WISHES OF CHILDREN MET ON THE SKY

Yunus Emre Institute organized Youth and Kite Festival in Azaz, as part of the 2021-Yunus Emre Year.

Yunus Emre Institute, that has been established to promote Turkish culture, art and to teach Turkish language, organized a new program for children, hosted by Yunus Emre Institute-Azaz that came into action last year with the aim of providing morale support and contribute motivation for the people of the region, who left behind the 10th year of the war.

With the announcement of the year 2021 as the Year of Yunus Emre on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of Yunus Emre's death, the Institute carried out various activities with its overseas centers, and also did not forget Syrian neighbors in Azaz and organized a series of activities for children and the young under the name of Youth and Kite Festival.

The program started with the opening speeches of Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Özgül Özkan YAVUZ, Kilis Governor Recep SOYTÜRK, Azez Local Council President Muhammed KENNO and President of Yunus Emre Institute, Prof Dr Şeref Ateş.

Mrs. YAVUZ, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, conveyed the greetings and love of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to all the children there in her opening speech. She also pointed out the kindest regards of children in Turkey to the children in Syria and expressed her happiness for the great efforts for the Syrian people in Azaz by Yunus Emre Institute.

Stating that events were held in many parts of the world within the scope of the 700th anniversary of Yunus Emre's death, the President of the Institute Ateş said as "We got the inspired by Yunus, we can’t shut our eyes to the issues of the nearby geographies and we offer a lifeline to the nations that are oppressed and aggrieved.

After the protocol speeches, Arabic, Kurdish and Turkish songs were sung in a mini concert with local artists took the stage. Afterwards, the play titled “The Adventures of Lamb Parsley” staged by the artists of the Izmir State Theater players to the little ones. The event continued with the Azaz Gymnastics Ensemble’s performance, and the little members of the ensemble received great applause from the audience. The stage performances ended after the local dance Show which performed by the Syrian Folk Dance Ensemble.

Children and youth, who also found the opportunity to express their sincere feelings and thoughts in the environment of confidence, with the support of Turkey, conveyed their thanks to Turkey via the letters they wrote to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The kites, which titled the festival name, were prepared with pleasure and then released into the sky by the kids and their families. The kites decorated with Turkish and Syrian flags became the scene of colorful images.

As part of the festival, the participants brought together the puzzle pieces with the flags of the two countries and created a giant map of Turkey and Syria. The program ended with the distribution of gifts to all children.