The Nâzım Hikmet Summer Camp is more than a program—it is a bridge between
generations, geographies, and ideas.

By Aylin Yardımcı, PhD

This July, a group of young people will gather on Büyükada, the largest of Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands, for a program that is quietly grown into a meaningful annual tradition. Now in its tenth year, the Nâzım Hikmet Summer Camp will offer, for the first time this year, a rare space where young people of Turkish heritage—especially those living in the US—can connect with peers in Türkiye through shared conversations on literature, identity, the environment, and community.
What began as a small cultural exchange has become a thoughtful week-long program that brings together university students from the US, the local island community, and now, youth from regions affected by Türkiye’s recent earthquakes. The camp is named after legendary Turkish poet Nâzım Hikmet, whose commitment to justice and human dignity still resonates deeply. His name, in this context, represents a spirit of open dialogue, learning, and hope.


Held from July 27 to August 4, this year’s camp will focus on topics including literature, ecology, and civic engagement. The daily schedule mixes workshops, discussions, and excursions around Istanbul. It is an immersive way for participants to learn from each other’s experiences and leave with new ideas, friendships, and a broader understanding of where they come from and where they might go next.
The camp is a project of the Princes’ Islands Foundation (Adalar Vakfı), supported by the Community Volunteers Association (Toplum Gönüllüleri Vakfı) and renowned Turkish author Gündüz Vassaf. Since 1984, the Princes’ Islands Foundation has worked to preserve the natural and cultural life of the Islands, and this camp is part of that mission—helping pass on values of community, care, and continuity.
In celebration of the Nâzım Hikmet Camp’s 10th anniversary, Bridge to Türkiye Fund (BTF) is inviting supporters, especially Turkish Americans, to help sustain the program. All donations made to the campaign will be matched 1-to-1 by BTF, doubling the impact of each contribution. The funds raised will directly support camp costs, ensuring participation remains accessible to all students, regardless of their background.
For those looking to stay connected to Türkiye in a meaningful way, supporting the Nâzım Hikmet Camp is a tangible way to do so. It is a way to invest in a generation that is curious, open-minded, and eager to build something better together.
To donate, visit nazim hikmet camp today! ■

A call from Büyükada and the Nazım Hikmet Camp

“I spent most of my younger years in New Hampshire. When we came as a family to Türkiye for summer holidays, I often felt dragged into gatherings with my parents. Not being able to meet those of my age, I felt alienated in my own country. Returning to Türkiye for my final year of high school at Robert College, I felt like a fish out of water.
This year marks the tenth year of our camp on Büyükada held in the memory of Nâzım Hikmet’s son, the painter Mehmet Hikmet. His youth was also spent abroad, first in Poland, then France. Even though their home in Paris made one feel as if one were in Türkiye, Mehmet too longed to meet peers in his homeland. Estrangement can lead to questioning one’s sense of belonging. Self-discovery, however, need not lie in searching for one’s identity nor sessions with psychologists. Meeting people with different life experiences can allow us to enrich one another.
Our camp this year will bring together youth of Turkish origin from the US and young people from Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands along with those from Türkiye’s earthquake regions. Through activities and collaborative projects of mutual concern and responding to the question, “What can I do?”, we believe that with your support, young people will build long-lasting bridges for a shared future.
This is a very special year for us as we have reached out to those in the US. In the coming years we plan to also include youth from Europe making our camp even more international. We hope you will join us in our global journey.”
Gündüz Vassaf