A Meaningful Award from Italy for Enver Yücel

The Foedus Foundation in Italy presented Bahçeşehir University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Enver Yücel with the "Foedus Special Award" for his contributions to education. 

This year's Award Ceremony of the Foedus Foundation, which has been serving since 2003 with the mission of supporting the culture, development and solidarity sectors, was held in Rome on 30 November 2015. Hosted by Foedus Foundation President Mario Baccini, his wife Diana Baccini and journalist Ludovica Rossi Purini, recently elected President of the Italian-American Film Festival, the ceremony was attended by 500 guests from the business and political worlds as well as media representatives. At the award ceremony held at the Rome Hilton Hotel, numerous awards in various categories were presented to their recipients, and Bahçeşehir University Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Enver Yücel received the Foedus Special Award for his contributions to the education of new generations.

Receiving the award from Foedus Foundation President Mario Baccini, Enver Yücel emphasized the prevention of intercultural conflict in his speech. Yücel said: "Every moment of my life so far has been spent, and continues to be spent, researching and reflecting on the education systems of my country, Türkiye, and the entire world, and undertaking initiatives in this field. That the Foedus Foundation has recognized these efforts and our contributions to education and found me worthy of the Foedus Special Award is not only a source of pride for me, but also important and distinctive in showing Foedus's contributions to education and culture. At the point humanity has reached, the only elements that will ensure the continuity of our civilization are cultural transmission and education. When we look at history, the rebuilding and development of civilizations, including periods when writing was lost and forgotten, have always come about through cultural transmission and education. For this reason, the mission Foedus has undertaken and the efforts it is making today in these lands, where the Renaissance was born and the Enlightenment began, are invaluable. I congratulate you once again, as Foedus, for these efforts and for focusing on the two fields that form the foundation of our civilization." Extending his condolences to the entire French people and to the families of those who lost their lives in the attack in Paris last November, Enver Yücel said: "My country, Türkiye, is unfortunately also exposed to these inhumane acts of terror, and we are losing many innocent citizens. As you will recall, we lost 102 innocent citizens in the recent Ankara attack, and we still carry their pain. I once again extend my condolences to the families of the citizens we have lost.

I once again condemn terrorism in the strongest terms and underline once more that terrorist attacks have no justification and never can. These barbaric attacks were carried out not only against the people of those countries but against all of humanity and the values we believe in. The alliance of civilizations and the unity we show without discrimination of religion, language or race will be the strongest response to these attacks." Yücel concluded his speech with the words: "Education is the only solution that will make it possible to prevent intercultural conflicts, and the only condition for lasting peace between cultures."