Women, Young People, and Children Came Together at the Fair

At Municipality Street at the 95th İzmir International Fair, services for women, children, and young people are being introduced to visitors through interactive experiences. A game coded by children is being enjoyed by fair visitors, while services and programs for women and young people are also being presented.

The 95th İzmir International Fair continues to welcome visitors at Kültürpark. Municipality Street, where İzmir Metropolitan Municipality showcases its services and initiatives through a variety of interactive experiences, is among the fair’s popular attractions. At the area hosted by the Department of Women and Family Services, visitors can also learn about programs and services designed for women, children, and young people.

Children Coded It, Fair Visitors Played It

At the interactive experience area on Municipality Street, children are presenting a game they developed during robotics and coding classes to fair visitors. Merve Ece Meral, a robotics and coding instructor at the Child Services Branch Directorate, said that children receive robotics and coding training as part of a 10-week program.

Meral said, “As part of our science and technology workshops, we provide 10 weeks of robotics and coding classes. At the interactive experience area at our fair stand, we combined the Super Mario game we coded during the classes with a circuit and conductive panels. We chose Super Mario because it is a nostalgic game. We coded the game together with the children and connected it to a circuit. This gave other children visiting the fair the opportunity to experience a game created by their peers. Children usually play the game using a keyboard, but here they played it using their feet. It was a surprising experience for them as well.”

Eleven-year-old Gökşen Karabulut, who visited the interactive experience area, said, “We played Super Mario by controlling it with our feet. Playing the game this way is really fun. This is my first time at the fair, and I’m very happy to be here.”

“I Completed the Survey and Learned About the Services”

Gamze Çöplüoğlu, who works at the Women’s Services Branch Directorate, said that they provide information about services for women as well as the Women’s Needs Survey.

Çöplüoğlu said, “Women visiting our stand can complete our Women’s Needs Survey by scanning the QR code. We also provide information about the activities of our branch directorate and our women’s solidarity centers. We invite all women visiting the fair to stop by our stand.”

Fidan Karaköse, who visited the stand, said she learned about the services available to women: “I received some very useful information at the stand. I learned about women’s rights. In particular, I learned that women can ask to get off municipal buses at a location of their choice along the route during nighttime hours. I think this is a very valuable service. I completed the survey and learned about the services available to women. It was a very enjoyable experience.”

Courses and Workshops for Young People Introduced

The Youth Services Branch Directorate is also introducing its services for young people aged 18 to 30 at Municipality Street. Project coordinator Burcu Eriş said they provide information to help young people benefit from courses and workshops as well as social and cultural activities.

Eriş said, “At the fair, we are providing information about the services we offer to young people aged 18 to 30. We introduce our programs so that young people can take advantage of social activities such as trips, as well as courses and workshops.”

Kadir Karaköse, who visited the stand, said, “I learned about activities that young people can participate in. It was a very nice experience. The fair is also very enjoyable overall. We come here every year.”