Turkish municipalities launch new youth education and technology initiatives

Various municipalities across Turkey are launching new educational, technological, and cultural initiatives for children and youth.

In Şanlıurfa, Haliliye Municipality is constructing the Keşif Kampüsü, a 5,859-square-meter facility designed to provide applied training in fields such as astronomy, aviation, space, and defense industry. Additionally, TEKNOFEST 2026 is scheduled to take place at the Şanlıurfa GAP Airport from September 30 to October 4, attracting various technology teams.

In Kahramanmaraş, the Cahit Zarifoğlu Children’s Art Center is opening with 13 different workshops, including STEM, robotics, and drama. The municipality is also hosting weekly storytelling and art workshops at the Rasim Özdenören Children’s Library. Furthermore, a youth center has been dedicated to honoring the memory of victims of a school attack by naming classrooms and libraries after them.

Other regional developments include Efeler Municipality’s Digital Youth Center (DİGEM) offering free training in AI and software, and the launch of a children’s choir by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality. In Mersin, the Career Center is hosting university student community meetings to foster collaboration, while in Kocaeli, the Gebze Beyaz Kalpler Center provides vocational training in fields like pastry making and hairdressing for youth outside formal education.