The award ceremony for the short film competition titled “Career and Ethics in Akhism”, organized under the coordination of the Directorate General for Vocational and Technical Education of the Ministry of National Education, in cooperation with the Kırşehir Provincial Directorate of National Education and Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, was held on April 28, 2025, at the 15 July National Will Hall of the Ahi Evran Congress and Culture Center. The ceremony was attended by Kırşehir Governor Murat Sefa Demiryürek, Member of Parliament Necmettin Erkan, Rector of KAEU Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, Head of the Department of Education Policies at the Directorate General for Vocational and Technical Education Durmuş Can, Deputy Governor İsmail Çetinkaya, Secretary General Dr. Hüseyin İlter, Provincial Director of National Education Yusuf Yasin Gülşen, institution directors, political party representatives, academic and administrative staff, and students.
At the ceremony, Kırşehir Provincial Director of National Education Yusuf Yasin Gülşen stated that in this second edition of the short film competition, which focuses on various themes of the Ahi-Order tradition, vocational high school students from all across the country have “kept the spirit of the Ahi-Order tradition alive by seeking truth with patience and surpassing us with wisdom and morality.” He expressed his pride that Kırşehir, the capital of Ahi-Order culture, hosted such an event and wished continued success to the students who ranked in the competition.
In his speech, Durmuş Can, Head of the Department of Technical and Vocational Education Policies at the Ministry of National Education, emphasized the importance of students producing short films that reflect our deep-rooted heritage. He highlighted the value of young people embracing the Ahi-Order tradition, which places the human being at the center and unites profession with ethics. Stating that it is vital for the future of our country that young people not only learn the requirements of their chosen professions but also become aware of the culture and geography they belong to, he thanked the students who ranked in the short film competition and wished them continued success.
Continuing the ceremony, Rector of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil expressed his pride in hosting this competition in Kırşehir—the capital of the Ahi-Order tradition—at KAEU, stating that the event allows Ahi-Order values to reach all segments of society through the medium of art. He congratulated the young “modern Ahis” who understood and beautifully conveyed Ahi-Order values through the short films they created using the universal language of art. Prof. Dr. Karahocagil also explained that the core mission of the Ahi-Order tradition is to raise individuals who serve society and humanity—those described as “their hands in work, their hearts with Allah.” He emphasized that working and producing, earning an honest living, becoming skilled craftspeople, and prioritizing justice and human values are among the most essential lessons young people should learn in their professional lives. He concluded by thanking and congratulating the students who received awards in the short film competition, wishing them continued success.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kırşehir Deputy Necmettin Erkan expressed his pride in hosting such a meaningful event that draws inspiration from our deep-rooted past to help shape the future. He emphasized the significance of young people—our guarantee for the future—expressing such a distinguished concept as Ahi-Order through the medium of cinema. Deputy Erkan thanked the students who participated in the competition for their efforts to revive and preserve the Ahi-Order culture and congratulated the award-winning short films.
As the final speaker of the ceremony, Kırşehir Governor Murat Sefa Demiryürek emphasized that the Ahi-Order tradition, which was born in Kırşehir and shaped the spiritual and economic life of Anatolia for centuries, is not merely a guild of tradespeople but also a way of life. He noted that this path, shaped under the guidance of Ahi Evran Veli, blended trade with ethics, craftsmanship with art, and society with a spirit of brotherhood. Governor Demiryürek further stated that the values of Ahi-Order represent an age-old remedy offering hope not only for Türkiye but for the entire world. He congratulated the students who received awards in the second edition of the short film competition.
The competition, organized for students of vocational and technical secondary education institutions, aimed to help students internalize the concept of Ahi-Order, interpret the values of profession and ethics through the medium of cinema, and grow into socially responsible individuals while gaining professional skills. Held between December 13 and February 27, the competition featured short films that won first place at the provincial level in 40 cities. These films were then re-evaluated by the Kırşehir Provincial Evaluation Commission between March 10 and 14. As a result of this process, the top-ranking students and their works at the national level were determined. Members of KAEU for Ahi Community Culture Research and Application Center also took part in the film evaluation process.
As a result of the competition, students who earned top rankings with their short films were announced as follows: Emirhan İkiz, a student from Pamukkale Atatürk Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, won the first prize with his film titled “İki Yol” (Two Paths). Emirhan Cemal Güngör, Fırat Ağırman, Muhammed Said Aslan, and Ömer Akbulut, students from Kırşehir Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, were awarded the second prize for their film “Altın Bileklik” (The Golden Bracelet). From Adnan Menderes Commercial Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Düzce, Sudenaz Filizoğlu, Sudenaz Öztürk, Nida Siviloğlu, and Ceylin Melisa Bayrak won the third prize with their film “Miras” (The Legacy). Veysel Baki Biçer, a student from Rize Merkez Commercial Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, received an honorable mention for his film titled “Gelenekten Geleceğe Ahilik ve Zanaat” (Ahilik and Craftsmanship: From Tradition to the Future).
The ceremony concluded with the screening of the award-winning short films and the presentation of certificates and awards to the students who ranked in the competition.
