25.08.2026 17:00
Emine Erdogan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, participated in the 6th Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen held in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, via a video message. Stating that every society has a unique world of values nourished by its history, faith, and collective memory, Emine Erdogan emphasized that volunteerism, philanthropy, and solidarity are prominent virtues in Turkish society. Erdogan also congratulated the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence Day.
Emine Erdogan, wishing that the summit would bring blessings, expressed her gratitude to Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who hosted this meaningful gathering.
"A DOOR OF GOODNESS IN EVERY AREA WHERE SOCIETY IS IN NEED"
Emine Erdogan stated that every society has a unique world of values nurtured by its history, faith, and collective memory, and emphasized that volunteerism, charity, and solidarity are prominent virtues in Turkish society.
Erdogan recalled that more than 26,000 foundations were established in the Ottoman era, and thanks to this unique heritage, the civilization came to be known as a 'foundation civilization.' She explained that these foundations were established with delicate considerations such as caring for the elderly, protecting orphans, paying off the debts of the indebted, and treating sick birds, thereby opening a door of goodness in every area where society was in need.
Reminding that this understanding came to life in Turkish culture under the name 'patronage' (hamilik), Emine Erdogan said, "Taking the needy under one's wing, granting every person and every living being the right to a fair life, keeps our faith in the conscience of humanity alive. This human experience accumulated over centuries has turned sharing both the joys and sorrows of life together into a social practice."
"WE WITHSTOOD ARDUOUS TRIALS"
Emine Erdogan noted that in the modern world, it is said that people are increasingly becoming more isolated within crowds, and underlined that as the bonds between people weaken, the resilience of societies against crises also diminishes. Erdogan said, "Yet, in Anatolia, the compassionate friends who lend an ear to every cry for help make one feel as if they are within a great circle of trust. They reinforce the sense of belonging and remind us that in difficult times, one can lean on another."
"THE VALUES FORMING THE RESILIENCE STRUCTURE OF TURKISH SOCIETY"
Emine Erdogan then noted the following:
"All these are the values that constitute the resilience infrastructure of Turkish society. Throughout our history, we have withstood all the arduous trials we faced with these strong social bonds. We experienced one of the most striking examples of this during the February 6 earthquakes, which are among the greatest disasters in world history. The epic spirit of solidarity that rose from within that great devastation, where we lost more than 50 thousand citizens, became one of the most powerful manifestations of our understanding that 'a human is the homeland of another human.' This experience showed the whole world once again that the greatest strength of societies is the ability to become one heart in difficult times. In the war that has been ongoing for more than four years, the unity and solidarity displayed by the Ukrainian people is also one of the most current examples of overcoming severe trials through social resilience. Children continue their education, women take on responsibilities in every sphere of life, and the Ukrainian people embrace their future with their inspiring struggle. On this occasion, I wholeheartedly celebrate the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence Day and wish peace, tranquility, and well-being to the Ukrainian people."
Emine Erdogan stated that she considers the sharing they have carried out through the summit as a very significant contribution to the common future, and expressed her hope that the experiences of different societies and cultures would serve as a guide in overcoming the profound crises humanity is struggling with.