Speaking at a seminar for instructors working in Zarokistan, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun underlined the importance of work carried out in the field of language, stressing that municipal services can be delivered in multiple languages.

The Department of Social Services’ Children’s Branch launched a comprehensive in-service training seminar within the scope of the Zarokistan Nursery and Pre-School Programme. The opening of the seminar, held in the conference hall at Sümerpark Common Life Area, was attended by Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun, Deputy Secretary General Zerin Türk, Head of the Department of Social Services Ömer Saman, municipal council members, and a large number of instructors.

Head of the Department of Social Services Ömer Saman provided information on the institution’s activities. Recalling that multilingualism in municipal services had begun ten years ago, Saman said:

“Our aim was to extend this work across the entire city and to build a foundation from which everyone living in this country could benefit. With the participation of our new colleagues in this training, we have planned our approach to language-building in line with the paradigm of this process. I believe the next six days will be filled with discussion and development.”

The programme continued with a slide presentation on the activities of Zarokistan nurseries.

‘A tree grows from its roots, human beings from their language’

In his address, Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun expressed his gratitude for the work that had been carried out over the years, saying: “A tree grows from its roots; human beings grow from their language.”

However, he pointed out that this phrase alone was not sufficient, noting that in recent years there had been a very heavy policy of assimilation targeting languages. Co-Mayor Hatun emphasised that people have resisted assimilation and underlined the importance of the struggle carried out against it.

‘Municipal Services Can Be Delivered in Multiple Languages’

Emphasising that municipal services can be delivered in multiple languages across all fields, Co-Mayor Hatun said:

“The future of children is the future of language; just as the roots of a tree are strengthened by the soil, no one can easily pull those roots from the ground. Because we have seen that even when a government-appointed trustee was imposed, families did not abandon this responsibility. With a corrupt mindset, they tried to make them give up this fundamental principle, but a great struggle was waged against it.”

After the seminar, Co-Mayor Hatun visited the children’s playrooms.

Training to last 6 days

The seminar will continue until 16 August and will consist of training sessions on various topics. The sessions will cover a wide range, from social services to children’s rights, from mother-tongue education to the Montessori and Reggio Emilia models.