Science Meets Conscience: My Amazing Experience at YGA Summit 2025!
So, What’s YGA Anyway?
YGA (Young Guru Academy) is an international non-profit that started right here in Turkey back in 2000. Their main goal? Raising what they call “double-winged” leaders. Basically, they believe we need two wings to fly: one for science and technology, and the other for conscience and values. It’s all about using tech to make the world a better place! You’ve probably heard of the WeWALK smart cane or Twin Science kits—those were actually dreamed up by YGA volunteers.
Guess what? Out of thousands of people, I was lucky enough to be picked for this year’s YGA Summit! It’s such a big deal for me. Now, my eyes are on the next prize: finishing the second stage to become one of the 30 official volunteers they pick every year. Wish me luck!
Highlights from the Summit: Big Ideas & Even Bigger Names
1. Dreaming Big with Hakan Aran and Ahmet Eren
The summit kicked off with some of the biggest names in Turkey showing how they support young dreamers.
- Hakan Aran (CEO of İş Bankası): He made a great point! He said tech isn’t about showing off power—it’s about helping people. Their “Science Movement” with YGA isn’t just about coding; it’s about giving kids a whole new way to see the world.
- Ahmet Eren (Chairman of Eren Holding): He reminded us that real success isn’t just a bunch of numbers on a page. It’s actually about seeing a spark of hope in a child’s eyes in a small village in Anatolia. How cool is that?
2. Science is for Everyone: Prof. Dr. Mehmet Toner
Mehmet Toner is a legend who works at Harvard and MIT. He gave us a real-talk session about life. His advice? Don’t be afraid to fail! He told us to look at failure as just another piece of info and to never stop being curious. He thinks the leaders of tomorrow are the ones who can take smart science and use it to help people on the street.
3. Heart-to-Heart on Leadership: Sinan Yaman
When YGA’s founder Sinan Yaman got on stage, he really made us think. He said something I’ll never forget: “Being a volunteer doesn’t mean working for free; it means putting your whole heart into what you do.” It’s not just about being smart; it’s about being a “school of conscience.”
4. Awesome Success Stories: WeWALK, Twin, and Upschool
We got to see how startups born in YGA have gone global. Social entrepreneurs like Asude Altıntaş and Gökhan Meriçliler shared how their tech is helping millions of people. It’s proof that when you combine a smart brain with a good heart, you can really change things!
5. Energy from the Field: Aleyna, Rukiye, and Rakel
The best part? Hearing from the volunteers themselves! Rukiye, a high school student, talked about her internship at İş Bankası, and Aleyna shared how she found her confidence through field work. Even Rakel came all the way from Italy to show that we’re one big global family.
6. The Big Finish: “Finding Your Own Crescendo”
The musician Beril Sarıtun closed the show in the coolest way. She turned the whole hall into a giant drum circle using Ravel’s Bolero! As the rhythm got louder (that’s the “crescendo” part!), it felt like a symbol of all of us coming together to make a huge noise for good.
What’s Next? Going for the Top 30!
This summit wasn’t just an event for me—it’s my new compass. Being around people who care so much about science and kindness has given me so much hope.
I’m so proud to be a YGA candidate. But the journey’s just getting started! If I make it through the next round, I’ll be one of the 30 volunteers for this year. I’ve taken my first step toward being a leader who cares, and now I’m ready to keep that fire burning!
PS: This post was written with the support of AI
#YGA #YGASummit #ScienceAndConscience #FutureLeaders #DoubleWingedYouth
