Cenan Eğitim, Kültür ve Sağlık Vakfı

Türkiye

Contact: 0212 631 34 22; +90 530 641 28 36; +90 0533 244 23 17
Postal address: Hırka-i Şerif Mahallesi Kırtay Sokak No: 7 34091 Fatih Istanbul
Geographic Coverage of NGO’s expertise: Türkiye

URL: https://www.cenanvakfi.org

Year of creation: 2000

Main areas of work related to the Convention:

Activities Focusing on Identification, Documentation, Research Kenan Rifâî Institute of Studies, established within the Foundation, aims to evaluate the works of Kenan Rifâî Büyükaksoy. Inspired by his life, philosophy, and understanding of faith, the Institute conducts studies on the reflections of Sufism and ethical attitudes in our intellectual lives, drawing from his perspective as a prominent 20th-century thinker. Our Foundation has produced numerous printed and digital publications based on the work conducted within the Institute. Symposiums, Conferences, Seminars, Panels, and Talks Since its establishment, and in alignment with its founding objectives, the Foundation has organized 3 symposiums, 19 seminars, 11 panels, 95 conferences, 41 talks, 8 presentations, and 11 commemoration and award ceremonies. Library The library within the Foundation has a vast collection of over 16,000 works, including local and international literature in Sufism, history, literature, and philosophy. Preservation, Protection, Revitalization Permanent Exhibition The Cenan Foundation preserves works that reflect the ethnographic traces of Istanbul’s traditional Sufi life and culture. Within the Foundation’s building—an officially protected site—the historic Semahâne serves as a living cultural heritage space. It is furnished with traditional artifacts from its period, including the last known Mesnevîhan Kürsüsü (platform for reciting Rumi's Masnavi) in Istanbul, along with notable works, primarily by the renowned calligrapher Aziz Efendi. The Tradition of the Istanbul Style Rifâî Kıyam Kelime-i Tevhîdî Ceremony Practiced at the Ümmü Kenan Dervish Lodge As referenced in Section B.2, the Istanbul-Style Rifâî Kıyam Kelime-i Tevhîdî Ceremony tradition has been revived by the Cenan Foundation through collaboration with source individuals and the utilization of audio and written archives. In addition to teaching the technical elements of the ceremony, regular instructional sessions also ensure the transmission of its broader cultural dimensions, including its manners (âdâb) and formalities (erkân). To sustain the wisdom tradition within Istanbul’s cultural heritage, the Foundation has recompiled the poems of Kenan Rifâî Büyükaksoy —along with their musical settings— transcribed them into musical notation, and published them in book form. Through these initiatives, the Foundation has made a significant contribution to the safeguarding, continuity, and revitalization of this living tradition. Transmission, Formal or Non-formal Education, Promotion, Enhancement “Tuesday Lessons” Since 2014, nearly 230 lessons have been conducted weekly on Tuesdays, focusing on topics related to the "Tradition of Wisdom," as mentioned in Section B.2. These lessons continue to take place and are attended live by an average of 60 participants each week. Each session is digitally recorded and published on the Cenan Foundation's YouTube channel, where they garner over 400 views per week. Tavır Philosophy Academy The Tavır Philosophy Academy offers a range of educational programs and workshops that focus on the central ideas and fundamental questions of classical, Islamic, Western, and contemporary philosophy. Engaging in philosophical inquiry is crucial for a deep understanding of the wisdom traditions mentioned in Section B.2. Therefore, significant emphasis is placed on the philosophical frameworks that underpin this concept. In the realm of ethics, the Academy strives to encourage a conversation and mindset that embraces universal principles. This approach is rooted in the culture of Sufism while simultaneously engaging with modern philosophical viewpoints. Between 2002 and 2025, 20 distinct educational workshops were launched, offering 340 lessons with an average attendance of 20 participants per workshop. These lessons are still ongoing. Traditional Arts Workshops To raise awareness of our traditional arts—such as tezhip (inscribed in 2023 on UNESCO’s RL of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as part of a multinational file involving Türkiye), hüsn-i hat (Islamic calligraphy), and miniature painting (similarly inscribed in 2020) and to ensure their transmission to future generations, the Foundation organizes exhibitions, courses, and workshops. Since 2024, 16 courses have been launched in areas including Illumination (Tezhip), Murakkaa and Journal Workshops, providing training to a total of 25 participants. Classical Turkish Music Studies and Choir In order to spread the fundamental concepts of Classical Turkish Music and transmit this tradition to new generations, courses and concerts are organized. Since 2007, the Cenan Foundation Classical Turkish Music Choir has been holding two concerts each year. Our choir was also awarded the 'First Prize' in the inter-choir competition at the 'Dimitri Cantemir Traditional Music Festival,' held in 2016 in Galați, Romania. Educational and Cultural Activities for Balkan Countries As part of the "Bridge of Culture and Art from Türkiye to the Balkans" program, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Olguner from 2009 to 2016, students aged 12 to 18 and their teachers from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Macedonia were invited to Türkiye every summer. This cultural exchange program is made possible through official collaborations established by the Cenan Foundation with various foundations and associations in the relevant countries. It encompassed educational, artistic, and sightseeing activities. Initially starting with 15 participants in 2009, the program expanded 60 international participants to include by 2016. Children’s Workshops The Cenan Foundation’s Children’s Workshop program, designed in accordance with the Foundation’s philosophy and traditions for children aged 7–12, includes storytelling and creative drama sessions, music studies, and traditional arts workshops. Through these activities, children are introduced from an early age to the ethical and spiritual values of the culture, encouraging them to recognize, experience, and integrate these values into their lives. During the 2024–2025 period, 19 children participated in the program, with workshop activities implemented as separate modules. Activities Conducted with International Institutions and Universities Since 2009, the Cenan Foundation has systematically pursued international engagement initiatives to promote its expertise in traditional arts, philosophy, cultural heritage, and Sufi studies. These collaborations with universities, cultural institutions, and media organizations have enhanced academic exchange, strengthened the Foundation’s international visibility, and contributed to the preservation of universal values.

Objectives

The Cenan Foundation for Education, Culture, and Health is dedicated to the research, preservation, reinterpretation, promotion, and transmission of the irfânî values inherited by the Turkish Nation throughout its history. Additionally, the foundation emphasizes the tradition of wisdom and the scientific and universal dimensions of ethical culture and Sufism. The Cenan Foundation was established in honour of Kenan Rifâî (Büyükaksoy), a distinguished intellectual, Sufi, and Turkish educator of the 20th century who lived from 1867 to 1950. The foundation draws inspiration from his wisdom and philosophical insights, and it carries the name of his esteemed mother as a mark of respect for his revered memory. Kenan Rifâî Büyükaksoy's life and thoughts are considered exemplary representations of the Sufi way of life, particularly as it developed in Istanbul during the late 19th century and the early 20th century. His contributions play a vital role in Istanbul's cultural landscape, and he is acknowledged as a key figure in the intellectual tradition of 20th-century Turkish Sufism. The Foundation commenced its activities on 15 June 2000 and, in 2008, restored the building historically known as the Ümmü Kenan Dervish Lodge, transforming it into a cultural center. The Kenan Rifâî Institute of Studies, which is part of the Foundation, operates under the guiding principle of "pursuing wisdom through art, science, and philosophy." Its goals are to preserve the heritage of wisdom, enhance understanding through academic research, reinterpret this heritage through artistic and philosophical perspectives, and pass it on to future generations through educational initiatives. The Cenan Foundation preserves works that bear the ethnographic and authentic traces of Istanbul’s traditional Sufi life and Istanbul Sufi Culture. The Foundation carries out academic and artistic activities nourished by the tradition of wisdom in the fields of intangible cultural heritage such as philosophy, music, literature, architecture, and traditional arts. Aiming to create an environment of intercultural dialogue, it organizes multidisciplinary activities geared toward the identification, understanding, interpretation, and perpetuation of the wisdom tradition. Through organized courses, workshops, exhibitions, concerts, publications, and commemorative programs, the Foundation provides multidimensional contributions to the safeguarding, sustainability, and intergenerational transmission of intangible cultural heritage.

Cooperation

The Cenan Foundation for Education, Culture, and Health was established by the direct bearers of the Ken’an Rifâî tradition, with the mission of safeguarding and transmitting his thought and legacy. Ken’an Rifâî, a distinguished figure of the Rifâî Sufi path founded by Ahmed er-Rifâî in the 12th century, revitalized Sufi wisdom by harmonizing it with contemporary thought during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He preserved the core values of remembrance (dhikr), humility, service, and spiritual purification, and trained numerous students who continued this living tradition. In line with this legacy, the Cenan Foundation actively integrates classical expressions of Sufism—such as music, dhikr, oral transmission, spiritual discourses, and educational activities—with contemporary interpretations. The Foundation ensures that the wisdom tradition remains vibrant and consciously transmitted to future generations through the active participation of the community embodying this heritage. Adopting a community-centered approach to safeguarding, the Foundation engages directly with practitioners, scholars, and cultural groups. Its activities are built upon the contributions of those who create, practice, and transmit intangible cultural heritage. Furthermore, the Foundation collaborates with various civil society organizations, academic institutions, and cultural associations specializing in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Key partners include: • International Mevlana Foundation • Istanbul Conquest Society • Turkish Women’s Culture Association • Kubbealtı Academy of Culture and Arts Foundation • Altay Culture, Arts, and Education Foundation • Turkish Culture and Arts Association • Kerim Education, Culture, and Health Foundation • Kütahya Mevlana Research Culture and Arts Association • Üsküdar University – Institute for Sufi Studies • Istanbul International Civilization Studies Association • Hırka-i Şerif Foundation • Traditional Arts Association These collaborations involve organizing joint workshops, conferences, publications, and research projects, ensuring active engagement between heritage communities and broader audiences. Through such partnerships, the Foundation strengthens community-based safeguarding efforts, promotes intercultural dialogue, and contributes to the vitality and sustainability of intangible cultural heritage.