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.

Hello, I’m Selim. For two months, I worked as a volunteer summer school teacher at the Alaca Association in the city of Tetovo, North Macedonia, as part of the ESC51 (European Solidarity Corps) Volunteering Project, organized by the Bülbülzade Foundation and BEKAM (Center for Science, Education, and Cultural Research).ESC – European Solidarity Corps ExperienceTetovo, with its hospitable people and warm atmosphere, never made me feel like a stranger; I felt a sense of closeness as if I were walking through the streets of my own hometown. Meeting people from different cultures and being able to touch their lives was a deeply valuable experience for me.Within the scope of the activities conducted under the roof of the Alaca Association, I had the opportunity to spend time especially with children. Throughout the summer school, we played games and carried out various activities together. This volunteer journey taught me that serving others, above all, touches one’s own heart the most.The friendships I built, the memories I shared, and the sincerity I witnessed in Tetovo will remain an unforgettable memory for the rest of my life.I wholeheartedly thank the Bülbülzade Foundation, BEKAM, and the Alaca Association for making this journey possible and for hosting us so warmly.

Since 1994, the Bülbülzade Foundation has been continuing to provide clothing support to thousands of children and families in need every year. In the aid efforts carried out at the Foundation's Aid Coordination Center, beneficiaries have the opportunity to choose their clothes themselves in a store-like environment. In this context, a new clothing assistance campaign titled "Clothe a Child" was launched in October.The campaign received support from the Mosaic Women’s Association, the Anatolian Student Union, Bülbülzade Foundation ESC Volunteers, and the Tradesmen Commission volunteers.The “Clothe a Child” campaign will continue to be held regularly every other Saturday to ensure the sustainability of aid efforts for those in need.

The Bülbülzade Foundation Secondary Education Commission organized an introductory picnic for middle school, high school, and university entrance exam (YKS) preparation group students.The event, held at the Bülbülzade Foundation’s Kurtuluş Forest, brought together many male and female students from various districts of the city, including participants from Bilim-Der, Hayata Dokun Orphan Association, Semt-i İbrahimli Association, Fidan-Der, and the Anatolian Culture Centers. In addition, commission members and educators also took part in the event. Through various games, students were encouraged to socialize, and a spirit of unity and solidarity was fostered. During the picnic, which also highlighted environmental awareness, students engaged in environmental cleanup activities.During the introductory picnic, commission members provided information and held consultations with participants about the planned camps, workshops, talent courses in arts, sports, and media, nature walks, excursions, tournaments, competitions, award-winning book reading events, and study circles to be organized throughout the year.The event concluded with a group photo after lunch. We congratulate our students who participated in our Introductory Picnic and thank our parents for their support.

Mozaik Women's Association organized a "Term Opening Camp" on October 8-9, 2025, at Seyri Antep Nature Camp. The camp aimed to foster bonding among volunteers, prepare for the new term, and provide information about upcoming activities.Starting with an icebreaker game, the camp featured a presentation titled "The Human Condition" by Mozaik Women's Association Chairperson Rabia Aldemir. In her speech, Rabia Aldemir emphasized the importance of establishing accurate and sustainable relationships with those in need, saying:"There are dark and bright times in our lives. Orphanhood, poverty, and misguidance are matters of humanity. They have never ended and will always continue throughout life — these are our constant states. But as our comprehension expands, we develop new perspectives. Orphanhood can be read as the ability to be alone and an expansion of understanding; poverty as a liberation that distances a person from dependency on others and leads to reliance on God — a blessing in ontological terms. When we see these individuals, we should remember our own human condition. We always seek a witness and a companion to our state because we are always in need — we crave attention, affection, closeness. Let us give the poor and the orphan what they need, but let us also build mechanisms to meet the needs of those who seek. Building that mechanism is a goal — and through these relationships, we also improve our relationship with God. Having a purpose is a core component that drives people and helps them fight despair. Therefore, discovering a sense of purpose and deriving meaning from life experiences is a crucial element for healing."The camp continued with commission introductions. Members of the Board of Mozaik Women's Association shared information about the areas in which they serve voluntarily and provided updates on fieldwork carried out by the Bülbülzade Foundation. Earthquake Region Coordinator Zemzem Çetin stated that the work in the earthquake-affected areas continues and emphasized that the workshops being conducted offer hope to women. Children’s Commission representative Sena Bozcan shared the ongoing activities for children and announced the beginning of the process to establish a children’s council. Nesibe Aşkar Çetinkaya noted that secondary school activities will continue in the new term through various events and educational programs. President of the Anatolian Student Union, Seyre Batuk, gave information about the organization’s events and educational initiatives. Migration Services Center representative Şehadet Gerçek spoke about ongoing work in Syria, including the nearing completion of the Anadolu Cultural Center in Aleppo, upcoming projects in Damascus, and cultural center education programs continuing since 2016. Yasemin Aksu stated that monthly aid distributions will be maintained at the aid store and shared details about new term study groups. Commission leaders introduced their work and explained how volunteers could contribute to these efforts.In the final session, Bülbülzade Foundation Board Member Fadime Eminoğlu delivered a presentation titled “Volunteer Coordination.” Eminoğlu emphasized the foundation's long-standing commitment to volunteerism and announced that a “Volunteer Coordination Unit” would be established in the coming term to create a more sustainable structure. The presentation underlined the importance of spreading goodness in line with the foundation's mission and enhancing the visibility of ongoing efforts. The program concluded with evaluations following drama, choir, and rhythm workshops.

The radio program titled "Vakt-i Melal", hosted and produced by Mehmet Dal, was broadcasted. The program featured historian and author Uğur Taşdemir, a founding member of Hayrat Aid, and Ümit Helvacıkara, Hayrat Aid volunteer coordinator and Vice President of Yeşilay Gaziantep Branch, as guests.Broadcast on the anniversary of the attacks on Gaza, the program addressed the humanitarian crisis in the region and the challenges faced by the Palestinian people. The guests especially emphasized the significance of boycott as a method of solidarity and resistance. They also shared evaluations on the meaning and purpose of the Sumud Flotilla, and how such initiatives contribute to the Palestinian cause. The importance of not remaining silent in the face of these events and what individuals can do personally was also underlined during the program.

The October 2025 meeting of the Volunteer Organizations Platform (GÖNÜLKUR) was hosted by the Hoşgör Fatih Foundation for Scientific Research. The meeting, attended by 29 different non-governmental organizations from Gaziantep, also welcomed the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bülbülzade Foundation, Turgay Aldemir.During the meeting, topics related to the upcoming Great Gaza Rally were discussed. Information was also shared about the upcoming forum titled “Gaziantep Forum: Where is the Islamic World Headed?”. In addition, current and general issues on the agenda were discussed and opinions were exchanged.

Hello, I’m Betül. I’m from Gaziantep and currently a second-year student in Textile Technology. At the same time, I’m an athlete; I work as a swimming instructor and I’m also involved in taekwondo.A Journey to Tetova with the ESC51 Volunteering ProjectTogether with three friends, we came to the city of Tetova in North Macedonia as part of the ESC51 (European Solidarity Corps) Volunteering Project, carried out by Bülbülzade Foundation and BEKAM (Science Education Culture Research Center). We volunteered as teachers at the Alaca Association, which was established to keep Turkish culture alive in the region.We tried our best to contribute to the association and to create meaningful work. Although I thought I would struggle at first, the local people were incredibly warm and welcoming.Taekwondo Training for ChildrenDuring the summer school, I taught taekwondo to children from different age groups. Middle school students were more engaged, so the lessons went smoothly, while the primary school groups were sometimes challenging—but overall, it was a lot of fun.I also told them stories and organized fun activities based on those stories. Seeing them listen with interest made me feel so happy. I hope I was able to teach them good values—because they truly taught me so much in return. In this process, I both took on the role of a teacher and built wonderful friendships and bonds.The association members became like older brothers and sisters to me. Each of them has a heart of gold, and they made me feel completely at home. I am so grateful to them.I sincerely thank Bülbülzade Foundation and BEKAM for giving me the opportunity to live this unforgettable experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.