On April 23, 1920, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was founded in Ankara amid the Turkish War of Independence. The establishment of the parliament was the first step towards the creation of a new state out of the remnants of the Ottoman Empire. In 1921, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk declared April 23 as National Sovereignty Day. Six year later, he dedicated the holiday to children to emphasize the role of youth in protecting the country’s sovereignty.
When UNESCO proclaimed 1979 as the International Year of the Child, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) decided to develop a project for children from different countries. The inaugural TRT International April 23 Children’s Festival was held on April 23, 1979 and featured participants from Turkey and five other countries (the Soviet Union, Iraq, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria).
The festival has been held every year since its inception. Today, it welcomes participants from several dozen countries, from Albania to Morocco to Ukraine. A record was set in 2007, when 61 countries sent their representatives to the festival. As a rule, there are about 800 participants aged 10 to 13 from some 40 countries.
The mail goal of the April 23 Children’s Festival is to contribute to the creation of a society where children from around the world will live in peace and friendship. During the festival, participants live with host families in a warm and affectionate environment. This gives them an opportunity to learn about Turkish culture and make friends with their Turkish peers.
A week-long festival opens with a Festival Parade featuring participants in their traditional outfits, performing their traditional music and dance. During the festival, guests perform in city parks and other outdoor locations throughout the host city. The event culminates in a visit to Atatürk’s mausoleum and a gala where groups from different countries present three-minute performances. The gala is broadcast live on TRT.
Photo: trt23nisan.com
