The students who have come from Minnesota, the US, as guests of Yunus Emre Institute, have paid a visit to the president of the Institute, Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş.

A delegation of 22 people from Minnesota, the US, including Imam Sharif A. Mohamed, the leader and founder of the Islamic Civic Society of America (ICSA), James Michael VanKeulen, the co-founder of the Open Path Resources, and Amy Meuers, the CEO of the USA National Youth Leadership Council, met Yunus Emre Institute President Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş in Ankara following their destinations in Istanbul, Bursa and Eskişehir.

Welcoming the guests at the headquarters of the Institute on September 3, Professor Ateş expressed his satisfaction for seeing the young people who have come from the US to visit our country thanks to the Institute's initiatives. Stressing the importance of such projects, Ateş pointed out that they seek to promote and scale up friendship and fraternity between Turkey and other nations by boosting the number of foreigners who have links with Turkey. He asserted that it is crucial to aim for winning over the hearts of people and, in line with this goal, the Institute is trying to increase the number of the people affiliated with Turkey.

"Before coming to Turkey, I was undecided about the visit. Upon arriving here, I have encountered the assets and values of the Ottoman Empire and a wealth where you can enjoy culture and history simultaneously. I have come to realize why Turkey is Turkey and how it can develop at such a fast pace. I have been particularly glad to see the Sacred Relics belonging to our Prophet and Islamic civilization on display at Topkapı Palace," Abdullahi Osman, a student from Minnesota, said.

"I always dreamed of visiting Turkey. I have friends who have participated in the Turkish Summer Schools programs launched by the Institute. They were commending historical, cultural and hospitality aspects of Turkey. I was very impressed. I must note that intercultural interaction and student exchange programs are conducive to such relationships as seen in the promotional video for the Turkish Cinema Summer School (A Dream Story). It is gratifying to see Turks chat with you, ask questions and talk to you in the street. They can establish very close communications. I am very glad to be part of this trip," Abdurrahim Salad, a student from the US, said.

Turkish-US cultural relations flourish

Yunus Emre Institute's Washington DC Branch has been offering Turkish language courses and undertaking cultural and artistic activities since 2016 while trying to improve relations with the leading universities and scientific institutions in the US through its scientific diplomacy initiatives.

This trip program which has been designed to enhance and enrich cultural and human relation between Turkey and the US is crucial for educational, scientific and economic ties between the two countries to host the US groups who preserve their religious and cultural identities while playing important roles in the US social life in Minnesota, a state with significant population from East Africa as Turkey is one of the major centers of the Islamic civilization.