Following the Fiskaya Social Facility in the Yenişehir district, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality has opened its second social facility, Hamravat Social Facility. Completed in just five months in Kardeşlik Park in the Bağcılar neighbourhood of the Bağlar district, the facility will provide a safe, inclusive and accessible public space for all residents, particularly women.

The facility is expected to serve 500 people a day and will be staffed entirely by women. It will be operated by Med Kentsel ve Sosyal Hizmetler San. Tic. A.Ş., a municipal subsidiary.

The opening ceremony for the facility, established as part of the municipality’s people-centred approach to local government, was attended by Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Emin Ay; DEM Party Diyarbakır MP Adalet Kaya; DEM Party provincial co-chairs Fatime Üzül Levent and Yunus Muratakan; district municipality co-mayors; members of the Metropolitan Municipality Council; deputy secretaries-general; representatives of civil society organisations; and numerous residents. The ceremony attracted considerable public interest.

‘Its contribution to women’s employment is highly valuable’

Speaking at the opening ceremony, DEM Party Diyarbakır MP Adalet Kaya said that the economic crisis and deepening poverty were among the country’s most pressing problems, stressing that women were the most severely affected.

Noting that women were struggling with severe poverty, Kaya said:

“This facility is extremely important because it will employ women exclusively. We all know first-hand how difficult it is for women to participate in production processes. For this reason, this facility, opened in line with our municipality’s social policies, will make a significant contribution to women. It is highly valuable both in terms of tackling deep poverty and providing a safe space where families can spend time comfortably.”

‘We are making public spaces available to the people’

Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak said they were delighted to open the facility. Noting that it would serve all sections of society, Bucak said:

“Women, young people and families will be able to use this facility with peace of mind. We are adopting a model in which all staff, from cooks to other service personnel, are women. We also aim to ensure that, in both the short and long term, products that our Department of Rural Services has been producing for some time, both in the districts and through agricultural production, will be available on the shelves here.”

Co-Mayor Bucak noted that privately operated businesses also occupied parks and public spaces in Diyarbakır, but that over time, these venues had begun applying high and varying prices. She continued:

“As local authorities, we have taken a decision: once the contracts for businesses operating in parks belonging to the public expire, we will bring these facilities under the management of our municipal companies. Our aim is to provide services to our community on more affordable and economical terms. We want our residents to benefit from these spaces in the fairest and most equitable way possible. We will continue our work with determination, making it more participatory and accessible while prioritising women’s employment.”

Stating that the municipality was operating in a challenging economic climate, with budget constraints and rising inflation, Co-Mayor Bucak said they were pursuing a people-centred approach through municipal subsidiaries. She thanked everyone who attended the opening ceremony.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks opening

Following the speeches, the attendees and residents jointly cut the ribbon to officially open Hamravat Social Facility. After the ceremony, the co-mayors and their delegation toured the facility and received information about its operations.

The facility’s pricing policy

Hamravat Social Facility will follow an affordable pricing policy in line with the non-profit principle of people-centred local government. Operated by the municipal subsidiary Med Kentsel ve Sosyal Hizmetler San. Tic. A.Ş., the facility will offer tea, coffee, breakfast and a range of hot and cold food at accessible prices below prevailing market rates.