The Association for Supporting Contemporary Living’s Urla Branch Contemporary Activity Center was opened on April 23, 2022.

ÇYDD President Prof. Dr. Ayşe Yüksel, Vice-President Adv. Sedat Durna and Headquarters Executive
Committee Associate Members Tanzer Boğan, Bahattin Carav, and Deniz Garip Yılmaz attended the
opening ceremony.

Members, volunteers and other NGO representatives, and ÇYDD İzmir, Seferihisar, Çeşme ve Karşıyaka branch executives and members were also present at the ceremony.   Personel Development and Body Language Instructor and author Ahmet Şerif İzgören were among the participants.

Urla Branch President Sibel Bavli spoke at the ceremony and she indicated that they were proud to be able to continue their work as a Contemporary Activity Center with support from volunteers within 6 short years after their opening as the ÇYDD Urla Branch in 2016. She said, ‘’our goal is to provide an opportunity for contemporary society and education with the projects we initiate for our children, youth, and women. As our founding member Prof. Dr. Türkan Saylan Hodja used to say, ‘if there is a child somewhere waiting for your light to be able to reach science, democracy, peace, and enlightenment, you don’t have the right to let your light go out. You will shine even if there are only seconds to your death.’ We too will continue to shine with support from you and we thank you all very much for that. With the help of our supporters, we gave scholarships to 160  middle school and university students. However, giving scholarships to our students is not our only purpose. We aim to educate our children and our youth with the guidance of Atatürk principles and reforms as individuals that own the Contemporary Turkish Republic. This is why we need to hold our opening on April 23. I take this opportunity to celebrate the 102 nd anniversary of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) and the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Holliday and I commemorate with respect and yearning our Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.’’

ÇYDD President Prof. Dr. Ayşe Yüksel said, “Our association is continuing its work all around the country with 120 branches and countless volunteers. We are making a difference in the lives of thousands of children and youth. With projects we develop for our women, we are enabling them to be present in social settings; by owning the earth, the air, and the water of our country which was won over by formidable battles, we are transferring it with great responsibility to our future generations. I deeply believe that Urla Contemporary Activity Center which we are opening today will be a center where more children, youth, and women will get the support they need and I take this opportunity to convey my heartfelt thanks to all who gave their help.’’

The opening ceremony came to an end with the presentation of plaquettes to all the supporters of the
new activity center.