Traditional Turkish Poetry recitation contest held in Romania
The Yunus Emre Institute (YEE) organized the 11th Traditional Turkish Poetry Recitation Contest in Constanța as part of its “Tercihim Türkçe” (Turkish Is My Choice) project in Romania.
Held in cooperation with the Constanța County School Inspectorate, this year’s competition was themed “family”, in line with the declaration of 2025 as the “Year of Family.” The event was attended by Türkiye’s Consul General in Constanța Derya Dingiltepe, Constanța Deputy Governor Şenol Ali, YEE Romania Coordinator Mustafa Yıldız, as well as Turkologists, writers, teachers, and students from various schools.
Consul General Dingiltepe highlighted the importance of the poems focusing on family values and emphasized that such events help preserve and promote the richness of the Turkish language and culture.
YEE Coordinator Yıldız underscored both the cultural and educational significance of the contest, noting:
"We selected poems from distinguished names in our literature. This was also an opportunity to introduce our poets. Nearly 100 students—including Romanian children, our kinsmen, and children of Turkish citizens living in Romania—qualified to receive awards in the final round."
Around 100 students from Constanța and nearby regions participated in the competition, reciting works such as Arif Nihat Asya’s “Aile”, Cahit Zarifoğlu’s “Evimiz”, Cahit Külebi’s “Annem”, and Ziya Osman Saba’s “Babam.” The program concluded with the presentation of gifts to the participants.
