― 22 мая 2025 г.
Artists of TURKSOY met with thousands of children at the 12th Children's Festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The 12th Children's Festival, held in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on May 22nd, 2025, served as a meaningful gathering builing bridges of friendship between the Balkans and the Turkic World. Organised by the Yunus Emre Institute within the framework of its project entitled ‘My Choice is Turkish’, the festival took place at the Zenica Arena which gathered approximately 6,000 children learning Turkish and hundreds of guests.
The event was attended by Mr. Ömer Faruk Yelkenci, the Deputy Minister of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye, H. E. Mr. Emin Akseki, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Sarajevo, Mr. Nezir Pivić, the Prime Minister of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Aliy, the President of the Yunus Emre Institute; Mr. Sayit Yusuf, the Deputy Secretary-General of TURKSOY and representatives of Turkish institutions operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Artists from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey, who are members of TÜRKSOY, performed Kazakh folk dances, a Caucasian Lezginka performance, a solo tar recital, and traditional melodies on stage, creating unforgettable moments for the audience.
‘We love you like our own children’
With the speech he delivered at the event, the Ambassador of Türkiye to Sarajevo H. E. Mr. Emin Akseki conquered the hearts of the audience, saying: ‘You children are the greatest guarantee of the brotherhood that has existed on this land for centuries. We love you like our own children. Learning Turkish is not just about learning a language; it is about learning a history of the heart, a shared destiny, and a cultural heritage.’
Sayit Yusuf: Long live Bosnia, may Turkey live forever, long live TURKSOY
Sayit Yusuf, the Deputy General Secretary of TURKSOY, who participated in the 12th Children's Festival held in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, made the following statements to the press after the event: ‘This is not Istanbul, this is Zenica. This meaningful event, which TÜRKSOY also contributed to and which is aimed at children learning Turkish in Bosnia through the Yunus Emre Institute, is not just a language festival; it is also a reflection of our shared memory, culture and brotherhood.’
Mr. Yusuf described the scene, where thousands of children filled the hall waving Turkish and Bosnian flags, with the following words: ‘Long live Bosnia, may Türkiye live forever, long live TURKSOY. This scene shows how our heartland is alive and how it carries hope into the future. Congratulations to the Yunus Emre Institute.’
Mr. Yusuf emphasised TURKSOY's mission to bring the Turkic World together in the Balkans through art, culture, and shared values, stating that such events leave a lasting impression not only on stage but also in the hearts of the audience.
Every child learning Turkish is an ambassador of the heart
Abdurrahman Aliy, President of the Yunus Emre Institute, delivered the following message in his speech: ‘This project does not just teach a language; it builds bridges between hearts. Every child learning Turkish is an ambassador of the heart between Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today, our children did not just sing; they also spoke history and shouted friendship.’
One Language, A Thousand Hearts
This meaningful gathering in Zenica once again demonstrated that learning a language is not limited to grammar; it carries the values, memories, and sense of belonging that languages embody, thereby passing on a nation's cultural codes to new generations.
