On February 6, 2023, two years have passed since the great earthquake we experienced, which is referred to as the “Disaster of the Century”. Today, with the sensitivity of the first day, we were again in the earthquake zone as always.We took part in the commemoration program organized by Nurdağı District Governorship with our stand as our foundation. While introducing our work, we offered refreshments to our guests.We would like to thank Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, Gaziantep Metropolitan Mayor Fatma Şahin, Provincial Mufti Hüseyin Çelik and the delegation that visited our stand. We informed them about our study center, computer lab, sewing workshops and kindergarten projects in Nurdağı.We would like to express our gratitude to our young volunteers and everyone who supported us during this process.We will heal our wounds together, we will turn pain into hope with the unity of the century.

It has been exactly 2 years since the earthquake.Since the first day of the disaster of the century, we have been on the ground with all our supporters and stakeholders.We are there every day. We will continue to be there; we will heal together, not all at once.We remember our citizens who lost their lives with respect and mercy.We believe that we are stronger together!#6February2023

Bülbülzade Foundation continues to sign cooperation protocols with different institutions to support its national and international activities. In this context, a new protocol was signed with Gaziantep-based SENED Association.The protocol was designed to implement educational, cultural, artistic and social activities to be carried out in Turkey and Syria, especially in Azaz, Afrin, Al Bab and Jarablus Anatolian Cultural Centers. With this cooperation, it is aimed to develop and implement projects to meet the needs in the region.

729 days have passed since the “Disaster of the Century”, whose epicenter was Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023. In Nurdağı and İslahiye regions, where we have been working as Bülbülzade Foundation since the first day, we have established Child Life Centers in order to reduce the trauma caused by the earthquake, to support education, to provide an alternative place for children, to revive the hopes of the days spent in the earthquake zone and to overcome the difficulties together.In our Child Life Centers, where hundreds of students receive education in İslahiye and Nurdağı, children receive online and free one-to-one education in our kindergartens and study centers established to support their school education. We also provide psychological support and trainings to overcome the effects of the earthquake.We carry out various activities such as “Summer and Winter Schools” organized as two different programs in the centers, psychological support for children and mothers, and national and spiritual values education.As Bülbülzade Foundation, we continue to heal the wounds in the region by saying “We are there every day, not just one day” since the first moment of the earthquake. We would like to sincerely thank all our donors who did not leave us alone in this process, who gave hope with their support, and our volunteers who did not spare their efforts.

Turgay Aldemir, President of the Bülbülzade Foundation, and the accompanying delegation made several visits to the cities of Srebrenica, Doboj and Sarajevo to sign a cooperation protocol with IFS Emmaus operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Bülbülzade Foundation, which has previously collaborated with IFS Emmaus, which contributed to the development of the people of the region after the war in Bosnia between 1992-1995 and operates internationally, has strengthened this cooperation with an official protocol.In Srebrenica, the delegation visited the youth camping area, the student dormitory established to provide students with easier access to education, the Srebrenica martyrdom, the memorial center and the museum about the Srebrenica massacre. The delegation also visited the nursing home built to facilitate the lives of the mothers of martyrs from Srebrenica and met with the mothers of martyrs who lost their families in the Srebrenica Massacre on July 11, 1995.IFS Emmaus headquarters in Doboj was also visited. Here, the soup kitchen where hot meals are distributed, rehabilitation and therapy centers, dairy farms and greenhouses established to provide economic support to the local community were examined.During the meetings with Hamzalija Okanovic, President of IFS Emmaus, and the heads of administrative units, it was decided to carry out joint projects in the fields of humanitarian aid, civil society and social cohesion, especially in the fields of youth and culture. After the signing of the cooperation protocol, Turgay Aldemir and Hamzalija Okanovic emphasized the importance of the friendship between Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina and drew attention to the necessity of general cooperation and the importance of mobility activities among young people.Finally, Turgay Aldemir, President of Bülbülzade Foundation, thanked the IFS Emmaus authorities for the hospitality and interest shown to the 21 participants of the Erasmus+ activity between January 18-28.

Member of the Board of Directors of the Anatolian Federation Cemal Mustafa, parliamentarians and journalists from SANA Agency came together at the Aleppo Liaison Office of Bülbülzade Foundation to exchange views on current developments in Syria and civil society activities.The meeting was attended by representatives from the General Secretariat of the Syrian National Movement, poets, officials from the Aleppo Directorate of Foundations, businesspeople, managers of orphanages and Syrian youth.Cemal Mustafa introduced the mission of the Anatolian Federation and Bülbülzade Foundation and emphasized the uninterrupted support they have provided to Syrians for more than a decade. He also talked about the humanitarian aid and development projects they have carried out in different countries, especially in Syria.During the meeting, the vision of the Anatolian Federation was discussed by addressing issues such as supporting young people, raising social awareness and the role of non-governmental organizations in decision-making processes.

On January 27-28, 2025, under the leadership of the Regional Directorate, foundations operating in Gaziantep and Kahramanmaraş came together and held a meeting to evaluate coordination and cooperation activities. Foundation administrative officials representing our foundation attended the meeting.During the meeting, consultations were held on projects that will contribute to humanity, the environment and social solidarity by keeping our foundation tradition and foundation spirit alive. Steps that can be taken to increase goodness in our region were discussed.We would like to thank our Regional Directorate for hosting this meaningful meeting and all our foundations for their support, and we hope that our cooperation will lead to many more beautiful projects.

Within the framework of Bülbülzade Foundation's educational, cultural and artistic activities, a delegation consisting of Foundation Director Zeynel Kaplan, Gaziantep Syrian Community President Mustafa Hüseyin and Migrant Services Center Sociologist Şehadet Gerçek visited the Azaz and Afrin Anatolian Cultural Centers located in safe areas.The active functioning of the cultural centers, the work carried out, the educational processes and the situation of the educators and students involved in these processes were discussed with the Director of Azaz and Afrin Anatolian Cultural Centers, Muhammed Eyüp. In addition, classes were visited and one-to-one meetings were held with teachers and students.The centers, which provide education to students between the ages of 5-35 in 16 branches in Azaz and 16 branches in Afrin, undertake important tasks to normalize the region and heal the wounds of the war. Anatolian Cultural Centers continue their educational and various activities without interruption, taking into account the dynamics of the region.

Bülbülzade Foundation Secondary Education Commission held the “Personality of Places” program on January 25, 2025 at the foundation headquarters.In the camp program, the history, culture, idioms and folk songs of Gaziantep, the history and development of our foundation was explained to the children through Mderris Bülbülzade Abdullah Edip Efendi, after whom Bülbülzade Foundation is named.Then, an interview program was organized with Süleyman Dilmen. In the interview, the children had an interactive program by asking questions after listening to the author.At the end of the camp program, boys participated in a parkour competition at Istikrar Sports Club and girls made Palestine-themed badges at the Badge Making Workshop. In addition, the children had a productive and enjoyable time playing volleyball.The “Personality of Places” program ended with the presentation of Palestine-themed notepads to the children as a souvenir.

Bülbülzade Foundation Secondary Education Commission organized a one-day education program at the Children's University Discovery Campus for students between the ages of 8 and 14.Students between the ages of 8 and 14 participated in various activities such as physics, mathematics, astology, space science, ecology, music and painting workshops.The students learned with fun and took home the products they created with their manual labor as a souvenir.

Bülbülzade Foundation Secondary Education Commission held the “Muslim Personalities” program at GSB Seyr-i Antep Youth Camp between 18-20 January 2025.The camp program for high school girls started with introductory games. Then, presentations were made about Muslim personalities such as Aisha Shasha and Maryam al-Ijliyya. The presentations highlighted what women can do, the power of women in society, and the importance of women in the Muslim heritage in the fields of science, medicine, and administration, and gave modern young women the opportunity to develop a sense of history and discover new role models from the Muslim civilization. During the camp program, archery, zipline and various activities were organized.At the Children's University Discovery Campus, students carried out various activities in physics, mathematics, astrology, space science, nature and ecological workshops, and took home the products they made during the activity at the end of the training.

Bülbülzade Foundation Secondary Education Commission held the “Islamic Geography” program at Gizem Doğan Youth Camp between 18-20 January 2025.The camp program for high school male students started with acquaintance games and competitions. Then, presentations were made about Islamic geographies such as Palestine and Syria. In the presentations, we got to know the persecuted countries in the Islamic geography more closely, created awareness about them and consulted on what we can do.  During the camp program, the focus was on paying attention to prayer and staying away from bad habits. Archery, climbing and various activities were organized in the camp area.At the Children's University Discovery Campus, students carried out various activities in physics, mathematics, astrology, space science, nature and ecological workshops, and when the training ended, they took the products they made in the activity home.