The Voluntary Repatriation Counseling and Support Center, implemented by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality in cooperation with Gaziantep Provincial Directorate of Migration Management, Turkish Red Crescent, Bülbülzade Foundation, SGDD-ASAM and other local governments and civil society organizations, was inaugurated with the participation of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz.Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin, Turkish Red Crescent President Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz, Gaziantep MPs and Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir attended the opening ceremony.Turkish Red Crescent President Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz visited the support center office where our foundation's migration and Syria work experience will be presented as a contribution. During the visit, information was given about the inter-communal communication, social cohesion, information and volunteering consultancy planned by Bülbülzade Foundation.The support center, which will set an example at the international level, was established in a multi-stakeholder structure in the field of migration management. The center, which was established to support the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Syrian individuals to their homeland within the framework of Turkey's migration policies, will provide adaptation and livelihood support to individuals and families who will make a new start in Syria.

Alparslan Durmuş, President of Turkish Red Crescent Academy and Fatih Kökcan, Turkish Red Crescent Syria Area Coordinator visited our foundation. During their visit, the foundation received information about our work.Within the scope of the visit, detailed information about Aleppo Cultural Center, Aleppo Office and Anatolian Cultural Centers were shared as well as the migration and adaptation activities carried out by Bülbülzade Foundation in Syria. In addition, the Red Crescent's work in different regions of Syria was explained and experiences were shared.The importance of Syria's education system for the region was emphasized and it was stated that a good education system can overcome the division of the Middle East. It was also emphasized that children who speak Turkish can create an advantage in terms of the language of education and therefore bilingual education should be supported.

Bülbülzade Foundation shared the joy of Eid with its volunteers with a Eid celebration program. The program was attended by volunteers, unit officers and members of the foundation, as well as guests from various cities in Turkey, Syrian opinion leaders and students, Anatolian Federation management and children of volunteers.The Eid celebration event started with the speech of Turgay Aldemir, President of Bülbülzade Foundation. In his opening speech, President Aldemir emphasized the joy of Eid and gave information about the activities to be held in the summer season and the activities carried out in Syria. Afterwards, Mustafa El Hussein, President of Gaziantep Syrian Community and Yunus Hamallar, President of Touch Life Orphan Association made opening speeches and congratulated all participants on Eid.Throughout the program, the participants took the microphone in turn and shared their Eid greetings and good wishes. Foundation unit representatives gave information about the activities to be carried out in the summer period and congratulated Eid. The students participating in the program also shared the joy of Eid by expressing their wishes. President Turgay Aldemir gave Eid pocket money to the children attending the event. The children who participated in the Eid celebration had fun and added joy to the program.The Eid program ended with the prayer of İbrahim Özmantar, Member of the Board of Trustees of Bülbülzade Foundation.

BEKAM President Mehmet Ali Eminoğlu, Gaziantep Syrian Community President Mustafa Al Hüseyin, Bülbülzade Foundation Foreign Relations Unit member Ali Akbaba and a delegation of volunteers visited Damascus Governor Maher Muhammed Marwan and Deputy Foreign Minister Muhammed al Jaffel.During the meeting, detailed information was shared about Bülbülzade Foundation's migration and integration activities in Turkey and Syria. They were also informed about the projects planned in the fields of culture, sports and youth empowerment as part of the efforts to support local development. The delegation shared its experiences on Anatolian Cultural Centers and emphasized its readiness to transfer its experience to Damascus. Governor of Damascus Maher Mohammed Marwan welcomed the partnership and emphasized the governorate's readiness to provide the necessary facilities for the success of the joint initiatives.Following the meeting held in Damascus Governorate, Damascus Director of Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Activities Ahmet al-Jeffal was visited. A general cooperation protocol was signed between Bülbülzade Foundation Turkish Traditional Sports Federation and Damascus Directorate of Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Activities in the fields of culture, sports and youth empowerment.After the visit to Damascus Governorate, the delegation visited Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad al-Jaffal in his office.

Bülbülzade Foundation is also waiting for you to attend the Eid Event.📅Date: Sunday, June 8, 2025🕑Time: 13.00📍Location: Bülbülzade Foundation Winter Garden

As the Bülbülzade Foundation, a “Common Future Meeting” was held with Syrian Opinion Leaders as part of the traditional Spring Festival that we organize with great excitement every year. The meeting hosted by the Bülbülzade Foundation was attended by Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir, Gaziantep Provincial Migration Administration Director Mehmet Erkoç and Syrian opinion leaders in Gaziantep.The meeting, where Syrian opinion leaders in Gaziantep came together, was attended by Ataa Association, Takaful Sham Association, Rahma Foundation Turkey Representative Office, Anadolu Cultural Center educators and Gaziantep Syrian Community members, as well as Syrian doctors, lawyers and students. Evaluations were made regarding the new period that Syria is in at the meeting. Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir and Gaziantep Provincial Migration Administration Director Mehmet Erkoç answered the questions of Syrian opinion leaders and participants regarding the new period.The opening speech of the meeting was made by Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir, who emphasized Turkey’s civil society and intellectual experience, and said, “We will build the new Syria together. It is now time to be an active subject in Syria. Hopefully, the Syria-Turkey union will solve the problems of both this region and this geography, and will be a safe and peaceful homeland.”In addition to consultations on activities and studies that can be carried out regarding the new period in Syria by participants from various fields, questions were answered regarding closed neighborhoods, transitions from Syria to Turkey, out-of-town permits, residence statuses, and students’ higher education equivalents and educational problems.

Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin and Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir and their accompanying delegations carried out a comprehensive study visit to Aleppo, Syria. Various official contacts and field inspections were carried out during the visit.The delegations first met with Aleppo Consul General Hakan Cengiz and evaluated Aleppo’s current problems and priority needs. During the meeting, steps that could be taken, particularly regarding education, infrastructure, water supply and home renovations, were discussed.The delegations then visited Aleppo Governor Azzam Garib in his office. A meeting with broad participation was held at the governor’s office, and the sister city protocol between Gaziantep and Aleppo was also signed again as part of this visit. The protocol undertook mutual cooperation and technical support for infrastructure, transportation, environment and urbanization, protection of cultural heritage, economic and industrial cooperation and social projects supporting voluntary returns.The visit continued with an on-site examination of the city’s important cultural heritage sites, Zekeriya Mosque and Aleppo Castle. During the examinations, evaluations were made regarding restoration and conservation efforts.

Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin and Aleppo Consul General Hakan Cengiz visited the Bülbülzade Foundation Aleppo Liaison Office on May 29, 2025, and met with foundation volunteers and opinion leaders in the region.Stating that it is valuable for the Bülbülzade Foundation to be on the field in Aleppo, Fatma Şahin stated that solutions to Aleppo’s problems can be found by the administration, civil society and business people working hand in hand, such as the “Gaziantep Model”.During the meeting, where the common past of Aleppo and Gaziantep was frequently emphasized; educational activities regarding the present and future of Aleppo, projects for children, infrastructure problems (water, electricity), parks and solution proposals and ideas regarding the reconstruction of Aleppo were discussed. During the visit, mutual experience sharing and cooperation opportunities were evaluated. He also touched on the importance of the mission undertaken by the Bülbülzade Foundation in the region, emphasizing that civil society organizations played a key role in the process of Aleppo’s recovery. He also expressed his support with the words, “We will succeed together. We must move forward quickly by sharing our experiences.”The program ended with the presentation of gift paintings prepared at the Anatolian Cultural Centers and a visit to the Aleppo Anatolian Cultural Center, which will soon be operational.

Anatolian Student Union (AÖB) organized a cultural trip to Cappadocia with the participation of university students, volunteers and educators.During the day trip, the students visited Göreme and Avanos districts of Nevşehir and had the opportunity to watch hot air balloons at sunrise accompanied by the natural beauties of the region. The students visited the Fairy Chimneys and had a new experience by making pottery in Avanos.

Turgay Aldemir, President of Bülbülzade Foundation, and the accompanying delegation paid a visit to Novi Pazar and Belgrade cities of Serbia in order to make various contacts and develop collaborations.Within the scope of the visit, a general cooperation protocol was signed with Novi Pazar Turkish Cultural Center and Novi Pazar Hatice Women's Association, including joint activities, especially youth work. The protocol signing ceremony was held at the Novi Pazar Turkish Cultural Center.The ceremony was attended by İbrahim Kara, Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Novi Pazar, Amila Džafo Liçina, President of Hatice Women's Association, Cenan Palamar, Director of Novi Pazar Turkish Cultural Center, Nejra Zupljanin, Coordinator of the Turkish Cultural Center, Dr. Lütfiye Güvenç and Dr. Ahmet Çam from Novi Pazar State University, Nazım Liçina, President of Serbia Turkey Alumni Association and members of the board of directors of Bülbülzade Foundation.Speaking at the ceremony, İbrahim Kara, Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Novi Pazar, stated that this cooperation is an important step for the people of Novi Pazar and especially for the youth and thanked all the institutions that contributed to the process.After the signing ceremony, the delegation of the foundation visited the Turkish Cultural Center in Novi Pazar and also visited the Hatice Women's Association. During the visit hosted by Amila Džafo Liçina, President of the Association and Nazım Liçina, President of Serbia Turkey Alumni Association, the delegation was informed about the activities of the association. Following the visit, a meeting was held with the Mayor of Novi Pazar Nihat Biševac.The program also included a courtesy visit to the Education Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Belgrade.