Emine Erdoğan Emphasizes the Importance of Family for a Peaceful World

Emine Erdoğan Emphasizes the Importance of Family for a Peaceful World

Emine Erdoğan, wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, highlighted the significance of family as a guarantee for a strong future and a world filled with peace and tranquility. During a program organized at the National Library Conference Hall in the Presidential Complex on the occasion of June 30th Foster Family Day, she said, “A more livable and prosperous future can be built by strengthened generations through a family centered on love and compassion.”

Attending the event were Emine Erdoğan, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, and the “Volunteers of Heart,” comprising provincial governor spouses and foster families from 81 provinces. The program, hosted by artist Alişan, emphasized the significance of the Foster Family service, which was established 12 years ago as part of the Volunteers of Heart Project aimed at improving the conditions of children under state protection.

Emine Erdoğan pointed out that the conditions for children under protection were inadequate in the 2000s. “With our Ministry of Family and Social Services, and by evaluating good examples from around the world, we transitioned our children from dormitory-type orphanages to homes centered around love. We strengthened the foster family system with the belief that the most peaceful and secure environment for a child is a family,” she stated. The number of children under foster family care has risen from 515 in 2002 to 10,256 today.

Emine Erdoğan added that approximately 1,124 of these children have special needs and that the capacity for foster families has been increasing by about 12% annually. She also noted the significant role of provincial governor spouses, described as “Volunteers of Heart,” in this benevolent movement and congratulated Kayseri, Kahramanmaraş, and Osmaniye provinces for their high number of foster families.

More about the importance of the family institution, Emine Erdoğan stated, “Family is the guarantee of a strong future and a world full of peace and tranquility. As global corruption movements target the family institution and our children with all their means and tools, we must collectively protect this most valuable fortress of humanity even more robustly. If we do not extinguish today’s global corruption fire surrounding families and our lineage, it will soon engulf us all.”

Emine Erdoğan expressed the hope that the Volunteers of Heart Project, like the Zero Waste Project, could inspire other countries. She highlighted the significance of the recently signed protocol between the UAE and Turkey.

She also drew attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, underlining the ongoing suffering of children there due to Israeli attacks. “Today, sadly, in various parts of the world, children are living under unbearable conditions, far from a compassionate family environment. In Gaza alone, at least 17,000 children have been left unaccompanied and have lost their families.”

The program concluded with award presentations to the “Volunteers of Heart” from Kayseri, Kahramanmaraş, and Osmaniye, for their commendable foster family work. A documentary showcasing the Foster Family Project and the story of Oya Kayacık was also presented, evoking emotional moments from the attendees.

The event wrapped up with a mini concert by the TRT Mersin Children’s Choir, consisting of 8-12-year-old children under state protection, followed by family photo-taking.