Southeastern group rolls up sleeves for city planning
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Anatolia News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 04, 2009 00:00
BİTLİS - Aiming to improve livability in cities, the student Empati Group prepared and presented a project to the European Union Education and Youth Program in February.
The project named "Cities Pass Through Me" came in 23rd among 97 projects submitted. The group is made of students from Bitlis in southeastern Turkey. The program’s president approved the Bitlis students’ project, which aimed to improve the level of livability in cities.
Cevat Kaya, head of the Empati Group, said they were waiting for nongovernmental organizations’ support and the local governments to cooperate in upgrading the quality of life in cities.
Kaya said the project’s name came from song lyrics by Feridun Düzağaç, a Turkish singer. "Cities always have people coming and people going. Although they cannot go anywhere they grow, develop, provide opportunities, life and they give hope to some people," said Kaya.
Disabled people a part of the project
The students’ project included ideas on how to improve cities to better accommodate the disabled. Kaya said the disabled could not be separated from the public and that they planned their project for the people, which include the disabled, to have an easier and more livable life.
"We are aiming to lift the barriers for disabled people and give them the chance to continue their daily lives just like other people. We also want to see life from their point of view. Disabled people are a problem in the eyes of people who don’t hear or see them," Kaya said. The Empati Group will organize panels and trips to other cities in August to promote their project.
The members of the group want to exchange ideas with the representatives of NGOs and will organize workshops in cooperation with them.
Cevat Kaya, head of the Empati Group, said they were waiting for nongovernmental organizations’ support and the local governments to cooperate in upgrading the quality of life in cities.
Kaya said the project’s name came from song lyrics by Feridun Düzağaç, a Turkish singer. "Cities always have people coming and people going. Although they cannot go anywhere they grow, develop, provide opportunities, life and they give hope to some people," said Kaya.
Disabled people a part of the project
The students’ project included ideas on how to improve cities to better accommodate the disabled. Kaya said the disabled could not be separated from the public and that they planned their project for the people, which include the disabled, to have an easier and more livable life.
"We are aiming to lift the barriers for disabled people and give them the chance to continue their daily lives just like other people. We also want to see life from their point of view. Disabled people are a problem in the eyes of people who don’t hear or see them," Kaya said. The Empati Group will organize panels and trips to other cities in August to promote their project.
The members of the group want to exchange ideas with the representatives of NGOs and will organize workshops in cooperation with them.