Kazakhstan Independence Day was celebrated at the Atatürk Congress and Culture Center of Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU).

The event, organized to mark the 33rd anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence and to promote its culture, was attended by Ardakzhan Askhatkyzy Bekenova, Secretary of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Ankara; Dr. Olcay Bayraktar, International Student Coordinator; Prof. Dr. Serkan Şen, Director of OMU-TURKÇE (TÖMER); and Hakan Karaduman, President of UDEF Samsun Branch.

The participants delivered speeches following the national anthems and a moment of silence.

Director Şen: "Kazakhstan holds a special place in my life"

TÖMER Director Şen expressed his gratitude towards the students, saying, "I sincerely thank the young people for their interest. Kazakhstan holds a special place in my life. I worked as a lecturer in Kazakhstan for a year. Our kin-state Kazakhstan will always have a place in our hearts. Our brothers and sisters who are coming from Kazakhstan to our country are our guests. Their happiness is our happiness, and their pain is our pain. Thank you for coming here. I wish you all the best."

President Karaduman: "Our students are a great asset to us"

Speaking at the event, Hakan Karaduman, President of the Samsun International Student Association, congratulated Kazakhstan on its Independence Day, stating, "I wish prosperity to all nations fighting for independence worldwide. As the International Student Association in Samsun, we have been operating for about two years. We host students from all over the world who come here for education. Our aim is to strengthen the bond between our students and the city. We do our best to solve the problems of our students. They are a great asset to us. The most valuable capital in the world is relationship capital. Strengthen the bonds between you. I believe you will play important roles in the future of our countries."

"Our students' interest in cultural events is growing every day"

Expressing satisfaction with the interest shown in the event by Kazakh students, International Student Coordinator Bayraktar said, "I have been serving as the international student coordinator for about two years, and during this period, we have organized many events. From my observations, our students’ interest in cultural activities grows daily. I believe there will be even greater participation in intercultural learning events this term."

"Our university hosts students from different countries"

Bayraktar emphasized that the coordination office works with volunteers and country representatives, stating, "Today's event gave us important messages about the need to conduct more comprehensive and effective activities than last year. Our university hosts students from 110-120 different countries, with 80 country representatives. In the past, we organized regional events and sports tournaments such as football and volleyball, aiming to strengthen feelings of peace and brotherhood alongside cultural events."

"Our Kazakh students make significant contributions every year by organizing events"

Concluding his speech, Bayraktar said:

"As the International Student Office, Coordination, and Community, we closely monitor and support our students' needs and problems individually. Our university aims to provide the highest quality academic service to both our national and international students. Through these cultural events, we aim to help our students learn from one another and apply the knowledge they gain from different cultures in their future professions. Our Kazakh students contribute significantly every year by organizing at least one event. Events like today’s are enjoyable, productive, and educational. I thank all participants and hope to reunite at future events."

Secretary Bekenova: "Happy Independence Day of Kazakhstan"

Ardakzhan Askhatkyzy Bekenova, First Secretary of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Ankara, expressed her gratitude to everyone attending the event, stating, "Happy Independence Day of Kazakhstan. We thank the university for supporting this organized event to promote Kazakhstan."

Throughout the event, Kazakhstan’s culture was showcased. Attendees were offered authentic flavors from Kazakh cuisine, and a photo exhibition reflecting Kazakhstan’s history and culture drew significant interest. Kazakh songs were performed with the dombra, while traditional Kazakh dance performances added vibrancy to the event. The celebrations continued enthusiastically with quizzes and cultural performances.

The program concluded in an atmosphere that reflected the significance and meaning of Kazakhstan Independence Day, enhancing cultural exchange among participants from different nations.