Sometimes It’s Not the Map, But the Conscience That Shows the Way. Palestine’s Honorable Resistance is Also Our Moral Compass.
09 May 2025
The Turkey Youth and Education Service Foundation (TÜRGEV) has stood out with its meaningful support for the international project “Compass: Humanity’s Common Direction,” which aims to raise youth awareness in the fields of cultural diplomacy and human rights.
Coordinated by Ibn Haldun University founded by TÜRGEV and carried out in partnership with Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, the project is funded under the European Union Erasmus+ Program. It was introduced to the public at a special launch event held in Istanbul on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Attendees included Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Assoc. Prof. Safa Koçoğlu, Palestine’s Ambassador to Ankara Dr. Faed Mustafa, academics, diplomatic representatives, and many university students.
The project aims to engage selected young people from Türkiye and Palestine in a mutual learning process through cultural and academic programs to be held in Istanbul and Jerusalem, focusing on themes such as cultural heritage, human rights, international law, and urban awareness.
One of the most notable moments of the event was the opening speech by TÜRGEV Chairwoman Attorney Hatice Akıncı Yılmaz, who underlined the moral responsibilities facing humanity despite the technological possibilities of our age. She emphasized the importance of cultural diplomacy and youth-centered cooperation:
“We live in an era where borders are blurred, knowledge circulates rapidly, and intercultural contact is intense—a truly global age. Yet, this is also a period marked by unprecedented suffering and genocides in human history. Bearing witness to these tragedies compels every person with human dignity to take a meaningful stance for Gaza and Palestine.”
Yılmaz highlighted that Palestine is the only country where about 75% of its population lives in diaspora, making cultural diplomacy not merely a tool but a universal humanitarian duty:
“Today, we are here for a project that embodies this vision: Compass: Humanity’s Common Direction. It brings together Turkish and Palestinian students within the framework of cultural diplomacy and human rights awareness. We aim to address complex issues such as the protection of cultural heritage, religious freedoms, and the basic principles of international law from the perspective of youth. Through seminars, workshops, and field research in Istanbul and Jerusalem, we will foster interdisciplinary cooperation.”
Speaking about the symbolic meaning of the term Compass in the project’s title, Yılmaz stated that it represents not only a navigational tool but also a moral and spiritual roadmap:
“Human beings are inherently in search of direction to survive. For Muslims, what gives life meaning and value is the guidance of the Qur’an—a spiritual compass that shapes our existence. The first mark on this compass is Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first qibla of Muslims. In this regard, preserving Jerusalem’s international legal status is not only a political necessity but also an obligation for safeguarding cultural heritage, religious freedoms, and fundamental human rights.”
Yılmaz reaffirmed TÜRGEV’s firm and principled support for Palestine’s just cause, expressing her belief that this educational program would resonate globally and leave a lasting mark on humanity’s shared memory as a call for social responsibility.
During the event, Project Coordinator Ömer Faruk Yıldırım gave a detailed presentation on the project’s scope, objectives, and timeline. Participants were informed through visual materials about the academic activities and fieldwork planned between Istanbul and Jerusalem.
Research Assistant Kaan Şentürk, one of the project leads, presented “The Role of Cultural Diplomacy and Media,” emphasizing the symbolic significance of Istanbul and Jerusalem in cultural memory and the diplomatic influence media can create.
As one of the first Erasmus+ Youth Mobility projects developed specifically for Jerusalem, “Compass: Humanity’s Common Direction” seeks to cultivate not only academically capable youth but also individuals who protect cultural heritage, respect universal law, and embrace a vision grounded in justice.
