YTB Meets with Children and Families at Ramadan Table in Cologne

As part of the program, the theater team of Rafadan Tayfa, one of the beloved cartoon characters from TRT Çocuk, took the stage in Cologne during the day. The show, which drew great interest from children, combined the joy of Ramadan with entertaining activities.

​The iftar program was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Serdar Çam, YTB President Abdulhadi Turus, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Cologne Hüseyin Kantem Al, and numerous representatives of non-governmental organizations. The event commenced with a Sufi music performance and a recitation of the Holy Quran.

​Speaking at the program, Deputy Minister Serdar Çam expressed his gratitude to the participants, noting that the gathering of families and children on the occasion of Ramadan carries great meaning, and he congratulated all guests on the holy month. Thanking YTB for contributing to the preservation of traditions and the institutions involved in the organization, Çam stated that it is vital for children to become acquainted with the culture of Ramadan.

​Çam also noted that he was visiting the Cologne DİTİB Central Mosque, inaugurated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2018, for the first time and expressed his admiration for the mosque's architecture and atmosphere. Pointing out that Ramadan is a significant period that strengthens the feelings of unity, togetherness, and sharing in society, Çam emphasized that it is of great importance for the Turkish community living abroad to protect their language, culture, and identity for future generations. Touching upon global crises and tensions, Çam stated that Türkiye provides significant contributions to ensuring peace and tranquility in its region.

​Following him, YTB President Abdulhadi Turus emphasized that Ramadan is a special timeframe that strengthens unity and solidarity. Turus noted that the blessings of Ramadan and the warmth of being a family were shared together at the YTB Children and Family Iftar, held for the first time in Cologne this year. He expressed that families the fundamental pillar of the Turkish community living abroad meeting at the same table during Ramadan is not just about sharing a meal, but also carries great significance in terms of passing down culture, values, and brotherhood from generation to generation.

​Hüseyin Kantem Al, the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Cologne, stated in his speech that Ramadan is not only a period of worship but also a month when feelings of solidarity and unity are strengthened. Noting that Ramadan culture has held an important place in social life for centuries, Al mentioned that Karagöz-Hacivat shadow plays, neighborhood iftars, and traditions eagerly awaited by children constitute the cultural richness of Ramadan. Highlighting the importance of keeping these traditions alive abroad, Al stated that it is of great value for children to both recognize their culture and experience the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan.

​Following the iftar program, a “Lantern Procession” one of the traditional activities of Ramadan, was held. Deputy Minister Serdar Çam, Consul General Hüseyin Kantem Al, and YTB President Abdulhadi Turus joined the children in the march, which was marked by great enthusiasm from children and families.

​
Stating that the activities organized as part of the program created an unforgettable Ramadan memory for the children, Turus remarked:“The courtyard of the DİTİB Cologne Central Mosque turned into a fairyland with the Lantern Procession we organized. The lanterns shining in the hands of hundreds of our children illuminated not only the night but also our hopes for the future. This evening has taken its place as an unforgettable Ramadan memory in the minds of our new generations growing up in Europe.”

​Prior to the iftar dinner, Deputy Minister Serdar Çam, YTB President Abdulhadi Turus, and Consul General Hüseyin Kantem Al also visited various Turkish non-governmental organizations operating in Cologne and met with their representatives.