YTB Expands Reach to Turkey's Diaspora through Increased Outreach Initiatives
Turkey Welcomes Home its Diaspora with Open Arms
The Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) is taking significant strides to support and engage Turks living abroad, focusing on border support, education, cultural ties, and scholarship programs.
At border points like the Kapıkule Border Gate, YTB collaborates with Turkish ministries to ensure safe, fast, and smooth crossing experiences for Turks returning to Turkey. Hospitality and assistance are provided to ease challenging journeys [1].
In education, YTB offers extensive scholarship programs known as YTB International Scholarships. These scholarships provide full funding for tuition, accommodation, health insurance, and living stipends (ranging approximately from $120 to $250 per month depending on the education level) for students mainly from Turkish diaspora communities and developing countries. Scholarships cover undergraduate to doctoral studies at Turkish universities [2]. These programs aim to expand career prospects and strengthen Turkey’s global relations through education.
YTB also boosts cultural ties by organizing joint projects to promote the Turkish language and heritage, thematic youth camps, youth movement initiatives, and cultural integration activities in cooperation with other Turkish institutions. They run awareness campaigns to combat racism and protect the rights of Turks abroad [1,3].
Moreover, YTB actively fosters international cooperation in education, science, and youth policy with countries having Turkic populations, exemplified by discussions with Turkmenistan to deepen bilateral educational collaborations [4].
Thousands of Turks are entering Turkey at Kapıkule Border Gate for their annual holidays. Ongoing collaboration with citizens abroad across all fields is pledged by YTB President Abdulhadi Turus. He stated that these initiatives reflect Turkey’s commitment to serving its citizens worldwide [5].
"Diaspora development aligns directly with Turkey's growth," according to YTB President Abdulhadi Turus. Since 1961, the sense of belonging to the homeland has increased rather than diminished, he added [6].
In conclusion, YTB’s initiatives comprehensively support Turks abroad by facilitating border crossings, providing wide-ranging scholarships and educational support, nurturing cultural connections through language and youth programs, and engaging in international cooperation to strengthen diaspora relations.
[1] Kapıkule Border Gate welcomes thousands of Turks for annual holidays. (2022). Anadolu Agency. Retrieved from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/kapikule-border-gate-welcomes-thousands-of-turks-for-annual-holidays/2324881
[2] YTB International Scholarships. (n.d.). Turkish Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities. Retrieved from https://www.ytb.gov.tr/en/scholarship
[3] YTB launches awareness campaign to combat racism in Europe. (2021). Anadolu Agency. Retrieved from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/ytb-launches-awareness-campaign-to-combat-racism-in-europe/2099206
[4] Turkey and Turkmenistan to deepen educational collaborations. (2021). Anadolu Agency. Retrieved from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-and-turkmenistan-to-deepen-educational-collaborations/2103129
[5] YTB President: Turkey's commitment to serving its citizens worldwide. (2021). Anadolu Agency. Retrieved from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/ytb-president-turkeys-commitment-to-serving-its-citizens-worldwide/2103132
[6] YTB President: Sense of belonging to the homeland has increased rather than diminished since 1961. (2021). Anadolu Agency. Retrieved from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/ytb-president-sense-of-belonging-to-the-homeland-has-increased-rather-than-diminished-since-1961/2103131
YTB's educational initiatives not only extend to Turkish diaspora communities but also to students from developing countries, as they offer extensive scholarship programs to finance undergraduate to doctoral studies at Turkish universities.
Engaging with countries having Turkic populations, YTB actively fosters international cooperation in education, science, and youth policy, exemplified by discussions with Turkmenistan to deepen bilateral educational collaborations.
In addition to cultural ties within Europe, YTB runs awareness campaigns to combat racism and protect the rights of Turks abroad, showing a commitment to addressing global issues and enhancing the general-news landscape.
