The memory of a nation is nourished by the experiences of the past; it survives with the will to carry that heritage into the future. This memory gains meaning as a trust passed down between generations and finds continuity in a youth that will comprehend, protect, and carry it forward.

Mehmet Akif Ersoy is the name of a high conscience that carries this trust on its shoulders. He has taken on responsibility towards his nation not only with his pen but also with his life; he has turned his faith, morality, and love for the homeland into a stance. Remembering Akif requires a renewed understanding of the ideas, moral values, and national heritage he represents. In this respect, Akif maintains his place as an exceptional personality deserving of being read anew and contemplated in every era.

With this sense of responsibility, Türkiye Gençlik ve Eğitime Hizmet Vakfı (TÜRGEV) is bringing the thought world, moral stance, and valuable legacy left to the youth by our national poet to the forefront on the occasion of the Mehmet Akif Ersoy Commemoration Week, held from December 20 to 27. The content shared during this process is addressed within a holistic educational approach that aims to connect the youth with their historical and cultural roots; encouraging them to think, understand, and take responsibility.

An Educational Understanding Addressing Asım’s Generation

The "Asım’s Generation" shaped in the works of Mehmet Akif Ersoy expresses a youth ideal defined by diligence, a sense of responsibility, love for the homeland, and moral stance. This ideal represents a consciousness of responsibility that is not limited to a specific period but resonates anew in every age and signifies continuity.

We believe that youth should be raised with values, morality, and a sense of responsibility. The educational activities and youth initiatives carried out within TÜRGEV are shaped on the value ground indicated by Mehmet Akif Ersoy. Throughout the Commemoration Week, this approach is brought to life through our field activities.

In this context, reading circles, value-oriented discussions, Safahat readings, and short video content addressing the life and thought world of Mehmet Akif Ersoy are conducted in student dormitories and youth centers, aiming for young people to directly engage with this heritage. The interaction area is further expanded through content shared via digital platforms.

Reunderstanding Mehmet Akif Ersoy and the Memory of Youth

Remembering Mehmet Akif Ersoy is not just a retrospective recollection; it serves as a renewal of consciousness that makes sense of today and guides the future. The legacy left by Akif opens a field of values that every generation must confront anew and take responsibility for. Therefore, all the works prepared within the scope of the Commemoration Week are designed with an understanding that invites youth to think, question, and take responsibility.

One of the strongest expressions Akif left to the youth is
the phrase "May God never let this nation write another Independence March," which is a powerful call to responsibility reminding us that the independence paid for must be preserved, beyond being a historical wish. We believe that this awareness plays a decisive role in the character building of the youth who will have a say in the future of our country.

As TÜRGEV, we are resolutely continuing our efforts to raise a youth that is at peace with national and spiritual values, aware of its responsibility to society, and is thinking and producing. Keeping Mehmet Akif Ersoy's legacy alive in the memory of the youth is seen as a natural and indispensable part of this responsibility.