The 19th Anatolia Meetings, organized by the Anatolia Federation between August 13 and 17, 2025, under the theme “Smoking Fireplace, the Future of the Family,” began with an opening seminar by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez.In his opening remarks, Mehmet Görmez referred to the scope of the family in the Quran, saying, "The verses of the Quran concerning women, family, and spouses are extremely comprehensive. These verses reveal a legal understanding of depth and fairness unseen in any legal system. In the Quran, we pray, 'Our Lord, make us leaders of the righteous.' This reminds us that if the family does not protect us, we cannot protect the family either."“WE MUST LOOK TO THE FUTURE, TO THE FUTURE. BECAUSE THOSE WHO LOSE THIS LIGHT CANNOT SEE AHEAD AND LOSE THEIR FUTURE.”Mehmet Görmez said, “So, will humanity protect the family, or will the family protect humanity? Let us not forget that all of humanity began with a family; and that was in the place we call paradise. The family is an effort to turn the home we live in into paradise. Because the family is an institution created by Allah.”“THE FAMILY IS OUR EXISTENCE BETWEEN MOTHER AND UMMAH.”Emphasizing that the family is not just an institution where children are born, Mehmet Görmez said, "The real issue is how we will build the spirit of the family. Today, we must talk about rebuilding the spirit of the family. All moral systems agree on the importance and existence of the family. The family is our existence between mother and community.”“FAMILY AND CIVILIZATION EXIST TOGETHER, THEY FALL TOGETHER.”Referring to the fact that family and civilization are each other's reason for existence, Mehmet Görmez said, “Family and civilization exist together, and they fall together. The Turkish word ”aile“ and the Arabic words ”al“ and ”ehil“ are different. The Quran does not directly say ”family“; it encompasses broader relationships with the concepts of ‘al’ and ”ehil." Islam views the family from a much more universal perspective than all other religions.“ Görmez also stated that, according to the Quran, the family is a law of existence: ”The first is the biological law of existence, which applies to animals and all living beings. The second is the law of our moral existence; it is ingrained in our nature. The family is also a law of mercy, a law of chastity and modesty; it is an institution that protects the law of all humanity."“THE ISLAMIC UMMAH CAN UNITE AGAINST ALL EVIL FORCES IN THE WORLD AND ACT AS ONE FAMILY.”Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez, who stated that Darwin changed the definition of human creation, said, "Humanism emerged for a human-centered world order; when that was not enough, posthumanism came to the fore. With Darwin, the definition of human creation was changed, and the characteristic of humans being the center of the world was shaken. Nevertheless, I believe that the Islamic ummah can unite against all the evil forces of the world and act as one family.”Following the speech, a plaque was presented to Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez by Gazi Kılıçparlar, a member of the Anatolia Federation Board of Directors. Additionally, Şükriye Kahya, President of the North Macedonia Alaca Association, presented a gift to Prof. Dr. Mehmet Görmez in commemoration of his 40th anniversary.

The 19th Anatolia Meetings, organized by the Anatolia Federation between August 13 and 17, 2025, with the theme “The Future of the Family,” began with welcoming speeches.The first day of the Anatolia Gatherings began with opening speeches. The program continued with a recitation from the Quran, followed by opening speeches on the theme of “The Future of the Family.” The first speech was delivered by Turgay Aldemir, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Anatolia Federation. This was followed by an opening speech by Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Family and Social Services.Turgay Aldemir, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Anatolia Federation, who delivered the opening speech, stated, “We are striving to put the motto ‘Keep the people alive so that the state may live’ into practice in a concrete and effective manner. We are here to reveal the reason for human existence in the world through the most appropriate practices and to preserve and develop our social values.” He also emphasized that we must fulfill our responsibilities as a society, saying, “Unfortunately, today there are forces that seek to undermine our values and shake the foundations of the family and humanity. We cannot remain spectators in such a process. Instead of merely feeling sorry, we must roll up our sleeves and fulfill our responsibilities. Our goal is to ensure the safety of individuals and build a society bound by solidarity.”“OVERCOMING CHALLENGES WITH ANALYTICAL MIND AND STRONG WILL IS NOT A CHOICE FOR US, BUT A NECESSITY.”Emphasizing that they have carried out family-centered work, President Aldemir said, "We have worked hard to keep families together, carry hope for the future, and protect future generations. However, we believe that building an independent society is not only possible by criticizing evil, but also by reminding people more often of goodness, kindness, and beauty. As Muslims, we choose to focus on goodness rather than evil.”“A STRONG FAMILY IS THE FOUNDATION OF A STRONG SOCIETY.”Expressing that they have to fight harder for every value attributed to the family, Turgay Aldemir said, "As a civil society organization, we have two important tasks: to keep people's consciences alive and to keep social awareness alive. For this reason, in addition to our general programs, we hold many meetings and make plans behind the scenes. Our aim is to spread the gains obtained here throughout the country and to focus particularly on initiatives targeting young people. Because we believe that a strong family is the foundation of a strong society.”

The Turkish Red Crescent Syria Humanitarian Aid Coordination Office organized a Sphere training in Gaziantep to provide guidance on meeting minimum standards in humanitarian aid interventions.Representatives of non-governmental organizations participated in the training held in Gaziantep. Among the participants was the Bülbülzade Foundation. The training provided information on humanitarian aid efforts to be carried out following crises that deeply affect humanity, such as natural disasters, war, and pandemics. The program, which covered topics such as Sphere introduction, water, sanitation, and hygiene, nutrition, shelter, and assessment, concluded with a closing speech.

As part of the cultural activities of the Bülbülzade Foundation, the Summer School, which began on June 30, 2025, ended with a celebration held on August 1, 2025. Meanwhile, an evaluation meeting was held to discuss summer activities with the participation of relevant units within the foundation.The meeting was attended by the Anatolia Student Union, Secondary Education, Mosaic, Nurdağı-İslâhiye Earthquake Region, Migration, İstikrar Sports Club, Media Unit, Katre Science and Art Center units, and member associations Bilim-Der and Semt-i İbrahimli.During the meeting, the positive impact of social, cultural, artistic, sporting, and nature activities conducted throughout the summer season on students was discussed. The curriculum content implemented by responsible summer schools was evaluated, and data regarding students' interest and engagement levels were shared. Additionally, the performances were evaluated based on the opinions of the relevant units regarding the Summer School Festival.The Summer School was organized by the Anatolian Student Union, Education Teacher Unit, Secondary Education, Mosaic, Character Education at Home (EKE), Islahiye Earthquake Region, Migration, Istikrar Sports Club, Katre Science and Art Center, Bilim-Der, and Semt-i Ibrahimli Association, all of which are part of the Foundation. The summer program, consisting of a total of 64 activities across 23 regions, was carried out in 19 summer schools operating in 10 different regions. Additionally, 19 summer camps were organized in 11 different regions with the participation of children and their families.The programs included courses such as the Quran, Sirah, Etiquette, Basic Religious Knowledge, Philosophy for Children, STEM, Universal Signs, and English through games, as well as supportive activities such as swimming, camping, music, and sports events. At the end of the meeting, the unit coordinators and coordinators were thanked for all the activities carried out.

Within the scope of the ESC51 Volunteering Project carried out by Bülbülzade Foundation, our short-term volunteers continue their activities in the city of Doboj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, hosted by IFS EMMAUS. Operating in the fields of social services and humanitarian aid with a wide impact area, IFS EMMAUS provides a rich environment where our volunteers actively take part in various activities such as food distribution to those in need, educational support for disadvantaged children, social services for the local community, rehabilitation programs, and greenhouse work. At the same time, our volunteers engage in training and experience-based activities that contribute to their personal and career development, gaining a well-rounded learning experience.

As part of the ESC51 Volunteering Project run by the Bülbülzade Foundation, our volunteers from Turkey are continuing their short-term individual volunteering activities in the city of Kalkandelen (Tetova) in North Macedonia. Hosted by CED and Alaca Association, the program involves our volunteers supporting disadvantaged groups in particular through various social and cultural activities such as reading books with children, art and handicraft workshops, and taekwondo courses.

Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir, Science Education Culture Research Center (BEKAM) President Mehmet Ali Eminoğlu, and their delegation paid a visit to Presidential Communications Director Prof. Dr. Burhanettin Duran, President of Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) Abdulhadi Turus, and the President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) Abdullah Eren.During the visits, information was provided about the Bülbülzade Foundation's international activities and its humanitarian aid, education, culture, and development work in the field of migration in Syria, and views were exchanged on strengthening mutual cooperation.

Turgay Aldemir, President of the Bülbülzade Foundation, Mehmet Ali Eminoğlu, President of the Science Education Culture Research Center (BEKAM), and their delegation visited Deputy President Cevdet Yılmaz.During the visit, information was provided on the Bülbülzade Foundation's international activities and its humanitarian aid, education, culture, and development efforts in the field of migration in Syria.

With the end of the Summer Schools planned as part of the cultural and educational activities of the Bülbülzade Foundation, a “Summer Schools Celebration” program was organized.The Summer School Celebration was held in the courtyard of Sevinç Bahattin Teymur Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, where the central summer school is located, with enthusiastic participation from summer school coordinators, teachers, parents, and students. Members of the foundation's board of directors, representatives of the organization unit, and foundation volunteers also attended the program.The program began with the recitation of the Quran by students selected from all units of the summer school. Following this, Turgay Aldemir, President of the Bülbülzade Foundation, delivered the opening speech. In his speech, he expressed his belief that the summer school activities would bring hope for the future, saying, “Through summer schools, we are carrying out these activities with the certainty that our young people and children will gain competence in every activity within the framework of the relationships of responsibility they establish with their faith values, human relations, nature, and other living beings.”During the program, students from the Bülbülzade Foundation Summer Schools, Earthquake Zone, İstikrar Sports Club, Katre Science and Arts Center, Hayata Dokun Orphan Association, Bilim-Der, and Semt-i İbrahimli Association summer schools performed the pieces they had prepared. First, students from the Bülbülzade Foundation Summer School and Anadolu Cultural Center recited poetry. Then, students from summer schools in İslâhiye and Nurdağı and the Hayata Dokun Yetim Association Summer School performed oratory shows.During the music festival, music performances by students from Bilim-Der, Semt-i İbrahimli, Anadolu Culture Center, and Earthquake Zone Summer School provided enjoyable moments. After the performances, students from the Katre Science and Arts Center summer school performed a violin and bağlama music recital. Finally, students from the İstikrar Sports Club summer school demonstrated karate and taekwondo performances.The performances, which had been in preparation for weeks, attracted great interest from the participants. At the end of the program, the educators, who had performed their duties with great dedication, were invited on stage and presented with certificates of appreciation and gifts. Then, participation certificates were distributed to all students who attended the summer school. The program ended with a group photo.The summer activities, which began on June 30, 2025, as part of the cultural activities of the Bülbülzade Foundation, were completed on August 1, 2025. The summer program, consisting of a total of 64 activities in 23 regions, was carried out with 1,439 students in 19 summer schools operating in 10 different regions. Additionally, 19 summer camps were organized in 11 different regions with the participation of children and their families. The summer schools, planned within the framework of cultural and educational activities, will continue in 2026 as they do every year.

Ahmed Mazhar Saado, one of the writers of İşrak Newspaper, which was published in three languages, Turkish, Arabic, and Kurdish, for 10 years at our foundation, paid a courtesy visit to the Bülbülzade Foundation on the occasion of his permanent return to Damascus, the capital of Syria.During the visit, Ahmed Mazhar Saado shared his feelings and thoughts about the İşrak Newspaper during his time as a writer, saying, “Just as I am here, I am now a volunteer journalist for the Bülbülzade Foundation in Damascus. This is not an end, but a new beginning.”Following the visit, a plaque was presented to him in recognition of his efforts for the İşrak Newspaper and the valuable memories he left behind.

The Anatolia Student Union organized a student gathering with the participation of university students from Gaziantep and surrounding provinces.At the meeting, which was initiated by Seyre Batuk and Celal Er, the presidents of the Anatolia Student Union, the students talked about the cities they live in. During the meeting, information was provided about the future projects and activities of the Anatolia Student Union, and educational programs and activities that will contribute to the personal development of the students were planned.Turgay Aldemir, President of the Bülbülzade Foundation, Adem Er, General Secretary, and Mehmet Ali Eminoğlu, President of BEKAM, attended the meeting and visited the students. During the meeting, Adem Er shared the Bülbülzade Foundation's experiences in Erasmus+ and ESC projects with the students.

Turgay Aldemir, President of the Anatolian Federation and Gazi Kılıçparlar, Head of Organization Unit, visited Bülbülzade Foundation Summer Schools. Within the framework of the decision taken by the General Administrative Board of the Anatolian Federation, the summer schools of the member associations were visited as the Organization Unit. Within the scope of the visits, it was observed that the motto of “Learning with Fun” was evident in the Summer Schools.During the visit, Katre Art Center within the scope of cultural and artistic activities affiliated to Bülbülzade Foundation, İstikrar Sports Summer School where sports activities are carried out, Bilimder, Semt-i İbrahimli Association aiming to increase social solidarity in İbrahimli and Touch Life Orphan Association Summer School students came together. It was stated that the students learned the Holy Quran and Basic Religious Knowledge lessons with theoretical and practical activities until noon, and continued their education with workshops and activities after noon. It was observed that the activities and workshops organized in the Summer Schools attracted great interest and excitement among students and families.Within the scope of Bülbülzade Foundation's cultural activities, the summer activities that started on June 30, 2025 continue. Summer activities, consisting of a total of 64 activities under 23 titles, are carried out in 19 summer schools in 10 different regions, while 21 summer camps for children and families are carried out in 11 different regions. There are 89 students in the Central Summer Schools, 65 in the earthquake zone in Nurdağı and İslahiye, 38 in Bilimder, 48 in Semt-i İbrahimli Association, 99 in Katre Art Center, 98 in Media Academy, 585 in İstikrar Sports Summer School, 1080 in camps and 1800 students in Anatolian Culture Centers.