Some 20 high school and university students from Minnesota, the US, will be visiting Istanbul, Bursa and Ankara at the invitation of Yunus Emre Institute between August 27 and September 4, 2018. Sponsored by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and TURING, the trip will enable the guest students to visit historical and touristic sites in three cities while having an opportunity to be immersed in our culture.

Yunus Emre Institute established a Culture Center in Washington in 2016 and has been conducting its activities in the US without interruption since then. During the last two years, the Institute has undertaken major cultural and artistic events in the US while enhancing its ties with prominent universities and scientific bodies in the US. The trip has been organized to make significant contributions to cultural and human relations between the two countries and, as such, it is a fine example of how cultural diplomacy may be employed in numerous ways to develop international relations.  

The representatives of the civil society organizations who have played a role in the planning of the visit had previously visited our country in April last year thanks to the efforts by the Turkish Consulate General in Chicago, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, and Minnesota Turkish-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and during the meeting held at Yunus Emre Institute, an agreement had been made on enhancing scientific and educational cooperation between the two countries and improving the relations of East African Muslims living in Minnesota with their own cultural roots. The current trip has been organized within this context and seeks to ensure that Somali and African Muslim youths can get to know the peaceful lifestyle and works produced by our country as a major hotbed of Islamic civilization.

The trip will not only augment human relations between Turkey and the US, but also amplify the self-confidence of young US Muslims of East African and Somali origins by making them get acquainted with their own identity thanks to this trip to Turkey as a leading destination in the Muslim geography.

The state of Minnesota has a considerable population of the people with East African origins, especially Somalis. These groups preserve their religious and cultural identities while playing important roles in the US social life and have significant potentials for the education, scientific and economic relations between Turkey and the US. Ilhan Omar is a leading figure who successfully

American students to visit Turkey

Some 20 high school and university students from Minnesota, the US, will be visiting Istanbul, Bursa and Ankara at the invitation of Yunus Emre Institute between August 27 and September 4, 2018. Sponsored by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and TURING, the trip will enable the guest students to visit historical and touristic sites in three cities while having an opportunity to be immersed in our culture.

Yunus Emre Institute established a Culture Center in Washington in 2016 and has been conducting its activities in the US without interruption since then. During the last two years, the Institute has undertaken major cultural and artistic events in the US while enhancing its ties with prominent universities and scientific bodies in the US. The trip has been organized to make significant contributions to cultural and human relations between the two countries and, as such, it is a fine example of how cultural diplomacy may be employed in numerous ways to develop international relations.  

The representatives of the civil society organizations who have played a role in the planning of the visit had previously visited our country in April last year thanks to the efforts by the Turkish Consulate General in Chicago, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, and Minnesota Turkish-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and during the meeting held at Yunus Emre Institute, an agreement had been made on enhancing scientific and educational cooperation between the two countries and improving the relations of East African Muslims living in Minnesota with their own cultural roots. The current trip has been organized within this context and seeks to ensure that Somali and African Muslim youths can get to know the peaceful lifestyle and works produced by our country as a major hotbed of Islamic civilization.

The trip will not only augment human relations between Turkey and the US, but also amplify the self-confidence of young US Muslims of East African and Somali origins by making them get acquainted with their own identity thanks to this trip to Turkey as a leading destination in the Muslim geography.

The state of Minnesota has a considerable population of the people with East African origins, especially Somalis. These groups preserve their religious and cultural identities while playing important roles in the US social life and have significant potentials for the education, scientific and economic relations between Turkey and the US. Ilhan Omar is a leading figure who successfully represents the US Muslims with Somali origins in Minnesota. On 2016, Omar became the first Somali-American citizen who was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, and in August this year, she was endorsed by the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party for the primaries. Omar is expected to win the primaries slated for November and, along with Palestinian-American Rashida Tlaib, become one of the first two Muslim women to enter the US Congress.

This important event, organized by Yunus Emre Institute, will play a major role in diversifying and enriching the ties between Turkey and the US.

represents the US Muslims with Somali origins in Minnesota. On 2016, Omar became the first Somali-American citizen who was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, and in August this year, she was endorsed by the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party for the primaries. Omar is expected to win the primaries slated for November and, along with Palestinian-American Rashida Tlaib, become one of the first two Muslim women to enter the US Congress.

This important event, organized by Yunus Emre Institute, will play a major role in diversifying and enriching the ties between Turkey and the US.