Izmir Youth Municipality came to life

In line with the youth-oriented city vision of Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer, council member election was held for the Izmir Youth Municipality, where the role of young people in the city administration will increase. Turkey's first and only Youth Municipality was brought to life with the participation of young people from Izmir between the ages of 18-30.

Council members, substitute council members and volunteers who will take an active role in Izmir Youth Municipality, which aims to enable young people to have a greater say in local government on the basis of active citizenship, have been determined by election. With the participation of 196 young people from 23 districts in Izmir, 88 council members, 44 substitute council members and council member volunteers were formed by drawing lots. The meeting of the 1st Term Izmir Youth Municipality Council will be held on April 8, 2023 in the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Council Hall with the participation of Mayor Tunç Soyer.

We are happy to walk arm in arm with young people

Speaking at the meeting where İzmir Youth Municipality council members were determined, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Ertuğrul Tugay said, “With the vision of our Mayor Tunç Soyer, we are trying to expand a management approach in which young people play a leading role in the city. We are extremely pleased to walk arm in arm with young people, to produce and implement together. Our assignment is to be a facilitator for young people. On behalf of our Mayor, I can say that we are ready to do our share.”

Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Commission President Şamil Sinan An said, “We need the mind, light and faith of the young people who are kept away from decision-making mechanisms by being called the leaders of tomorrow. We are ready to do our best to pave the way for young people and to include them in the present.”

Young people will also have a say in the city

Izmir City Council Youth Assembly President İsmail Ferhat Kaplan, on the other hand, stated that as the Youth Assembly, they are always ready for the activities that can be carried out together with the Youth Municipality.

Kaan Levent Bozdağ, representing the Izmir Youth Municipality founding council, talked about how the Izmir Youth Municipality project has come from the first day until today. Bozdağ said, “Youth Municipality will operate with the logic of a shadow municipality. We will have a say in the city. We no longer want to be the leaders of tomorrow, but the partners of today.”