The award ceremony for the 'My Dear Family' Short Story Competition, held for the fourth time this year under the auspices of the Ministry of National Education, took place in Eyüpsultan. The event was attended by Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Deputy Minister of National Education Ömer Faruk Yelkenci, Istanbul National Education Director Murat Mücahit Yentür, along with many educators and students.
The competition, organized nationwide for students in grades 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, aimed to transform children's feelings of love, belonging, and the value of family into stories written by their own hands. 'YOU HAVE GIVEN US HOPE WITH THE SENTENCES YOU CREATED AND THE STORIES YOU BROUGHT TO LIFE' Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, who attended the ceremony, said, 'You have beautified this day with your stories.
In every line, you conveyed love, compassion, and the warmth of being a family. With the sentences you created and the stories you brought to life, you have given us hope. On this occasion, I wholeheartedly congratulate not only the children who received awards but all our children who participated in the competition. Dear children, I find this competition extremely valuable because while you describe family, you sometimes notice subtleties that we adults may overlook.
You imprint the love within a home, the conversation around a table, the small grievances between siblings, and the silent sacrifices behind loud voices into minds. And you told all these in the simplest and most sincere way,' she said.
'WE KNOW THAT STRONG GENERATIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITH CHILDREN RAISED IN PEACEFUL FAMILY ENVIRONMENTS FILLED WITH LOVE AND VALUES' Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş emphasized the importance of raising children with love for strong generations, stating, 'Stories truly blossom at that moment. People entrust to words what they see, hear, experience, and keep in their hearts.
That is why this competition allows us to see from which perspective our children view the world, family, and life. From the standpoint of the services and policies we implement as a ministry, this perspective guides us. Because at the center of every step we take to strengthen the family is the responsibility to protect the child's well-being, safety, and peace.
We know very well that strong generations are possible with children raised in peaceful family environments filled with love and our values. Under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we are determinedly implementing efforts that protect the family, care for the child, and strengthen the bond between generations,' she added.
'WE IMPLEMENTED OUR PROJECT TO PROTECT THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN' Continuing her speech, Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş said, 'We are expanding our protective and preventive services across the country to ensure our children grow up in safe and supportive environments.
Our programs such as "My First Teacher is My Family" and "Children Are Safe," along with our social and economic supports and educational activities for families, are just a few examples. Some of these initiatives were launched within the scope of the 2025 Family Year to protect the well-being of our children.
We will continue to transform our work in family and population policies into permanent policies, taking steps that protect the family, care for the child, and focus on the bond between generations,' she said.
'OUR CHILDREN CAN EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND THEIR IDEAS THROUGH PAINTING, MUSIC, THEATER, AND MANY OTHER FIELDS' Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş called on children to develop themselves, saying, 'The future of this country will be shaped by the dreams you build. We see strong signs of this in the words you choose and the stories you create. You told the story of family from your own world through the stories you wrote.
This is very valuable because a person discovers themselves through their own sentences; they begin to understand their surroundings more carefully and feel a stronger responsibility toward the life they live. Of course, writing is not the only way to express oneself. People can express themselves and their ideas through painting, music, theater, cinema, architecture, handicrafts, and many other fields.
My request to you is to continue developing your interests, talents, and curiosity. Because a life lived intertwined with art, literature, science, and culture adds depth to the rich heritage of our ancient civilization,' she said. After the speeches, gifts were presented to the children who won awards in the competition.
