With its impressive debut, hundreds of total guests, and over a dozen speakers, youth group RISE’s pinnacle event, “Çay, Çekirdek & Chat,” is now a recognizable brand within BAYCC, continuing to be a gathering point for discussion, education, and intellectual curiosity on a limitless span of topics. Given its success, the youth group RISE, who were tasked with representing BAYCC dialogue efforts in the Civic Engagement Seminar in Malibu, were also asked to organize a Çay, Çekirdek & Chat as part of the seminar, which ended up being a massive success and an exchange of beautiful moments. Featuring Mr. Cihangir Arslan, the Malibu edition of Çay, Çekirdek & Chat discussed International Hizmet Efforts in the 90s, a reminiscent topic for many. Running for approximately 1-2 hours, the Socratic chat took in the Lighthouse of Pepperdine University. As Mr. Arslan touched on the difficulties and rewards of serving the cause decades ago in challenging locations such as Russia, the guests were filled with resonance, gratitude, and pride. 

As he continued to share his experience across several countries, Mr. Arslan held the room’s complete attention, sometimes bringing tears and other times erupting the audience in laughter with his compelling stories. The discussion concluded with a Q&A session, in which guests exhausted their questions, ranging from detailed inquiries to simple gestures of gratitude. Uniformly, however, the event was a rich, rewarding experience for everyone involved. Following the success of yet another successful Çay, Çekirdek & Chat, the RISE team thanked the efforts, unwavering attention, and willingness of all those who were part of the unfolding of the event, whether in the anecdotes of Mr. Arslan or as their listener.