March 27, 2025
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's wife Emine Erdoğan attended the traditional iftar program of the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) in New York, where she came to deliver a speech at the United Nations' (UN) March 30th International Zero Waste Day special event.
After the iftar program, Emine Erdoğan visited the exhibition organized by the students of the US Maarif School at the Türkevi with the theme of Zero Waste Project.
At the entrance of the exhibition, US Maarif School Director Ahmet Celal Özdemir welcomed Emine Erdoğan and the students greeted her by saying “welcome”.
Examining the paintings one by one in the exhibition prepared by 12 American students of the US Maarif School, 5 of whom are of Turkish origin, between the ages of 7-16, Emine Erdoğan chatted with the young artists about their paintings. Expressing that each painting impressed her very much, Erdoğan asked detailed questions about the paintings and listened to the students' stories about their paintings.
Emine Erdoğan sincerely congratulated the students who described their paintings in Turkish with the sensitivity of protecting the environment.
Emphasizing the importance of implementing the Zero Waste project, recycling waste and clean water, the students expressed the point that the polluted nature has reached through the eyes of children and that the environment is the most beautiful heritage that can be passed on to the future.
A 10-year-old student, who drew a picture using the metaphor of an hourglass to explain that time is running out to protect nature, presented Emine Erdoğan with an hourglass.
The students conveyed their greetings to President Erdoğan
The students expressed their happiness to Emine Erdoğan for the interest she showed in their exhibition, and there were moments of emotion as they expressed their love for Türkiye.
In the exhibition, where the administrators and teachers of the US Maarif School were also present, the students conveyed their greetings and respect to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
After visiting all the paintings in the exhibition, Emine Erdoğan took a group photo with the students and school administrators.
250 American students are studying at the US Maarif School
250 American students are studying at the campus of the Turkish Maarif Foundation in New Jersey, which conducts educational activities in 55 countries.
In the campus, which attracts great attention in America with its quality of education, in addition to the New Jersey education curriculum, Turkish lessons and teaching and training activities in many fields from arts to sports are carried out.
