Hosted by Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality, a Digital Youth Centre has been established at the Sümerpark Community Hub to enhance young people’s digital competencies and broaden employment opportunities, with EU financing and UNDP support. Speaking at the opening, Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun stated that they work with a youthful spirit in every field.

Hosted by Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality, the Digital Youth Centre (DİGEM) was opened at the Sümerpark Community Hub to strengthen young people’s digital skills and improve employment opportunities in innovative professions. Implemented under the project “Bugünden Geleceğin Meslekleri” (“Professions of the Future from Today”), with financing from the European Union (EU) and the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB), the opening ceremony of the Diyarbakır Digital Youth Centre was attended by Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun, Sur Municipality Co-Mayor Fatma Gulan Önkol, DBB Chief Executive Emrullah Gördük, TBB Deputy Secretary-General Şengül Altan Arslan, Maria Luisa Wygonowska, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Türkiye, UNDP Türkiye Resident Representative Monica Merino, district co-mayors, department heads and many young people.

‘We care about young people’s access to shared community spaces’

Speaking at the opening ceremony, TBB Deputy Secretary-General Şengül Altan Arslan said she was proud to be there, adding: “I do not want to dwell on what the TBB does; rather, I wish to highlight why we attach importance to such a project. We want young people’s ideas, their access to digitalisation, and their ability to reach a shared living space in the world of the future.”

‘Cities that sideline young people lose their dynamism’

Pointing out that the world is changing and that the understanding of local government is rapidly evolving in tandem, Arslan said: “Cities are no longer limited to infrastructure and certain services; we are in a period when cultural values are being shaped. We see clearly that this transformation is significant under the leadership of young people. Cities that keep young people outside the process lose their dynamism. The correct management of this process by local authorities is the greatest assurance. We know that, with young people’s innovative ideas, development is the power of today and the guarantor of tomorrow. We must make room for young people’s dreams.”

‘It is important to invest in the energy of youth’

Maria Luisa Wygonowska, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation, said it felt wonderful to be back in Diyarbakır, adding: “To invest in the energy of Diyarbakır’s youth and stand with them; I am proud to be with you today at the opening of the Youth Training Centre established under this project in Diyarbakır, a city I greatly admire for its deep history and rich culture. We are grateful for the cooperation and resolve you have shown. We take pride in creating opportunities for the people who live in this extraordinary city.”

‘Young people are the driving force’

UNDP Resident Representative Monica Merino stated that the centre in question is an important step towards advancing digital transformation across Türkiye. Emphasising that the driving force of this national priority is young people, Merino said: “It is important to lead this transformation by creating spaces where young people in cities like Diyarbakır can access digitalisation. This initiative, which encourages the participation of young people, is even more significant in cities such as Diyarbakır with their historical diversity. Within this scope, 45 digital youth centres will be established.”

Co-Mayor Hatun: We work with a spirit of youth in every field

Greeting the participants, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun said: “Diyarbakır is your home. This city is a city of women. Diyarbakır is women-friendly. People have lived together here for thousands of years. As you know, we went through an extraordinary period. For a year, every day felt as if a state-appointed trustee might arrive tomorrow, and that year was almost wasted. Ten years ago our colleagues laid solid foundations and put in great effort; we have continued on that basis. Our outlook on the world will never change. We started with youth and we will achieve success with youth. We work with a spirit of youth not only in the field of technology but in every aspect of our lives. This is a very important endeavour. We thank the European delegation. Today this work has started in 45 cities in Türkiye, and we are one of those cities. We want to build this society together. Technology has entered all our lives. We want the future of our children, our people and our young people to be as developed as in advanced countries. This place belongs to young people.”

Following the speeches, the Co-Mayor and participants cut the ribbon to inaugurate the centre. Co-Mayor Hatun expressed his good wishes for the centre to benefit young people, then toured the centre with participants and received information.

About DİGEM

Financed by the European Union and established by the UN Development Programme with the cooperation support of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, the centre aims to provide young people aged 18–29 with training and skills in employment, software development, digital marketing, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and data analysis, and to deliver awareness training to young people aged 10–17.

In addition to blended (in-person and online) training, mentoring and advisory services will be provided to support young people’s pathways into employment.

Visit to the Metropolitan Municipality by the delegation

After the opening, the delegation present at the ceremony visited Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality and held a meeting with Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun.