned to be built in Damascus. Finally, consultations were held on the official infrastructure of Fecr Radio, which is planned to be established in Aleppo.Educational programs conducted in the Anadolu Cultural Centers for different age groups and fields were reviewed, and the preparations for the courses and activities carried out in the centers, as well as the students’ development, were evaluated.

Nuh Albayrak, Editor-in-Chief of Star Newspaper, researcher and writer Ahmet Kot, and journalist-writer Ekrem Kızıltaş visited the Bülbülzade Foundation. During the visit, they met with the foundation’s president, Turgay Aldemir, and the board members.During the meeting, information was shared about the educational, sports, cultural, artistic, and academic activities carried out by the Bülbülzade Foundation in Gaziantep, as well as the initiatives implemented in the Nurdağı and İslahiye regions since the first days of the earthquake. In addition, information was provided about the foundation’s work in the field of migration, the Anatolian Cultural Centers, and the Bülbülzade Foundation Liberation Forest. At the end of the visit, the guests were presented with printed works published by the foundation.

Organized by Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University, the Gaziantep Forum II was held this year under the theme “Where is the Islamic World Headed? – Perspective for a Strong Future.” The Chairman of the Board of the Bülbülzade Foundation, Turgay Aldemir, and the foundation’s management also attended the event.Held at the Şahinbey Congress and Art Center, the forum addressed current issues, future vision, and the global role of the Islamic world. The event was attended by Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber, Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality Zehra Ünal, Şahinbey Mayor Mehmet Tahmazoğlu, GİBTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir, President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Safi Arpaguş, former Chief Ombudsman Şeref Malkoç, President of the Turkish National Agency İlker Astarcı, TÜGVA President İbrahim Beşinci, as well as academics, researchers, civil society representatives, and various stakeholders from around the world.The program began with the opening speech by GİBTÜ faculty member Prof. Dr. Mahsum Aytepe and continued with the screening of the “Gaziantep Forum II Promotional Film” prepared by the Middle East Media Communication Center.The forum featured three main sessions, four workshops, and one major workshop. The main sessions shaped the general framework of the forum: “Has the Global System Lost Its Legitimacy?”, which questioned the moral and political legitimacy of the global order; “Palestine: From Civilizational Crisis to Moral Compass”, which evaluated the Palestinian issue from the perspective of civilization and morality; and “From Division to Unity: Is a Model Possible for the Islamic World?”, which explored the pursuit of unity within the Islamic world.In the workshop sessions, discussions focused on the root causes of political, economic, and cultural crises in “The Crisis of the Global System: Diagnosis and Causes”; the effects of global power balances on the Islamic geography in “The Impact of the Global System on Islamic Geopolitics”; the potential of Islamic thought to address contemporary human problems in “The Capacity of Islamic Thought to Encompass Humanity’s Challenges”; and the question of how to construct a sense of ummah consciousness in a multipolar world in “How Can Ummah Consciousness Be Built in a Multipolar World?”. All workshops emphasized solidarity and collective wisdom.The closing section of the forum, titled “Grand Workshop – The Strategic Future of the Islamic World in the Global Order,” presented an overall evaluation of the three-day sessions. Participants reached a consensus on the need to draw up a moral, intellectual, and strategic roadmap for the future of the Islamic world.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Damascus, Burhan Köroğlu, and Member of the Presidential Security and Foreign Policies Board, Prof. Dr. Muhittin Ataman, visited the Bülbülzade Foundation. During the visit, Foundation President Turgay Aldemir met with the foundation’s board and organization members.During the meeting, discussions were held regarding the current situation in Syria. Information was provided on the activities carried out by the Bülbülzade Foundation to date concerning Syria and migration, as well as on the Anadolu Cultural Centers in Azez, Afrin, Al-Bab, and Jarabulus. In addition, details were shared about the Joint Future Meetings, consultations with opinion leaders, Civil Communication and Coordination Meetings, and the Aleppo Liaison and Advisory Office.Information was also shared about the educational, cultural, artistic, and academic activities carried out by the Bülbülzade Foundation in Gaziantep, as well as its ongoing efforts in the Nurdağı and Islahiye regions since the first day of the earthquake. The meeting also included evaluations regarding discussions on migration held in Damascus, the recently completed Aleppo Anadolu Cultural Center, and the sports project planned to be implemented in Damascus.

BEKAM President Mehmet Ali Eminoğlu, President of the Syrian Community in Gaziantep Mustafa Al Hussein, Bülbülzade Foundation Foreign Relations Unit member Ali Akbaba, and their accompanying delegation carried out a comprehensive working visit to the city of Damascus in Syria. Within the scope of the visit, various official meetings were held, and field inspections were conducted.The delegation first met with Syria’s Deputy Minister of Administrative Development, Jabir Ismail. During the meeting, the details of a general protocol planned with the Ministry of Development were discussed. Jabir Ismail provided information about the commission established to investigate missing persons in Syria. Following the meeting, the delegation held consultations with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the current situation in Syria.The delegation then visited Dr. Muhammad Kurdiya, Vice President of the Private University of Damascus. As part of the visit, the main campus, provincial campuses, and private dormitories of the university were inspected on-site. Information was also received regarding the university’s academic activities. Dr. Muhammad Kurdiya stated that the Private University of Damascus is open to academic collaborations and ready to provide the necessary support.The delegation also visited Ahmad Al Jaffal, Director of Youth, Sports, Culture, and Social Activities of the Damascus Governorate. During the visit, the details of a planned project to strengthen the sports center facilities in cooperation with the Muhafaza Sports Club of the Damascus Governorate were discussed.Meetings were also held with Syrian and Saudi businessman Sheikh Abdulmuhsin Al Raken Bushaban and Syrian businessman Louay Al Aska. During the meeting, experiences of the Bülbülzade Foundation in the fields of culture, arts, and sports were shared. Possible areas of cooperation were evaluated for the soon-to-be-opened Aleppo Anatolian Cultural Center.Finally, the Bülbülzade Foundation delegation visited the preliminary rounds of the National Modern Archery Tournament. During the visit, discussions were held about the foundation's activities in sports, including both traditional and modern archery. Following the visit, success was wished to the teams participating in the tournament.

Within the scope of the Erasmus+ School Education program, middle school students from Şehit Cuma Akıl Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, who previously went to Stuttgart, Germany, participated in the “Keyfi Muhabbet” program hosted by Adil Yeter on Şafak Radio as part of Erasmus Days activities.During the radio program, the students highlighted the importance of the Erasmus+ program by sharing their project activities, experiences in Germany, cultural exchange activities, in-school learning processes, and the opportunities they had to introduce their city and country to others.

Within the scope of the “Shed Light on the Future” project, supported by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Youth and Sports and carried out by the Bülbülzade Association, a seminar on capacity building and youth contribution to civil society was organized for young people affected by the earthquake in Nurdağı.Students from the earthquake zone participated in the seminar organized by the Bülbülzade Foundation Earthquake Zone Coordination Office. Seminars titled “Youth Contribution and Participation in Civil Society” and “Capacity Building in Youth” were delivered by experts from the Bülbülzade Foundation.In the “Youth Contribution and Participation in Civil Society” seminar, the importance of civil society, how civil society organizations operate, and how young people can get involved in these organizations were explained with examples.In the “Capacity Building in Youth” seminar, the topic of media and communication as a profession was covered. Young participants were introduced to careers in media and communication, and were informed about generative artificial intelligence as part of the future of media professions.