“YTB one world literature awards” presented in Bursa
The Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) held the “One World Literature Awards” ceremony in Bursa, celebrating young literary talents from across the globe who write in Turkish.
The event took place at the Bayezid Pasha Madrasa Culture and Arts Center, bringing together young writers living abroad, international students, and literature enthusiasts.
105 Young Writers from 37 Countries Gather in Bursa
Speaking to the press before the ceremony, YTB President Abdülhadi Turus said that this year’s event united 105 young authors from 37 countries, using Bursa’s rich cultural backdrop as both inspiration and setting.
Turus also announced that, in celebration of the 700th anniversary of the conquest of Bursa, the 4th International Young Writers’ Meeting would be held in the city from October 24–30, 2025.
“We are grateful to the Governorship, Yıldırım Municipality, and Uludağ University for their support,” Turus said. “We will continue to carry out our international cultural projects in Bursa’s historical venues and nurture young writers from all around the world who come together through the Turkish language.”
Award-Winning Young Writers
In the short story category, Bennu Pacolari, a 19-year-old writer from Kosovo, received first prize. She expressed her joy, saying that speaking Turkish and being in Türkiye was “a wonderful experience.”
Another award recipient, Aidana Myrzabay from Kazakhstan, is pursuing her PhD in Teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language at Hacettepe University in Ankara.
“YTB not only provides educational opportunities but also supports young people in their writing journeys,” Myrzabay said. “Winning in the short story category made me very happy. As a Turkish language educator, I aim to contribute to teaching Turkish in Kazakhstan and improve myself in this field.”
“Turkish Is Not Just a Language of Communication — It Is a Language of Belonging and Civilization”
In his address during the ceremony, President Turus emphasized the significance of Turkish and literature as core elements of YTB’s mission.
“Turkish is not merely a means of communication; it is a language of belonging, spirit, and civilization,” he said. “Our history, thought, faith, and conscience live through its words.”
Turus described the Turkish diaspora, kin communities, and international students as “carriers of this civilizational language across diverse geographies.”
“Our goal is to deepen their connection with Türkiye and Turkish culture, and to make Turkish an influential language in the global fields of culture, art, and thought,” he added.
He noted that YTB publishes the magazines Telve, Bağlar, and Her Boydan as tangible outcomes of these efforts, providing platforms for young writers who think, dream, and write in Turkish.
Promoting Turkish Literary Talent Worldwide
Explaining that the YTB One World Literature Awards aim to discover and support young, talented writers among the Turkish diaspora, related communities, and international students, Turus said the competition features four categories — Best Work, Essay, Short Story, and Poetry.
“This competition symbolizes a shared cultural gathering of young people who think and create in Turkish, regardless of where they come from,” Turus stated. “Each of them finds a common spirit in the sound of Turkish.”
The event also featured readings by young contributors to Telve, Bağlar, and Her Boydan magazines.
AK Party Bursa MPs Osman Mesten and Emine Yavuz Gözgeç also addressed the audience before the ceremony concluded with the presentation of awards to the winning writers.
