The award ceremony for the “100 Authors 100 New Works” project, launched with the aim of leaving a literary legacy for the second century of our Republic, took place on Friday, February 6, 2026.
The project, carried out with the support of the General Directorate of Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of Interior, under the patronage of the Istanbul Governorship and the scientific consultancy of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, was implemented under the leadership of the Çanakkale and Thrace Education and Culture Confederation, in coordination with the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Youth Club; with the implementation support of the İlim ve Fazilet Foundation Educational Institutions.
The award ceremony and closing program were held with intense participation at the Üsküdar Municipality Bağlarbaşı Congress and Culture Center. Many prominent figures from academia, literature, civil society, and the public sector attended the event.
Former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) İsmail Kahraman: “Authorship is not an easy task”
Former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) İsmail Kahraman, in his speech, emphasized that literature is the fundamental element that makes us human, stating, “We should not be mechanical, robotic beings; we should be humans with spirit and energy. Literature provides exactly that.” Expressing that literature holds a value beyond social and technical sciences, Kahraman said, “Matter can be provided in any way, but spirit is indispensable. One must appeal to the soul. We should not be materialistic; literature provides this.”
Stating that he found the project very valuable, Kahraman said, “This is not a closing meeting, but an opening. We have aspiring writers 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. Authorship is not an easy task; with time and effort, many powerful pens will emerge from among them.”
“We impoverished ourselves as we discarded our words”
Noting that the richness of the Turkish vocabulary is diminishing, Kahraman stated that the impoverishment in language directly affects literature. “We impoverished ourselves as we discarded our words. While hundreds of thousands of words are used in developed countries, we are confined to a much narrower area. Metre, rhyme, and harmony in poetry have been pushed into the background. These are not good developments,” said Kahraman, emphasizing the need for greater effort in poetry and literature.
Expressing that the positivist understanding of education pushed spirituality into the background, Kahraman noted that a recovery process has begun in this area in recent years, stating, “Today we have 209 universities and millions of students. There is a great development underway, and we are moving towards a better future.”
“Our President declared this year as the ‘Family Year’”
Former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) İsmail Kahraman also referred to the “Family Year” declared by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his speech, emphasizing that the protection of the family is a societal necessity. Kahraman said, “Our President declared this year as the ‘Family Year’. This process is planned to continue for ten years. Because we have serious problems within the family.”
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 is over 70 percent in Switzerland and Ireland, and 68 percent in France. In our country, this rate is 2.8 percent. This table shows how vital it is to protect the family structure. We must resist against a society we could call illegitimate and preserve our structure.”
Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Asım Alkan: “The project is a work that builds not only today but also the future”
Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Asım Alkan emphasized that the project is an extremely valuable achievement for young people. Drawing attention to the fact that the project diverts young people from the risky and unproductive areas of the digital world, Alkan said, “One of the most important aspects of this work is that it takes our youth out of the unproductive and risky atmosphere of the digital world and offers them the opportunity to produce works on a bright path, such as writing a book.”
Expressing that with the project, there is a possibility for young people to be introduced to the world of literature at national and international levels, Alkan evaluated, “From this perspective, the project is a work that builds not only today but also the future.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Bad texts are the raw material for good texts”
Speaking at the closing program of the “100 New Works for the New Century of Our Literature” project, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the project is an important work that will leave a mark on the lives of young people, saying, “Today we are closing a very valuable project that touches the souls of our young people and can be a milestone in their life journey.”
“Authorship is not inspiration, but discipline”
Stating that authorship is not inspiration, but discipline, Prof. Dr. Tarhan thanked all academicians, mentor teachers, and stakeholders who contributed to the project, saying, “Projects of this kind are like road signs in the lives of young people. They show direction, give courage, and leave a mark.” Drawing attention to the fact that the writing process also involves making mistakes, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “Bad texts are the raw material for good texts. There are two kinds of people who don't make mistakes: those who haven't been born and those who have died. Therefore, one should not be afraid of making mistakes.”
Also referring to the contributions made to the project, Prof. Dr. Tarhan emphasized that the cooperation between academia and civil society created a strong impact on young people. Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “Both our instructors and our young people worked with great enthusiasm and effort here. This synergy is one of the most important reasons for the project's success.”
“Authorship requires courage”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan likened authorship to “diving,” stating, “Authorship requires courage. It requires asking questions, delving deep, intellectual objection, and intellectual rebellion. Only then can the truth be reached.”
Drawing attention to the influence of popular culture, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “Young people who do not follow popular culture, who can write their own feelings and express themselves, are the leaders not 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. Dr. Tarhan reminded the words of Hz. Ali, “Raise your children according to the era they will live in,” and continued, “We, too, must prepare our young people for the future they will live in. Young people without ideals, who only pursue pleasure and gain, fall into the traps of global culture. However, young people with meaning and purpose in their lives can say ‘no’ to wrongs.”
“Read, but do not imitate”
Also touching upon the importance of reading habits, Prof. Dr. Tarhan called on young people to “read a lot,” saying, “Read the classics, know the past, but don't just stop there. Follow the modern and current works of the era. Read, but do not imitate.” Stating that the young people participating in the project have taken an important step towards becoming “future writers,” Prof. Dr. Tarhan concluded his speech with the words, “When I see the energy in this hall, I sincerely believe that young people who will win Nobel Prizes will emerge from among them.”
Project Consultant İshak Koçoğlu: “Writing requires courage”
Project Consultant and ITO Council Member İshak Koçoğlu stated that the efforts of young writers are not just a project output, but a concrete indicator of trust in the future. Koçoğlu said, “To be here today is to witness the marks left on the future by our young people who think with their pens and take responsibility with their words.”
Emphasizing that young people not only produced works during the process, Koçoğlu said, “Writing requires courage; but even greater courage is to declare and share what one has written. Our young people showed this courage.” Underlining the support given by families to the process, Koçoğlu said, “Behind these successes is the silent but strong support of our families. You believed in your children and stood by them.”
Also referring to the contributions of mentor teachers and consultants, Koçoğlu said, “Our instructors taught our young people not only literature but also how to think, criticize, and take responsibility. These efforts will find resonance in the country's cultural world 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 laying the new stones of this bridge. May your path be clear, and your pens be strong.”
İlim ve Fazilet Foundation Chairman Mahmut Ekşi: “A great success was achieved with 105 works”
Speaking at the ceremony, Mahmut Ekşi, Chairman of the İlim ve Fazilet Foundation, emphasized that the project is not only a literary work but also the product of an effort to build a generation centered on national and spiritual values. Commemorating the citizens who lost their lives in the Kahramanmaraş-centered February 6 earthquakes, Ekşi drew attention to the importance of young people being raised with historical consciousness, patriotism, and a sense of responsibility.
Ekşi stated that there were hesitations at the beginning of the project, but a great success was achieved with 105 works, adding that it was a source of pride that especially primary school-level students wrote books.
"I thank everyone who contributed. In my schools, a 1st-grade primary school child wrote a 30-page book. All of us went to university once or twice, if they told us to write, we couldn't. But those teachers guided them, and today there are 105 brilliant children, some writing 50 pages, some 100 pages, some 70 pages, some 80 pages. If 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 Turkey's cultural future.
Thanks from Young Writers
At the closing program of the “100 Authors 100 Works” project, three students representing the young writers took the stage and shared their thoughts and feelings. Speaking at the program, the young writers emphasized that the project was not just a writing experience for them; it was an important journey in terms of thinking, questioning, gaining self-confidence, and the courage to produce. Büşra Aksoy, who made the first speech on behalf of the young writers, drew attention to literature's role in the process of understanding oneself and society, stating that in the second century of the Republic, young people bear the responsibility of speaking to the future by preserving the richness of language.
Young writer Alperen Engin Öztürk stated that the “100 Authors 100 New Works” project instilled in them a sense of responsibility and self-confidence, expressing that this process is not an end for young writers, but a new beginning where they 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, on her part, said that receiving the award was not just an achievement for them, but a reward for being able to exist through words and not giving up on their dreams.
Tarhan stated that the project instilled in young writers the feeling that their stories are valuable and their voices deserve to be heard, saying, “I extend my heartfelt thanks to my grandfather, Professor Doctor Nevzat Tarhan, the Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, and to my mother and father for believing in my words, always encouraging me, and walking ahead of me instead of standing in front of me. 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 offer my gratitude to all institutions, our esteemed instructors, and everyone who contributed to making this meaningful journey possible. I'm glad we write, I'm glad we have our words.”
Müjgan Tarhan: “Writing is a child’s courage to express themselves”
Speaking as a parent representative at the award ceremony, Müjgan Tarhan stated that she participated in the program with a mother's feelings, saying, “While our children were writing, we witnessed their excitement and believed in them. Because writing is a child's courage to express themselves. I sincerely thank all institutions, our educators, and our esteemed Nevzat who contributed to this meaningful project. And dear young people; keep writing. Because your words will illuminate tomorrow's world. I thank you all as a mother.”
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 that opened up to the inner worlds of children and young people. Stating that the project enabled young people to express their feelings through writing, Gürbüz said that writing was sometimes a relief, sometimes a process of courage and healing for the students.
Project Completed with 105 Young Authors and 105 Works
Making an informative presentation, Dr. Lecturer Nebiye Yaşar stated that the project is not only a cultural work but also a strong signature for the future made by young people, and that the project, shaped by the enthusiasm and courage to produce by young writers, is the product of 14 months of intensive effort. Yaşar stated that the work, which set out with the goal of “100 Authors 100 Works,” was completed with 105 young authors and 105 works, adding that behind each work lies the belief, effort, and dreams of young people.
Yaşar added that workshops were conducted with 16 mentor teachers, and a strong and sustainable interaction was established with young writers, also stating that the 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 Authors 100 Works” project, a special family-themed section was held, emphasizing the “Family Year” declared by the President. Speaking at the program, Dr. Nebiye Yaşar stated that family-themed stories were produced and projects were implemented during the project process, adding 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 project's youngest writer Eylül Kırkıl were invited to the stage. The young writers created emotional moments by inviting their family members and consultants to the podium.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who took the podium at the invitation of his granddaughter Ayça Nermin Tarhan, emphasized that young people preferring truth over popularity in their productions is promising for Turkey's future.
Family members invited by other young writers also made short thank-you speeches. Additionally, the young writers presented their gifts to their consultants during the program.
Awards for 100 Young Writers
In the later part of the program, awards were presented to 100 young writers participating in the project, and certificates of appreciation were given to mentor instructors. The awards and certificates were presented by Former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) İsmail Kahraman, Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Asım Alkan, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Governors Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Chairman of the Board of Trustees Furkan Tarhan, Üsküdar District Governor Adem Yazıcı, Üsküdar District National Education Director Semih Durmuş, ITO Council Member İshak Koçoğlu, İlim ve Fazilet Foundation Chairman Mahmut Ekşi, Müjgan Tarhan, and TARHAN - İDER Foundation Board Member Fırat Tarhan.
The night, also attended by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, ended with a group photo.
