Youth unhappy on their own day
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ISTANBUL – In honor of the country’s founder and its future, Turkey celebrates the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day. Leaders praise Turkey’s next generation as the youth participate in athletic activities. But discontent among the young shrouds the bright future, according to a study that reveals they feel the lack of education and employment opportunities are major problems.
On a day commemorating the importance of youth as the guarantors of Turkey’s bright future, youths polled for a recent study said they had little confidence in the country’s education system or its current political leaders.
Turkish youth yesterday celebrated the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, a day dedicated to marking the fact that the youth are the guarantee of Turkey’s future as outlined by Turkey’s founder.
As the country celebrated the 90th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk landing in Samsun to start Turkey’s War of Independence after the Ottoman Empire’s World War I defeat, ceremonies took place all around the country, with the first held at Atatürk’s Mausoleum, or Anıtkabir, in Ankara.President Abdullah Gül, in a statement he wrote in Anıtkabir’s memorial book, said: “The Turkish youth are determined to strengthen the Republic of Turkey. We, as a nation, are sure of the fact that the young generations will live on with the knowledge of the responsibility they have and carry our nation to the utmost levels of civilization," he said.
The main ceremonies took place at the May 19 Stadium, with high school students participating in various athletic activities to mark the day.
Ceremonies and activities also took place in all schoolyards and city centers and in many stadiums around the country.
A study conducted by Forum Istanbul Youth Platform and GfK Turkey, a polling company, titled, "What does youth think about Turkey in 2023?" showed that despite political leaders’ statements about youth being the future, the main concerns of the youth itself are the education they receive and the employment opportunities available once they graduate, which are key to Turkey eventually utilizing their capabilities to develop the country.
Nineteen percent believe education is the biggest problem in the country, followed by 14 percent who believe unemployment is key. Twelve percent say terrorism and 10 percent say threats to secularism are the biggest problems.
Here are exclusive stories from Thursday's Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review of Turkey's youth:
Education, jobs seen as major issues by youth
Ceremonies held to mark Youth Day