Turkish Olympiads – A Blessing from God

Nearly 3 million people attended the Cultural Festival held on May 24-26 in the Aegean city of İzmir. (Photo: Today's Zaman, Mehmet Yaman)
Nearly 3 million people attended the Cultural Festival held on May 24-26 in the Aegean city of İzmir. (Photo: Today's Zaman, Mehmet Yaman)


Date posted: June 24, 2013

DR. ALI BAYRAM

We had no idea in our world, what it was like abroad. All we used to know was our village, town or our province at best. The saying “Destination Antep, food molasses!” fittingly portrays our case, indeed.

It was in 1990s. We were on our way to visit Fethullah Gulen Hodja Efendi [a title used for Mr. Gulen by his sympathizers, meaning esteemed teacher] in Izmir. When we arrived at his place we saw him with some friends around. He gathered us in a small hall and said: “Listen my friends. Let us embrace the Turkic countries newly liberated from Russian rule and stand by them through education. If we don’t, others will do and new troubles will emerge. Then we’ll never be able to go there again. So, we should hurry. Send one friend to such and such capitals and get them discover job opportunities for tradesmen and back educational initiatives as much as they can.” So, from then on, while some were leaving for these places, one by one, and new volunteers were signing up after each departure, demands were voiced for new destinations, on the other hand.

In one of his sermons, Gulen said, “My friends, please hurry and do not slack off. God assigned acceptance for this nation on earth. You will find acceptance wherever you go.”

So, those friends tasked to discover schooling opportunities made their way into the capital cities Gulen named. Today, in amazement, we are witnessing the point these initiatives, which initially started with only few locations namely Baku, Tashkent, Almaty, Samarkand, Ashgabat and Bishkek, have reached in 20 years.

In early years, our friends were frequently bringing the people they made acquaintance with from these countries to Turkey. Even back then, Turkey could progress its schooling activities, which, although low in numbers, were enjoying quite exemplary conditions. These initiatives would be the first encounter and merging of Turkish people with Russians and Central Asians after the Cold War. Our friends, under Gulen’s guidance, thus made strong contacts with both the locals and officials in a very short period of time.

From then on, the schools were launched and a series of visits to Turkey started, by inspiring confidence and finding acceptance. Businessmen and tradesmen one after another departed to settle in those countries, and ultimately formed bridges of friendship.

From the very first day, as if he foresaw today, Gulen would motivate those feeling overwhelmed and weary of this challenging mission and say: “The torch ignited today is going to light up the entire world in the very near future.” In response to his words, each individual would double his/her efforts and sponsors would increase their funds several fold thinking that their contributions didn’t cover the work done.

And today, what a wonderful scene it is that thousands of students from 140 countries are coming to Turkey and sharing the same language and culture, which is achieved in such a short period of time. That even the largest stadiums overflow with people indicates how deeply the phenomenon is adopted in the consciences. Both people’s appreciation of the Turkish Olympiads and their race in sponsorship are great blessings from God.

It was an unforgettable moment when the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent his regards to their countries via these volunteers of world peace. No matter how exhausted he had been feeling for days and after a 3-hour speech to millions earlier the same day, he attended the event without overlooking it and expressed his appreciation of these activities in admiration.

To be able to applaud even better and more successful services in the future will win our nation a new voice and breath. A thousand thanks to those involved, organizers and our warm-hearted and selfless people nationwide who contributed to all these.

Source: [in Turkish] HaberAktuel, 17 June, 2013. English translation is retrieved from HizmetMovement.Com


Related News

1-year-old baby with cancer held in Mardin prison with mother: former HDP deputy

Avşin Usanmaz, a one-year-old baby with brain cancer, has been held in a prison in Mardin province with his imprisoned mother.

Erdogan: A Classic Case Of How Power Corrupts

To consolidate his reign, Turkey’s president Mr. Erdogan intimidated his political opponents, emasculated the military, silenced the press, and enfeebled the judiciary; most recently, he pressed the parliament to amend the constitution to grant him essentially absolute powers.

GYV rejects claims that Hizmet movement dominates Turkey’s judiciary

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) has strongly criticized and denied news reports suggesting that the Hizmet movement, which is inspired by well-respected Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, dominates the judiciary and bureaucratic positions within the Turkish state, calling the claims groundless. The claims appeared at a time when prosecutors summed up their case in […]

Nigeria: Hizmet Movement not terrorists

The Concerned African Youth against Tyranny (CAYAT) has denied report that the Fethullah Gulen Movement and Hizmet Movement are terrorist groups. National Coordinator of the organisation, Mr. Musa Shaba said yesterday in Abuja that contrary to claims by the Turkish government the movement has become the face of Turkey in Nigeria and Africa.

Conflict between Gülen Movement and Turkey’s ruling AKP reflected in business world

TÜSİAD, just like the [Hizmet] community’s TUSKON, has voiced the concern of possible fouls likely to be committed against the judiciary. As a matter of fact, these concerns have proved right for now with the executive seizing the judiciary.

Int’l language festival students given high-level welcome in Australia

Some 60 students from 19 countries who came to Australia as part of the 13th International Language and Culture Festival have received an enthusiastic welcome by senior Australian officials.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Calgary man accused of helping plot Turkish coup

Nigerian vice-ambassador demands more Turkish schools in his country

Education for Sustainable Development

A private Turkish university opens in northern Iraq

Grondahl: Turkish community strong in wake of threats from back home

Major reshuffle in Turkish judiciary amid graft probe row

Afghan education minister pledges to open more Turkish schools

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News