Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun laid the foundation of a new library to be built on a 490-square-metre site in Medya neighbourhood, Kayapınar district. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Co-Mayor Bucak emphasised that in order for such projects to continue, local governments must be able to act more freely in terms of authority, responsibility, budget and scope of work.
Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality continues to add new libraries and educational spaces to the city under the motto “A Library for Every Neighbourhood.” Within this framework, the Department of Public Works of the Metropolitan Municipality held the groundbreaking ceremony for the library to be constructed on a 490-square-metre site in Medya neighbourhood, Kayapınar district.
The ceremony was attended by Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun, DBB Council Co-Spokesperson Demet Ceylan, council members Emra Doğan, Abdülselam İnceören, Mahmut Yokuş, Merve Otlu and Özlem Başarı, DBB Secretary General Emrullah Gördük, Deputy Secretaries General Zerin Türk and Serdar Bakıroğlu, department heads, district municipality co-mayors, Mehmet Kaya (President of Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce and Industry – DTSO), and representatives of non-governmental organisations.
Co-Mayor Bucak: Structural Challenges in Education
In her speech at the groundbreaking ceremony, Co-Mayor Bucak drew attention to the difficulties in the field of education, stating:
“Undoubtedly, we live in a country with structural challenges in education. One of the most fundamental duties of local governments is to make local improvements and provide support in problematic areas that face structural difficulties and operate with challenges. From the early 2000s until now, we have been witnesses to, and closely familiar with, the support given to education by local governments under the democratic and inclusive paradigm of the DEM Party and its predecessors. Observing today’s circumstances in the education system and its structural difficulties, we are aware that a very challenging struggle for education is being waged — both for students and young people, and for parents.”
“A Library in Every Neighbourhood”
Co-Mayor Bucak stated that they would continue their efforts to establish libraries in every neighbourhood, saying:
“As local governments, both in our district municipalities and in the Metropolitan Municipality, we will strive to ensure that libraries are built in every neighbourhood of our four central districts as well as our rural districts. We will continue to create spaces where young people and children can access books, information and study environments.”
‘We will be opening in December’
Emphasising that they also wish to establish information and education support centres alongside libraries, Co-Mayor Bucak added:
“In this regard, we have already started our work. Sur Academy will begin providing education as of next week. It will operate as a practice club for university entrance exam (YKS) candidates, working in line with the curriculum. Some places have been refurbished and prepared for this term, while the foundations of others will be laid today together with you. We believe that we will be able to open this place in December. I already wish the very best for our students and children living here in Kayapınar.”
“We Can Overcome Challenges Through Participatory and Local Governance”
Highlighting that a steel structure would be built on a 490-square-metre site, Co-Mayor Bucak continued her speech as follows:
“When it comes to children’s education, children’s health and other issues that serve the interests and benefit of society, we are unfortunately told to ‘make savings’. For this reason, today we are unable to open a multi-storey library, a much larger educational support centre, or a community centre here. The system only allows us to build a single-storey structure, and that too only through legal methods that we ourselves have developed. We hope that, with this new period, local governments will be able to act more freely in terms of authority, responsibility, budget and scope of work, to listen to the needs of society and to realise them through a democratic, participatory and local governance approach.”
“We Have the Strength and Energy to Continue These Efforts”
Expressing pride in creating a new space for the city, Co-Mayor Bucak concluded her speech by saying:
“We are designing a place where 115 students can study, read books and access information. It will also include a 30-square-metre cafeteria and additional waiting areas. Perhaps it may not fully meet the needs of this neighbourhood, but we know that in the next neighbourhood we can create something different, and in the one after that, something else again. We have the strength, energy and foresight to continue realising these projects. For this, we feel both proud and honoured. We extend our thanks to all our colleagues and everyone whose efforts have made today’s groundbreaking possible.”
Library Planned to Open in Three Months
The library, which will serve up to 115 people at once, will offer a modern study environment especially for students and young people, with a usable space of 323 square metres. It will include a 15-seat cafeteria with a self-service tea and coffee area, as well as a 35-square-metre waiting lounge. The library is planned to be completed and opened for service within approximately three months.
