The award night of the “100 Writers 100 New Works” project, launched to leave a literary legacy for the second century of our Republic, was held on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye İsmail Kahraman: “Literature keeps the spirit alive; this is not a closing but an opening for new writers.”
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “Writing is not about inspiration, it is about discipline. Young people who do not chase popular culture, who can write their own feelings and express themselves, are not the leaders of today but of the future. It is our responsibility to pave the way for these leaders.”
Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Asım Alkan: “The project is an initiative that builds not only today but also the future.”
The award ceremony of the “100 Writers 100 New Works” project, launched to leave a literary legacy for the second century of our Republic, was held on Friday, February 6, 2026.
The project was carried out with the support of the Ministry of Interior Directorate General of Civil Society Relations, under the auspices of the Istanbul Governorship, and with the scientific consultancy of Üsküdar University. It was coordinated by the Çanakkale and Thrace Education Culture Confederation and implemented with the practical support of İlim ve Fazilet Foundation Educational Institutions.
The award ceremony and closing program were held at the Üsküdar Municipality Bağlarbaşı Congress and Culture Center with strong participation. The night brought together many prominent figures from academia, literature, civil society, and the public sector.
Former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye İsmail Kahraman: “Writing is not an easy task”
Former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye İsmail Kahraman emphasized in his speech that literature is a fundamental element that makes us human, stating, “We should not be mechanical, robotic beings; we must be human with spirit and energy. Literature provides exactly that.” He expressed that literature carries a value beyond social and technical sciences and said, “Material things can be obtained in any way, but without spirit nothing is possible. One must address the soul. One should not be materialistic; literature ensures this.”
Stating that he found the project highly valuable, Kahraman said, “This is not a closing meeting but an opening. We have writer candidates who are just at the beginning of their journey. Literature keeps the spirit alive; this is not a closing but an opening for new writers. Writing is not an easy task; over time and with effort, many strong pens will emerge from among them.”
“We impoverished ourselves as we discarded our words”
Drawing attention to the decreasing richness of the Turkish vocabulary, Kahraman said that the impoverishment of the language directly affects literature. “We impoverished ourselves as we discarded our words. While developed countries use hundreds of thousands of words, we have been confined to a much narrower field. Meter, rhyme, and harmony in poetry have been pushed aside. These are not positive developments,” he said, emphasizing the need for greater effort in poetry and literature.
Kahraman also noted that positivist education had pushed spirituality into the background but stated that in recent years a recovery process has begun in this area, adding, “Today we have 209 universities and millions of students. There has been great progress, and we are moving toward better conditions.”
“Our President has declared this year the ‘Year of the Family’”
In his speech, Former Speaker İsmail Kahraman also referred to the “Year of the Family” declared by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and emphasized that protecting the family is a social necessity. Kahraman said, “Our President has declared this year the ‘Year of the Family.’ This process is planned to continue for ten years because we have serious problems within the family structure.”
Drawing attention to the decline in marriage rates and the decrease in the young population, Kahraman stated, “The rate of children born out of wedlock exceeds 70 percent in Switzerland and Ireland, and 68 percent in France. In our country, this rate is 2.8 percent. This picture shows how vital it is to protect the family structure. We must resist what we may call an illegitimate social model and preserve our structure.”
Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Asım Alkan: “The project builds not only today but also the future”
Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Asım Alkan emphasized that the project represents an extremely valuable gain for young people. Pointing out that the project steers young people away from the risky and unproductive aspects of the digital world, Alkan said, “One of the most important aspects of this initiative is that it takes our youth out of the unproductive and risky atmosphere of the digital world and offers them the opportunity to produce a work such as writing a book on a bright and meaningful path.”
Stating that the project creates the possibility for young people to enter the literary world at both national and international levels, Alkan concluded, “From this perspective, the project is an initiative that builds not only today but also the future.”
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “Bad texts are the raw material of good texts”
Speaking at the closing program of the project “100 New Works for the New Century of Our Literature,” President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the project was an important initiative that would leave a lasting mark on young people’s lives and said, “Today we are holding the closing of a very valuable project that touches the souls of our youth and may become a milestone in their life journey.”
“Writing is not inspiration, it is discipline”
Emphasizing that writing is not about inspiration but about discipline, Prof. Tarhan thanked all the academics, mentor teachers, and stakeholders who contributed to the project and said, “Such projects are like signposts in young people’s lives. They provide direction, give courage, and leave a mark.” Drawing attention to the fact that the writing process also involves making mistakes, Prof. Tarhan stated, “Bad texts are the raw material of good texts. There are two kinds of people who never make mistakes: those who have not yet been born and those who are dead. Therefore, one should not be afraid of making mistakes.”
Referring to the contributions made to the project, Prof. Tarhan underlined that cooperation between academia and civil society creates a strong impact on young people. He said, “Here, both our professors and our youth worked with great enthusiasm and effort. This synergy is one of the most important reasons for the project’s success.”
“Writing requires courage”
Comparing writing to diving, Prof. Tarhan said, “Writing requires courage. It requires asking questions, going deeper, intellectual objection, and intellectual rebellion. Only then can one reach the truth.”
Drawing attention to the influence of popular culture, Prof. Tarhan said, “Young people who do not follow popular culture, who can write their own feelings and express themselves, are not the leaders of today but of the future. It is our responsibility to pave the way for these leaders.”
Emphasizing that young people should be in search of meaning and values, Prof. Tarhan recalled the words of Ali ibn Abi Talib, “Raise your children according to the age they will live in,” and said, “We must prepare our youth according to the future they will live in. Young people who have no ideals and who pursue only pleasure and self-interest fall into the traps of global culture. However, young people who have meaning and purpose in their lives can say ‘no’ to what is wrong.”
“Read, but do not imitate”
Touching upon the importance of reading habits, Prof. Tarhan called on young people to “read extensively” and said, “Read the classics, know the past, but do not limit yourself to that. Follow the modern and contemporary works of the age as well. Read, but do not imitate.” Stating that the young people who participated in the project had taken an important step toward becoming “the writers of the future,” Prof. Tarhan concluded his speech by saying, “When I see the energy in this hall, I sincerely believe that Nobel laureates will emerge from among you.”
Project Advisor İshak Koçoğlu: “Writing requires courage”
Project Advisor and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Assembly Member İshak Koçoğlu stated that the efforts of young writers were not merely a project output but a concrete sign of confidence in the future. Koçoğlu said, “Being here today means witnessing the marks our young people, who think with their pens and take responsibility with their words, leave for the future.”
Emphasizing that throughout the process young people did not only produce works, Koçoğlu stated, “Writing requires courage; however, even greater courage is declaring and sharing what you have written. Our young people demonstrated this courage.” Highlighting the support provided by families, Koçoğlu said, “Behind these achievements stands the quiet but powerful support of our families. You believed in your children and stood by them.”
Referring to the contributions of mentor teachers and advisors, Koçoğlu said, “Our teachers taught our youth not only literature but also how to think, to criticize, and to take responsibility. These efforts will resonate in the cultural world of our country for many years.”
Koçoğlu concluded his speech with the words, “Literature is the strongest bridge built between the past and the future. Today we have young people who are placing new stones on this bridge. May your path be clear and your pen strong.”
Chairman of the İlim ve Fazilet Foundation Mahmut Ekşi: “A great success was achieved with 105 works”
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the İlim ve Fazilet Foundation Mahmut Ekşi emphasized that the project was not only a literary endeavor but also the product of an effort to raise a generation centered on national and moral values. Commemorating with mercy the citizens who lost their lives in the February 6 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Ekşi drew attention to the importance of raising young people with historical awareness, love of homeland, and a sense of responsibility.
Stating that there had been hesitations at the beginning of the project but that a great success had been achieved with the 105 works produced, Ekşi said that it was especially a source of pride that primary school students had written books.
“I thank everyone who contributed. In my schools, a first-grade primary school child wrote a 30 page book. All of us studied at one or two universities, and if they told us to write, we probably could not. But those teachers guided them. Today there are 105 brilliant children, some wrote 50 pages, some 100 pages, some 70, some 80. If even 10 of them become writers in the future, is that a small thing?” said Ekşi, concluding his speech by expressing his belief that the writers who will emerge from this project will make significant contributions to Türkiye’s cultural future.
Thanks from young writers
At the closing program of the “100 Writers 100 Works” project, three students representing the young writers took the stage and shared their thoughts and feelings. The young writers emphasized that the project was not only a writing experience for them but also an important journey in terms of thinking, questioning, gaining self-confidence, and finding the courage to produce. Speaking first on behalf of the young writers, Büşra Aksoy highlighted the role of literature in understanding oneself and society and stated that in the second century of the Republic, young people bear the responsibility of speaking to the future while preserving the richness of the language.
Young writer Alperen Engin Öztürk stated that the “100 Writers 100 New Works” project gave them a sense of responsibility and self-confidence and expressed that this process was not an end but a new beginning for young writers who will continue to write and produce.
Ayça Nermin Tarhan: “We will continue to write, sometimes for hope, sometimes for justice, and sometimes just to remain human…”
Ayça Nermin Tarhan stated that receiving an award was not only a success for them but also a recognition of being able to exist through words and of not giving up on their dreams.
Expressing that the project gave young writers the feeling that their stories are valuable and that their voices deserve to be heard, Tarhan said, “I would like to thank my grandfather, President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, and my mother and father for believing in my words, always encouraging me, and walking ahead of me instead of standing in my way. On behalf of all the young writers here, I would like to say that we will continue to write. Sometimes for hope, sometimes for justice, and sometimes just to remain human. I extend my gratitude to all the institutions, our esteemed teachers, and everyone who made this meaningful journey possible. I am glad we write, and I am glad we have our words.”
Müjgan Tarhan: “Writing is a child’s courage to express themselves”
Speaking at the award ceremony as a parent representative, Müjgan Tarhan stated that she attended the program with a mother’s feelings and said, “We witnessed our children’s excitement while they were writing, and we believed in them. Because writing is a child’s courage to express themselves. I sincerely thank all the institutions, our educators, and Professor Nevzat Tarhan for their efforts in this meaningful project. And dear young people, keep writing. Because your words will illuminate the world of tomorrow. As a mother, I thank you all.”
Writing became a process of courage and healing for students
Speaking at the award ceremony of the “100 New Works for the New Century of Our Literature” project, mentor and educator Sevda Gürbüz emphasized that the project was not limited to producing literary works but also created an important space opening into the inner worlds of children and young people. Stating that the project enabled young people to express their feelings through writing, Gürbüz noted that writing sometimes became a relief, sometimes a process of courage and healing for students.
The project was completed with 105 young writers and 105 works
Providing an informational presentation, Asst. Prof. Nebiye Yaşar stated that the project was not merely a cultural initiative but a strong signature of young people toward the future and that it was the product of 14 months of intense effort shaped by the excitement and courage to produce of the young writers. Yaşar stated that the project, which set out with the goal of “100 Writers 100 Works,” was completed with 105 young writers and 105 works, and that behind each work lay the faith, effort, and dreams of young people.
Yaşar added that workshops were carried out with 16 mentor teachers, strong and sustainable interaction was established with the young writers, and that seminars organized within the scope of the project aimed to raise awareness among young people about digital rights.
A gift from granddaughter to grandfather
Within the scope of the “100 Writers 100 Works” project, a special family themed section was held with reference to the “Year of the Family” declared by the President. Speaking during the program, Asst. Prof. Nebiye Yaşar stated that family themed stories were produced, and projects were implemented during the project process and that a symbolic “family photo” would be taken with the young writers.
In this context, Ayça Nermin Tarhan, Almira Kavak, Duru Ekşi, Doruk Ekşi, Mira Ekşi, Azra Arslan, and the youngest writer of the project, Eylül Kırkıl, were invited to the stage. The young writers invited their family members and advisors to the podium, creating emotional moments.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, who came to the podium upon the invitation of his granddaughter Ayça Nermin Tarhan, emphasized that young people choosing truth over popularity in their production was hopeful for Türkiye’s future.
The family members invited by the other young writers also delivered brief words of thanks. The young writers also presented gifts to their advisors during the program.
Awards for 100 young writers
In the later part of the program, awards were presented to the 100 young writers who participated in the project, and certificates of appreciation were given to the mentor teachers. The awards and certificates were presented by Former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye İsmail Kahraman, Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Asım Alkan, President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Üsküdar University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Furkan Tarhan, Üsküdar District Governor Adem Yazıcı, Üsküdar District Director of National Education Semih Durmuş, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Assembly Member İshak Koçoğlu, Chairman of the İlim ve Fazilet Foundation Mahmut Ekşi, Müjgan Tarhan, and TARHAN - İDER Foundation Board Member Fırat Tarhan.
The night, also attended by Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör, concluded with a group photo session.