The event started with a moment of silence for paying tribute to the fallen soldiers of Turkey and Hungary in World War I. Afterwards, the Director of Hungarian Cultural Center in Istanbul Gabor Fodor and the principal of Deak Ferenc High School Livia Fencz of the high addressed the participants respectively.
Following the speeches, “In the flower of their youth” movie about the fallen students & teachers of the Turkish schools during the wars was screened with English subtitles. The cast of the movie is comprised of the students and teachers of Kabatas High School.Then the music teacher of our school Ali Salih Köse and the students Selin Ünal, Deniz Chousein and Elif Acar performed five songs as follows;
1. “Çanakkale içinde vurdular beni” song was sung in remembrance of the fallen students, teachers and soldiers of Turkey at the Battle of Gallipoli, Battle of Galicia and the other battles of World War I
2. “You are not alone” and “Heal the world” songs of Michael Jackson were sung in memory of the fallen soldiers & people of Hungary and Turkey during the Battle of Galicia & the other battles of World War I.
3. “Bir başkadır benim memleketim” song was sung for a better and more peaceful world.
4. “Tavaszi szel” song was sung in memory of the soldiers & people of Hungary who lost their lives in World War I.
On the occasion of the event, tree donation made in memory of the fallen soldiers of Hungary & Turkey was presented to the Director of Hungarian Cultural Center in Istanbul Gabor Fodor
The fallen heroic soldiers of Hungary and Turkey in World War I will always remembered with respect.
Following the ceremony, the students & teachers of both schools enjoyed the beauties of İstanbul by taking a Bosphorous tour and then Mayor of Pendik Ahmet Cin hosted us for dinner. Peter Bernat, the Chief of Staff of the Municipality of Kispest, attended all the events with us between April 15 - 19.
Rakoczi Museum in Tekirdağ and some historic parts of Çanakkale were visited by the group on April 16. The house where Hungarian Prince Francis II Rakoczi lived after taking shelter in the Ottoman Empire in Tekirdağ province has been protected as a symbol of Ottoman confidence and hospitality. The leader of the Hungarian revolt against Austria, which occupied Hungary, Francis II Rakoczi failed in his attempt, as the expected help did not come. Rakoczi, who had to leave his country because of his failure, first lived in Poland and then moved to France. The leader stayed in his house in Tekirdağ from 1735 until his death. The house, which was turned into a museum, is visited by many Hungarians and Turks.
The Gelibolu Peninsula Historical National Park was visited by the group for honouring the fallen soldiers of Hungary & Turkey who fought alongside in World War I on April 17. The Gelibolu Peninsula Historical National Park, with a total area of
This area is known for the war cemeteries and memorials for the Turkish and foreign soldiers who lost their lives during the Canakkale Sea and shore battles in 1915. There are sunken ships, trenches, castles, towers and hundreds of remains of the war. In total, there are graves and memorials of tens of thousands of Turkish soldiers and foreign soldiers from Australia, New Zealand, England, France, Canada and other nations. Thousands of people visit the war cemeteries every year, and it is one of the most famous sites in Turkey.
The entire area has been officially registered as a historical site area, and has enormous cultural importance. Within the park, there are also many archaeological sites and monuments, some of which date back to 4000 BC. Between the ancient sites and monuments, there are beaches, bays, an interesting variety of plant life, a salt lake and geological and geomorphologic structures. The thickly wooded hills and valleys of the area are thought to have played an important role on the outcome of the war. The Vice-Chairman of the Gallipoli Historic Site and the Vice-Governor of Çanakkale Celil Ateşoğlu received the group on the same day.
President of the Republic of Turkey Honourable Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received the students & teachers of both schools at the Presidential Complex on April 18. Prior to the meeting with the President, Hasan Doğan, Chief of Cabinet to the President, hosted the group for lunch. In the course of the visit to the Presidential Palace, the group held talks with the Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Youth and Sports Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu and the Director of Administrative Affairs of the Presidency Metin Kıratlı as well. Ambassador of Hungary to Turkey Victor Matis also received the group at the residential complex of the embassy. The students & teachers of both schools paid their respects to the founder of the Republic of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Atatürk by visiting Anıtkabir (Atatürk’s Mausoleum) at the end of the day.
NOTE: As the same songs performed at Yunus Emre Institute on March 21, 2019 in memory of the fallen soldiers& people of both nations were sung at the aforementioned event, only the video clip of 'Tavaszi Szel' song is available on the news. You may watch the other songs by clicking on the news titled “Commemorative event for the fallen soldiers of Hungary & Turkey in World War I”
The members of the Project had difficulties in finding sponsors for the trips to Czechia, Hungary and Poland in remembrance of the fallen soldiers of these countries and Turkey in World War I.
President of the Republic of Turkey Honourable Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a visit to our school along with the Minister of Education Honourable Ziya Selçuk for marking the start of the new school year on September 18, 2018. The President delivered a speech at the ceremony held at our school as well.
Our students requested the support of the President for the trips to Czechia, Hungary and Poland in memory of the fallen soldiers of the mentioned countries in World War I. The President granted the request of our students and in accordance with the verbal order of the President, Turkish Airlines and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) became the official sponsors of our initiative.
April 12 - 19, 2019
