Forging Heartfelt Connections with Young People Around the Globe
Yunus Emre Institue, Türkiye’s leading cultural diplomacy institution, helps young people around the world form lasting connections with Turkish culture through its accelerated international projects.
The Institute continues to implement the “My Preference is Turkish” Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, offering a variety of activities designed to help young people build strong connections with Türkiye and Turkish culture.
Heartfelt Bridges: Connecting Bosnia and Herzegovina with Türkiye
Through the “Sister School Project” implemented as part of the “My Preference is Turkish” Project, the Institute facilitates exchanges where young people learning Turkish in Bosnia and Herzegovina are sent to Türkiye, and Turkish youth are sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Such hospitality can only be shown by our brotherly Turkish nation”
Amela Avdic, Principal of Edhem Mulabdic Primary School in Sarajevo, remarks, “Our school visits its sister school in İstanbul every year. We look forward to the sister school visits and prepare for them each year. Our hosts, the Turks, always host us in an unforgettable way. They prepare special programs for us and organize trips to the most beautiful places in İstanbul. Our students form lifelong friendships with their Turkish counterparts. Such hospitality can only be shown by our brotherly Turkish nation.”
“I would like to live and study in Türkiye”
Emina Kurtanovic, who visited İstanbul through the project, says, “I study at the Edhem Mulabdic Secondary School in Sarajevo. I will soon be starting 9th grade. My favorite subject is Turkish. We visit Türkiye every year as part of the project. The last time we went to İstanbul was in October 2023. Each day, we explored different historical and tourist sites in İstanbul. Türkiye is home to numerous historical sites. I’m thrilled to experience these cultural treasures firsthand. I would like to live and study in Türkiye.”
“If I ever decide to live outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Türkiye will be my choice”
Adna Karic, a student from Bosnia and Herzegovina who visited İstanbul, notes, “We explored many places in İstanbul, including the Hagia Sophia Mosque, Maiden’s Tower, Topkapı Palace, and Dolmabahçe Palace. Everything is so beautiful that I can’t even pick a favorite place. Turkish people are so friendly that I never felt like a foreigner in İstanbul. If I ever decide to live outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Türkiye will be my choice.”
“Türkiye has an incredibly rich culture”
Another student from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nejla Kurtanovic, comments, “I love Istanbul very much. The historical places in İstanbul are amazing. Türkiye has an incredibly rich culture. Turkish cuisine is absolutely delicious. I would like to live and study in Türkiye.”
“They experience cultural values firsthand and return to their home countries with unforgettable memories”
Mehmet Akif Yaman, Coordinator of Yunus Emre Institute in Bosnia and Herzegovina, states, “In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we first launched the ‘My Preference is Turkish’ Project, we are organizing numerous cultural projects and activities to help children and young people connect with Türkiye and its culture. One of these projects is the ‘Sister School Project’. As part of the project, our students traveling from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Türkiye, and vice versa, experience cultural values firsthand and return to their home countries with unforgettable memories.”
My Preference is Turkish Project
As part of the My Preference is Turkish Project, numerous activities are organized to support the professional development of educators teaching Turkish as a foreign language in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These activities include in-house training meetings as well as cultural and social events for students.
