The 2018 Iftar Program, attended by the esteemed guest Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, was held at the Mevlana Kapı Higher Education Girls' Student Dormitory.

The iftar program, organized with the participation of students who graduated between 2010-2018, was attended by members of the General Assembly and the Board of Directors, guests from the business world, foundation employees, and invitees.

Dr. Fatmanur Altun, the Chair of the Board of Directors, stated in his speech that TÜRGEV aims to be a nurturing home for young people, saying, "TÜRGEV is also an international organization that operates at every stage of education. We support our students by creating an atmosphere where they can develop themselves, make decisions, and implement them. TÜRGEV is a tree that grows with Turkey and flourishes alongside it."

Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, who attended the iftar program as an honored guest, expressed her great pleasure in meeting with young people at the crossroads of paths leading to the future, stating that some of the young people would graduate and embark on a new life, while others would continue their journey of knowledge.

Erdoğan emphasized that this journey is a beautiful one, saying, "Our Prophet says, 'The scholars on earth are like the stars in the sky.' Inshallah, you will also become bright stars that illuminate humanity at the end of this path. I know that this place is not just an iftar table, but also a meeting of talents. Each of you is a different gem. The earlier you recognize the gem within you and the more carefully you work on it, the more fruitful your life will be. Be aware of your abilities and please know your worth without falling into vanity. The God who created this vast universe has deemed you worthy of life and made you the vicegerent of the earth. Can a being that He has valued be insignificant?"

"The essence is wise knowledge."

Erdoğan conveyed that many gems are placed within a person and that they need to be discovered and processed, continuing her words:

"Yunus Emre says, 'Knowledge is to know knowledge, knowledge is to know yourself. If you do not know yourself, this is much reading.' Dear young people, every piece of knowledge you acquire is related to another. You can be a social scientist or a natural scientist. You may be interested in mathematics, music, psychology, or theology. However, none of them are independent of each other. Recognizing this connection between sciences and looking at it as a whole will lead you to wisdom. Just like in our ancient tradition of knowledge, the essence is wise knowledge. Otherwise, it is just a burden of information. Knowledge is not only obtained at a desk. It is about having knowledge that is supported by experience and has practical applicability. Fortunately, you are in a place of knowledge that will introduce you to wise knowledge. I see TÜRGEV dormitories this way. Beyond being a place of accommodation, I see them as experience centers that will add a different dimension to your educational life. You are getting to know each other and connecting by coming from all over Turkey. These opportunities and times are very valuable. God gives you 24-carat gold every day. You can spend that gold like loose change, or you can add value to it. Just as you control your budget, control your time in the same way. Bless it."

"The truth that the world is bigger than 5 has emerged."

Erdoğan emphasized the importance of young girls being brave, self-confident, and determined, as well as being gentle, compassionate, and caring, stating that all of these are a matter of balance, and she wholeheartedly believes that young people establish this balance in the best way and serve as role models for society.

Erdoğan noted that people who have harmonious attitudes, behaviors, movements, and human relationships are admired, stating, "This admiration stems from the balance of all these qualities. A heart that thinks is the center of that balance. May God make you people who make decisions with both mind and heart, who always carry the honor of being human. We are going through very interesting times. I am sure that 20 years from now, the world we live in will be completely different. The discussions about artificial intelligence are signaling a different future for us. It is said that many of today's professions will disappear in the future. However, there is one thing that will never change and whose value will never diminish; being human. Bringing conscience, compassion, and justice into life. For example, do you know what emerges when you combine international relations with conscience and justice? The truth that the world is bigger than 5 has emerged."

"You are a hope for Turkey."

Erdoğan stated that young people will be the voice of truths and will build the future with knowledge and human qualities, continuing her words:

"You are a hope for Turkey. We have come to this point by struggling to exist with our identity under difficult conditions. But from now on, we will entrust everything to you young people, who are growing up with better opportunities and more awareness. Until we hand over the flag to you, we need to strengthen the struggle line we have been a part of for 16 years. You should also join this mobilization for your own future and shoulder our burden. Let’s work together for the strengthening of our country and the elevation of our nation. Each of us has a responsibility as individuals. Let our efforts as civil society, academia, bureaucracy, and the business world flow into the same river and create waterfalls. We trust the youth on the road to 2023 Turkey. We expect you to use your energy in the rise of this country. May these wishes and hopes be a prayer at this blessed iftar time, inshallah. May God free our souls from the captivity of our desires through the worship of fasting, which is a means of purification. Likewise, may He protect our country from evil eyes. May He grant us peace and order."

At the iftar program, products from various art branches made by students attending the handicrafts workshops of the Şırnak Silopi Secondary Education Girls' Student Dormitory throughout the year were exhibited. The exhibition was well received by visitors, and the fact that the exhibition held in Şırnak was brought together with students in Istanbul pleased both the students and the guests.

Additionally, the 5n1Kudus.com website, prepared by TÜRGEV Platform students with the aim of bringing the values of Jerusalem to the universal level, evaluating its strategic importance with the essence of the region, keeping its current developments on the world agenda, and subjecting its history to an objective reading, was introduced to visitors. Atike Nuveyba Akıncı, one of the editors of 5n1Kudus.com, stated, "We have adopted Jerusalem as a cornerstone and we wanted to announce this to the public by opening doors to different perspectives in society through a social platform."

Dr. Fatmanur Altun, the Chair of the Board of Directors, presented a portrait of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made by Şırnak students using the filigree technique to Mrs. Emine Erdoğan.

At the end of the iftar program, Mrs. Emine Erdoğan took a commemorative photo with the graduating students.