YOUNG PEOPLE, ACTIVE CITIZENS

OF EUROPE

WHO ARE WE?

A Survey conducted by Milliyet

Who are we?

• In this survey they talked 48 thousand people face to face.

• Turkey’s social structure and people’s ethnic and religous identity were questioned

• As an outcome it is a social fact that Turkey’s social structure is a mobile one.

• In 20 years, Turkey’s changed because of immigration (from village to city)

Being Turkish from forefather

What is the requirment to be a Turkish citizen?

Declaring that I am from Turkey

Should love Turkey

Being a Muslim

Must None of them Not a must

Ethnic distirubition of Turkey

Turkish KurdishHave

Turkish forefather

ArabicGeneralOthers

Should government support to protect

different identities in Turkey?TurkeyWoman

Man

Yes No

Supporting ethnic groups

Yes No

Supporting religion

What about education?

When we compare the eastern and the western part of Turkey; there is a huge difference between the income rate and education. Unfortunately Eastern part of Turkey is not civilized as Western part of Turkey.

Girls Let’s Go to the School (Haydi Kızlar Okula) and Daddy send me to School (Baba Beni Okula Gönder) Campaigns increased the amount of female students.

Education in General

29-43 years

old women

18-28 years old women

44+ years old men

29-43 years old men

18-28 years old men

44+ years old women

Adults age and gender distribution Adults Education

University

High School

Profession school

Middle School

Middle school

Can read and write

Cannot read and write

Religion

• In general Turkish people are bound to their religion but they are not orthodox.

• While defining someone’s identity, being muslim is above ethnic identity and occupation.

• On the other hand one third of the participants say that their mother or father or at least one of their relative has a different religion or sect.

• That shows us Turkey has an intermixed religion.

EthnicityMajority says “I am

from Turkey”.The identity list was above;1. To identify yourself with the city you

were born in.2. To identify yourself with being a Turkish

citizen3. To identify yourself with gender4. To identify yourself with ethnicity5. To identify yourself with religion6. To identify yourself with age7. To identify yourself with dressing codes8. To identify yourself with occupation

Identity List

• According to the list, first of all participants say I am from Turkey and then their religion, after then that the city they were born in.

• Ethnicity is coming after those three aspects.

Language

• SPEAKING in TURKISHAccording to the survey;

84.54 % speaks Turkish

19.7 % speaks Kurdish /Zaza

1.38 % speaks Arabic

1.10 % speaks other languages

TurkishKurdish

Arabic Other

Native Language Difference

RESULTBeing from Turkey !

• Ethnic and Religious identities are only elements of social structure and political culture.

• Identities are not stagnant their boundaries expand and shrink in relation to the circumstances.

• They are mobile and their context could be interpreted again and again.

Citizenship !• We see that the citizenship bound is developed as a result of

the transition of rural area society to the modern city society..

Urbanization !• New common living spheres and relations are established.• Different originated individuals come together in schools,

bussines, market places, religious places, entertainments and they build up friendships.

Finally; One can say that most of those different identities overlap

and formulate a socially dynamic structure of Turkey.

Non Governmental Organizations

Our Aims• To make a clear definition

of “Non Governmental Organization”.

• To generally explain how they are established.

• To show their aims and benefits.

• To answer the question: “Why are they too important nowadays?”

The Definition

Looking at the definitions given above we can say that Non Governmental Organizations are foundations that are not being conducted

by the government but enabling community to participate in bureaucracy as individuals.

The word “civilian” means “a person who is not on active duty with a military, naval, police, or fire fighting organization.” (dictionary.com) However, nowadays the word “civilian“ is defined as the individuals

participating in the process of governmental decisions and applications.

How Are They Established?

NGOs are founded by people who;

• Have common interests

• Have common thoughts

• Have common aims

• Want to participate in the process of governmental decisions and applications.

Their Aims And Benefits• There are NGOs almost about everything

that interests the community. They could be about health, education, art or anything else that seems to be vital for a modern society.

• For example, let’s compare some NGOs in Turkey such as Turkish Heart Foundation, Turkish Volunteers for Education Foundation and Ankara Jazz Foundation, which are founded in different areas such as health, education and art. These NGOs are obviously about different things but if look at them closer,we see that their aims and benefits are the same.

• Common aim: To participate in social development.

• Common benefit: Practically being able to participate in social development.

Why Are They So Important Nowadays?

As mentioned before NGOs are founded by a group of people having common

İnterests, thoughts and aims and who are willing to participate in governmental

İssues, as individuals. Therefore they prove that a society is

• Modern• Developed• Democratic

That is why NGOs are so important because they’re one great proof that a society is

civilized.

• Here are the results of the survey that we applied to some of our teachers and some people who live nearby our school.

When people ask about your cultural identity, which identity would you use? Declare. (Religious, ethnic, city you were born in etc.)

23

14

1 1 13

53.5

32.6

2.3 2.3 2.37.0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

country place I was born in citizen of the world profession intellectual no answer

Answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do you enjoy meeting people from different cultures?

40

1 1 1

93.0

2.3 2.3 2.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

yes sometimes no no answer

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Would you choose your wife/ husband from another nation?

38

3 2

88.4

7.0 4.7

010

20304050

607080

90100

yes no no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Would choose your wife/ husband from another religion?

34

63

79.1

14.0

7.0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

yes no no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do you identify yourself with your citizenship or your religion?

25

117

0

58.1

25.6

16.3

0.00

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

citizenship both none religion

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Does the religion in which you are a companion of has limitations?If yes do you obey them?

1

13

7 7

12

32.3

30.2

16.3 16.3

27.9

7.0

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

yes yes - I obeythem

yes - I don'tobey

no no - I don'tobey

no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do you think that National Identity Cards should have a religion category?

5

37

1

11.6

86.0

2.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

yes no no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do you conform to the rules of your religion?

2

23

2

13

34.7

53.5

4.7

30.2

7.0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

I conform to allof them

I'm conformingwhat I canconform to

I can't conform I don't want toconform

no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Are you a member of a Civil Community Foundation that people from your own culture established?

310

24

67.0

23.3

55.8

14.0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

there is afoundation that I

am an activemember of

even though I amnot too active, I am

member of afoundation

I don't have anyconnection with acivil community

foundation

no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do speak other languages rather than your mother language?

33

10

76.7

23.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

yes no

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Does your ethnic/ religious identity has an effect on your career choice?

0

43

0.0

100.0

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

yes no

answer

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do you teach next generations your own religion/ your culture?

33

4 6

76.7

9.314.0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

yes no no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Did your parents teach you their religion/ their culture?

38

4 1

88.4

9.32.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

yes no no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

What kind of music do you listen?

19 20

4

44.246.5

9.3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

some specific kind it doesn't matter no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do you prefer special menus that are suitable for the limitations of eating habits of some religions in restaurants or in public transportation vehicles?

10

31

2

23.3

72.1

4.7

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

yes no no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do you think that the religion lesson should be an elective lesson?

28

13

2

65.1

30.2

4.7

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

yes no no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do you believe that the religion of a country should be stated in various references?

14

23

6

32.6

53.5

14.0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

yes no no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do you participate to cultural activities?

39

2 2

90.7

4.7 4.7

010

2030

4050

6070

8090

100

yes no no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do your beliefs effect your outwear?

4

35

49.3

81.4

9.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

yes no no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

Do different cultures attract you?

42

0 1

97.7

0.0 2.30

20

40

60

80

100

120

yes no no answer

answers

num

ber an

d %

s

sayı %

If you were to open a Donation Foundation would you first open it to people that are from your religion and from your ethnic identity, or

would you make it open for everyone?

0 3 0

38

20.07.0

0.0

88.4

4.70

102030405060708090

100

It would beopen for peoplefrom only my

religion.

It would beopen for people

from myculture.

It would beopen for people

from allreligions.

It would beopen foreveryone.

no answer

answers

num

bers

and

%s

sayı %

• According to these graphs and results, we can conclude that;

• -Most people tell their homeland while their cultural identity was questioned,

• -93% of them enjoy meeting people from different cultures,• -Many of them would choose their couples from a different

nation and religion than theirs,• -50% of them define themselves with their citizenship,

rather than their religion,• -86% of tested people think there should not be any religion

categories on Turkey’s National Identity Cards,• -Many of them are not a part of any Civil Community

Foundation,• -76% of them are speaking a foreign language than their

mother language,• -Their ethnic or religious backgrounds don’t have any effect

on their choice of career...

• Results:• The very essential point of these researches, was to have

conscientious ideas about the reflection of people’s culture to their social lives and to get aware of different aspects of people on our environment. As a result, we can conclude from these surveys that, these aspects could change with the change of people’s social, economical, educational, religious and ethnical backgrounds.

We interviewed with Eyüboğlu School’s student council’s one of

representative.1) Do you have a student council in your school?• Yes, we have a student council in our school.

2) Have do you form student council? What kind of nomiees does the students support?• At the end of an academic year, each student in each class chooses their

nomenies to represent themselves. They write down three names. For each level, 2 people whose names are written most will participate in the election at the beginning of the academic year. For the president of the student council, nomenies are not chosen by the others. Students who want tell their names to be able to participate in the elections. Before the elections, students talk with the others and try to persuade them to be elected. The day before elections, each student are given elector cards which they will show during voting. Everybody in school including teachers vote for the president. But students only vote for their levels. A 10th grader can not vote for the representative of 9th graders. Then students chosen by teachers count each vote for each level and announce the level representatives and the president. Students choose people that they like mostly. Unfortunately people vote for their friends, not for the one who can really be successful. But there are some rules that school administration formed. Students in the student council have to have 3.00 out of 5 in their report cards and they can not have any discipline crime.

3) How do you run the student council? Could you tell us what are you doing at school as sturdent council?

• Each Tuesday, all the representatives and the president are meeting with a guiding teacher and make brainstorming, discuss things etc.. This is how it has to be. But unfortunately not all the representatives are coming to each single meeting. We have also a e-mail adress. Students can send mail to that adress and they can want us anything they want through this mail adress. But they don’t send their wills or feed backs.

4) Does administiration support your decisions or ideas? If yes, how much? If not why?

• Student Council is not that much active in our school. So there are not so much decisions that we send to the administration. But we know that there are simple things that they are accepting like daily wearing for 3-4 days a year, competations, races etc.. We also know that they won’t accept the change in the basis of the school rules and student profile. Like changing lesson times, uniform etc.. But to know administrations limits by heart, a plan has to be send to administration. Since the student council is not active and spoken plans are remains as spoken and not send to principle as a step, we can not know about their attitude. We can just guess.

5) What do the students want from the student council mostly? • Small classes don’t want to wear schol uniforms and they want to come to school

with their daily clothes. They want activities like paint ball, go kart, picnic. They want student council to plan those acivities outside the school and invite them. Girls in lycee classes wants to wear trousers instead of skirts. They want to be able to wear colorful sweaters instead of school sweaters.

School Name: Üsküdar Çağrıbey Anatolian High SchoolThey have a student council which brings suggestions to the school administration.

School administration considers their suggestions.

School Name: Haci Sabanci LisesiThey have a student council.

Once a month all the students gather in the meeting rool and talk about their complaints.

School administration considers their deficiencies.

School Name: Çengelköy High SchoolDelegates of the classes from the student council.

There are meetings with those delegates.An example study of the Student Council: They organized study halls

for ninth grade students. Older students were teaching the ninth grades. This program helped ninth grade students in their lessons.

School Name: IMKB Anatolian Girl Profession High SchoolThey have a student council which consist 29 students.

President of the council is the announcer.An example study of the Student Council: They organized

seminars about communication.

School Name: Kadıköy Anadolu LisesiThey have a student council that is not pretty in action.

Again, my friend wouldn’t want to join the council because

she says that they don’t do anything, they just exist in theory.

School Name: Kuleli Military High SchoolThey don’t give any information about their student

council because they are a military school.

School Name: Kandilli Girl High SchoolThey have a student council but it is not as

powerful as other schools student councils’ therefore they are not very pleasant.

School Name: İstanbul Beykoz Akbaba Business and Profession High School

Unfortunately they do not have a student council.

School Name: Ataşehir LisesiThey have a student council that doesn’t work too much.

I mean there are no organizations or anything that they think about

and then organize.

School Name: Cağalolğlu Anatolian High SchoolThey don’t have a student council.

School Name: Üsküdar American Academy An example study of the Student Council: They organize

events such as May Day, Talent Show.

They help administration with organizing exam schedule.

School Name: Işık High SchoolThey have a student council however they are not very

active.

School Name: Yıldız High SchoolThey don’t have a student council.

School Name: Robert CollegeThey have a student council and in fact it works

perfectly. Still, my friend who I had talked with didn’t ever

try to get into the council and she doesn’t think that she

will because she says that there’ll be lots of work to do. Again, it shows that the council

works pretty hard.

School Name: Ted İstanbul High SchoolThey have a student council.

General Director and the other teachers ask the students ideas and they try encourage them

to do something for their school.

School Name: Doğa High School As a student council they are a little different from other schools because they have very different ideas.

For example: nowadays the school is building a ice skating rink for its students.

The Comenius Project Overall ReportIn this Project, 48 teachers of our school were

submitted to a survey of 21 questions, helping to show the effect of their ethnocultural background

to their social life. Some of our teachers came from different part of the world and some of are came from different part of our country. Several

person of different ethnical, religious, economical and educational background were questioned.

Also, different schools from Istanbul were observed and their democratic aspects were

observed. Finally, the interviews we made with different women gave us several information on their level of education and their works –which,

once again, varied from one person to another. As an outcome, it can be concluded that the effect of

ethnocultural backgrounds change their aspects by the economic and educational level of people.

Sources• http://www.tegv.org/v2/default.asp • http://www.kocbilgi.com/images/responsibility/tegv.jpg• http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/211183.jpg• http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/245903.jpg• http://www.deltur.cec.eu.int/sivil.rtf• http://www.cgdbursa.org/cagdas200306icerik.asp?Artid=30• http://www.ufukturu.net/YazarOku.asp?Haberid=16901&Ya

zarid=85• www.dictionary.com

Thank You For Listening• Elif Kırçuval

• Naz Çakıroğlu

• Selin Güvenç

• Meline Çilingir