23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı Kutlu Olsun! Which roughly translates as, ‘Happy 23rd April National Sovereignty & Children’s Day!’

This is a national holiday in Turkiye which takes place annually on April 23rd.

This year it was celebrated at the Maarif School in Johannesburg with H.E Ambassador Kandaş, parents and children of the school.

The day marks the anniversary of the inauguration of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on April 23rd, 1920.

This first gathering of the Grand National Assembly was headed by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.

The Assembly gathered in Ankara during the War of Independence and the foundations of the new Republic were laid down.

Atatürk dedicated this day to the children because children are seen as the future.

The children participated in fun activities and the playground was filled with laughter and much excitement

by Marion Kate