Young Voices Take the Lead in the April 23 Special Episode of “Inspiration for the Future” Talks

The April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day special episode of Borusan Holding’s Inspiration for the Future talk series was moderated by 12-year-old Aden, who turned the tables by interviewing EKOIQ Editor-in-Chief Barış Doğru. In this heartwarming conversation, Aden asked thought-provoking questions about sustainability, climate change, and the role children can play in building a better future.

In line with Borusan Holding’s focus areas of climate, people, and innovation, a new episode of the Inspiration for the Future video series has been released to mark April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. Reflecting the spirit and significance of the day, 6th-grade student Aden Erden took over the moderator role from Barış Doğru, the usual host of the series.

Opening the episode with the words, “Today is very special for us — we celebrate both National Sovereignty and Children’s Day and the anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Grand National Assembly,” Aden posed a series of insightful questions to his guest, focusing on the path toward a sustainable future and the societal transformations it requires.

One of the standout moments came when Aden asked:
“What can we children do to protect the environment and our world? Can our small steps really make a big difference?”
Doğru responded with humility and honesty:
“All of the major problems we face today were created by the generations before you — by us. We are the ones who failed to take the necessary action, and it is not fair to place this burden on your shoulders. Of course, there are personal steps you can take — separating your waste, not wasting water, and so on — but the most important responsibility of children and young people is to learn, to become informed, and to speak out. Children’s voices have a powerful impact on adults.”

In another memorable exchange, Aden asked,
“If you were the leader of the world for one day, what would be your first step toward sustainability?”
Doğru emphasized the importance of fostering a civilized, peaceful society and drew on the vision of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, stating:
“We can look to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. He once said, ‘Peace at home, peace in the world.’ This is one of his most important principles and warnings. We must never fight, never engage in conflict. If I had the power, the very first thing I would do is try to end all conflicts in the world.”

With a fresh perspective and sincere curiosity, this special episode showcased the power of young voices in shaping a more sustainable future — and reminded us all of the importance of listening to them.

You can watch the April 23 special episode of Inspiration for the Future on Borusan Holding’s YouTube channel.