The vision, educational approach and content structure of Institute Digital, which set out with the motto “Türkiye’s Thought Screen”, was introduced the previous evening at the Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum. The platform, which does not limit academic knowledge only to the academic environment but aims to bring it to the masses, presents a “digital academy” model that strengthens thought production with its contents presented through experts. The platform will open the door to a powerful transformation in social sciences at a time when digitalization is gaining momentum. Speaking at the launch of the program, Institute Social General Coordinator Dr. İpek Coşkun Armağan explained the starting point of the platform as follows: “Academic knowledge either stays in the academy or gets lost in the digital world. We wanted to fill this gap. We are creating a content ecosystem that not only informs the audience, but also makes them think and brings together different disciplines.”

WE MUST ASK OUR OWN QUESTIONS

Speaking at the program, Nun Education and Culture Foundation Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Esra Albayrak pointed out that the European-centered social science tradition produced a hierarchy based on binary oppositions such as civilized-primitive and developed-underdeveloped. Albayrak said, “This approach has created a certain stuckness in academic disciplines. However, social institutions and academic disciplines are built on each society’s own ontological assumptions and unique problems. As Institute Digital, we believe that the way to overcome this stuckness is to have the courage to ask our own social questions.”

AN ORIGINAL AND NEW MODEL

In the panel held within the scope of the program, Prof. Dr. Halil Berktay and Prof. Dr. Nilüfer Pembecioğlu evaluated the impact of digitalization on social sciences. While Berktay drew attention to the opportunities and risks of the artificial intelligence age, Pembecioğlu emphasized that the way of exposure to information has changed. The platform is designed for academics, teachers, public and private sector managers, young professionals, students and all individuals who want to improve themselves. There is no age or profession limitation for participation.

WHAT COURSES WILL BE AVAILABLE?

The contents were planned to cover different areas of social sciences. There will be courses such as history, sociology, philosophy, economics, culture and civilization studies. The courses will consist of original content prepared by academics who are experts in their fields. Upon completion of each program, participants will be given a certificate of achievement. Participants who receive the certificate will have the right to move on to a higher program or new content. Thanks to the learning management system (LMS) used on the platform, participants will be able to track their performance in the program.

Within the scope of activities extending from the Balkans to Africa, from Central Asia to Latin America, orphans, disabled people, disadvantaged groups, relatives of martyrs, veterans and compatriots were brought together on the same platform. While food parcels prepared according to local needs analyzes were delivered to those in need, iftar tables contributed to the strengthening of social ties. Within the scope of the programs carried out this year, TİKA directly reached approximately 600 thousand people in a total of 85 countries. Tables and aid organizations set up in different geographies kept the spirit of sharing in Ramadan alive on a global scale. Within the framework of iftar organizations, which constitute one of the important legs of the program, TIKA organized a total of 91 iftar programs in 50 countries. Thanks to these organizations, thousands of people came together at the same table and strengthened the feeling of unity and solidarity. TİKA also organized a total of 85 food packages in 59 countries and directly reached those in need. The distributed food parcels were prepared according to needs and contributed to meeting basic needs. TIKA did not forget Palestine, who spent Ramadan under Israeli attacks. More than 200 tons of food packages were distributed throughout Palestine with the Heart Table program. With the food support, approximately 130 thousand meals were prepared for iftar by the end of Ramadan in almshouses, soup kitchens and social service centers.

The area, which was damaged in the fire that started on October 18, 2024 and lasted for three days in Muğla’s Turnalı location between Akyaka and Akbük, is being greened again within the scope of Forest Week events. Rehabilitation works have started in an area of ​​200 hectares. In this context, various events are organized in order to erase the traces of destruction in the region and revitalize the ecosystem. As part of the Forest Week activities, 350 red pine saplings were planted in the region and an important step was taken to regain the area affected by the fire.

While the aim is to restore the region to its former natural structure, it was stated that nature protection and afforestation activities will continue uninterruptedly. Muğla Deputy Governor Murat Sarı, who attended the ceremony, said, “Our most important heritage that we must pass on to the future is forests. We must instill this awareness in our children. In this context, we are planting 350 saplings with this ceremony. Our goal is a Turkey that never fades and remains green. We are working to leave no place without forests and green areas in our Muğla province. I would like to thank those who contributed.” In addition to forest personnel, students, courthouse employees and gendarmerie teams attended the event.

The AK Party examined the positive effects of the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process on the economy with a comprehensive field research.

OPINIONS OF 1300 INSTITUTIONS WERE OBSERVED

In the research, the opinions of a total of 1300 institutions and organizations were consulted in surveys and interviews conducted in 26 regional provinces. The data obtained will be analyzed in detail and compiled into a report. The report is planned to be submitted to the AK Party Central Executive Board (MYK) in a short time. In the second phase of the study, it is aimed to expand the scope of the field research and spread it to 65 cities. One of the striking topics in the research was the economic cost of terrorism to Türkiye. The participants were asked what could be done with the approximately 2 trillion dollars spent due to terrorist incidents that have been going on for 50 years. In the comments, it was emphasized that Türkiye could reach a much stronger economic level if this resource was directed to production, infrastructure, investment and development projects. The common opinion from the field research was that if the process is successful, more production and higher employment will be provided in the economy. Participants pointed out that a permanent security environment would accelerate investments.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the Extended Provincial Presidents Meeting held at the AK Party Conference Hall. Erdoğan briefly said:

GENOCIDE NETWORK: The war launched against Iran on February 28, with the provocations of Israel, continues to drown our region in the smell of blood and gunpowder. Children who have committed no sins and are unaware of anything become the targets of missiles and bombs while they are listening to lessons at school. Our region is experiencing the most painful and difficult days of the last century. The genocide network, blinded by hatred and grudges, is dragging our region towards a great disaster, supposedly hiding behind religious arguments.

THOSE WHO WERE KILLED ARE OUR BROTHERS: I would like to say this clearly once again, those who are killed mercilessly, wherever they are, are our brothers. The children who took their last breath in school are our children. The women whose hearts turned to Karbala with the pain of losing their children are our mothers. The cities reduced to rubble by bombs are also our cities. The places that were destroyed, destroyed, plundered and ruined are our region.

I ASK, WITH BLOOD CRYING: Look, I’m asking here with bleeding heart: For God’s sake, what is the difference between the tears shed in Isfahan, Tabriz, Tehran, and those shed in Erbil, Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Sana’a, Doha, Riyadh and other sister cities of our region? In the eyes of the massacre network, what is the difference between our names being Ali, Mürteza, Ömer, Ayşe, Zeynep, Hasan, Hüseyin? Aren’t we the ones who are damaged, hit and bleeding with every missile fired, whether in Iran or the Gulf?

RESOURCES OF OUR DAMAGED BROTHERS: Isn’t it the economy of our region that is losing blood due to this meaningless war? Aren’t the multibillion-dollar infrastructure facilities destroyed by missiles, bombs and drones the resources of our brothers in the region? For God’s sake, does it make any difference whether we are Shiite or Sunni, Turkish, Kurdish, Arab or Persian in the eyes of the attackers who have disregarded any principles, values ​​or norms for 27 days? Look, I ask with all my sincerity, even though our sects and origins are different, isn’t the bloodshed all over our geography ours?

WE CANNOT STAND BY BYSTANDING: Everyone needs to be sure that Türkiye will not discriminate between its brothers and neighbors and that it will not remain a spectator to the suffering of its brothers. As Türkiye and the Turkish nation, we do not leave the people we consider friends and brothers in good times alone in bad times. I have to emphasize again and again that we never find it right to bring up the discussions of a thousand years ago, to reopen the old books, and to pursue agendas that will serve discord rather than unity, especially when bloodshed is raging in our region.

WE REFUSE TO DISCUSS: We are extremely careful about psychological operations carried out through social media platforms. We reject any action or discussion that will deepen the resentments between brotherly peoples, grow the hostility, and provide logistical support to Zionism’s ‘divide, divide and rule’ plans targeting our region.

OUR NATION SAYS ‘IT’S GOOD THAT THE AK PARTY IS RUNNING THE COUNTRY’

As a state, we will never surrender to the hate speech, war-mongering and conflicts that surround us. Except for the cartoon leader of the main opposition party, our beloved nation and all our brothers in the region are well aware of what Türkiye is trying to do and what it is fighting for. Türkiye is on the right track, in the right place. It follows a correct policy. Both the brotherly Iranian people, the brotherly Gulf countries and the whole world are aware of this. They speak highly of Türkiye’s attitude on every ground. Whether they vote for our party and our alliance or not, our nation praises God for having us in the wheelhouse of Türkiye in this stormy period, and they say, ‘Fortunately, the AK Party is ruling Türkiye.’ I hope we will not disappoint our nation’s trust.

THERE IS A Türkiye AS SOLID AS A ROCK

Thank God, the Turkish economy has this power, this capacity and endurance. Despite all the obstacles it has faced for 23 years, the crises and conflicts in its region that have been constant for years, and the blows it has received from many incompetent ambitions, from FETO to criminal organizations that bind municipalities to extortion and bribery, there is a reality of Türkiye that has not collapsed or faltered, on the contrary, it is solid as a rock. No one will be able to bring this Türkiye to its knees. You will see that Türkiye will be the winner. The winner will be the Turkish nation with its 86 million members. The winner will be brotherhood, there will be peace, there will be justice. We will continue to walk confidently on the path we know is right.

WE WILL NOT FALL INTO CHP’S TRAP

We will not fall into the traps that CHP, which has failed to become a Turkish party, wants to pull us into. We will not listen to the war-mongering fueled by CHP actors. The connection between the mind and language of the head of the main opposition has been broken, there is no consistency in his discourses, and his political reputation has been completely destroyed. It is an example of black humor when a person who is publicly known to be under tutelage criticizes Türkiye’s upright and astute stance. We do not expect those with narrow horizons and vision to understand us anyway. If you pay attention, the CHP Chairman is not even taken into account by his own voters. First of all, our CHP citizens laugh at the criticisms he brings to foreign policy.

HUMANITY PAYS THE COST OF THE WAR

Although the war is Israel’s war, first Muslims and then all humanity pay the heavy price. The Netanyahu government is not only targeting our neighbor Iran. He is also implementing his plans to invade Lebanon step by step. Since March 2, 1100 Lebanese people have lost their lives in the attacks of the occupation forces, and 1 million 165 thousand of our brothers and sisters have been displaced from their homes. Israel does not leave Syria alone. It persistently continues its aggressive actions that violate Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

WE SHARE THE SAME DESTINY, THE SAME GEOGRAPHY

Turks, Arabs, Kurds and Persians have been living together for centuries in the most strategic region of the world. We share the same fate, the same geography. In our common geography, our pain, our troubles, our sorrows have been the same for hundreds of years. Our joy, excitement and enthusiasm became one. Like our past, hopefully our future will be one and together. After the dust cloud we are in clears up, we, as neighbors and brothers, will look at each other again. Hopefully, after the deadly roar of bombs and missiles stops, we will live together in this geography again.

According to the statement made by the AK Party, AK Party Headquarters Youth Branch Chairman Yusuf İbiş made a comprehensive presentation about the Ramadan activities of the Youth Branch Directorate at the AK Party 178th Extended Provincial Presidents Meeting, attended by the AK Party Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In the presentation, the programs carried out by the Youth Branches throughout the country and the work in the field were explained in detail.

625 THOUSAND YOUTH CAME TOGETHER IN 81 PROVINCES

Within the scope of the “5 Before Iftar” events, one of the traditional programs of the Youth Branches, 1 million 175 thousand iftar meals were delivered to citizens at 7 thousand different points in the busy points of the cities and at traffic lights. 255 thousand young people came together in meetings at 750 locations attended by AK Party deputy chairmen, ministers and members of parliament. Within the framework of the “Youth Table” program, 625 thousand young people came together at iftar and sahur tables set up at 1850 locations in 81 provinces and 922 districts.

THE SPIRIT OF UNITY AND COOPERATION WAS SHARED

With the “Iftar Time for Campus” program, more than 500 thousand students were met in organizations held in 207 universities, and the spirit of unity and solidarity of Ramadan was brought to the university environment. Ramadan streets established on university campuses have become social areas where young people come together after iftar.