The international youth mobility program themed “Digital Balance: Youth and Technology,” organized by the Bülbülzade Association and the Novi Pazar Turkish Culture Center, began in Gaziantep, hosted by the Bülbülzade Foundation.
Organized under the Erasmus+ KA151 project and supported by the Turkish National Agency, “Digital Balance: Youth and Technology” is taking place in Gaziantep between February 9-15, 2026, with the aim of building a bridge of hearts across borders and strengthening the position of youth in the digital world based on shared values. The program, which brings together young people from Serbia with their Turkish and Syrian peers, covers a wide range of topics, from technology to civil diplomacy, history, and future professions.
As part of the program, Turgay Aldemir, President of the Bülbülzade Foundation, gave a visionary presentation titled “Brotherhood Beyond Borders: Turkish and Serbian Youth Meeting on Common Values.” Aldemir addressed the young people with the following words: “We will make the world a better place. We will combine our resources. They draw a line for you, and you cannot cross it, but some people help you cross those boundaries. That is why unity is important.”
THE FIVE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF OUR CIVILIZATION
Aldemir drew attention to the “decline of truth” in the modern world and moral decay such as the Epstein scandal, bringing the five fundamental principles of our civilization to the attention of young people: "First is intellectual integrity: If you don't respect someone's mind, you won't respect their body either. We need an active intellect and youth that declares ‘I exist’ without looking left or right. Generational security: Generational security is being lost in Europe; they are experiencing a collapse. We will protect this with our rules and our family structure. Safety of life: Modern wars are horrific, but in our civilization, even war has its laws. We give our lives, but we do not give up what has been entrusted to us. This is what makes us a nation, a civilization. Safety of property: The property of this world is a provision and a trust for us. Safety of religion: We cannot live with the blood feuds of previous generations. We will protect everyone's faith."
Speaking at the program, Mahmut Kaçmazer from the Bülbülzade Foundation Board of Trustees shared his belief in the power of youth to change the world with these words: “The world does not deserve what is happening. You are the ones who will change this. Seeing you broadens our horizons and gives us hope. Destiny is in love with effort. Let us pass this awareness on from generation to generation.”
DIGITAL SKILLS AND CULTURE NIGHT
As part of the education program, Muhammed Nur Dinç gave an insightful presentation on “Future Careers and Digital Skills.” Explaining to our young people how digital transformation has reshaped labor markets, Dinç emphasized the necessity of gaining proficiency in areas such as artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics. Following the theoretical training, our young participants had the opportunity to experience Gaziantep's thousands of years of history and cultural fabric firsthand through an extensive city tour. On this route, stretching from Zeugma and museums to historic bazaars, our guests witnessed firsthand how civilizations have blended together. At the cultural evening organized with the contribution of Katre Art Center, the cultural ties between Turkey and Serbia were reinforced through art.
