United Nations Public Service Awards Case Studies

The migration in South-east Anatolia Region from villages towards cities in last fifteen years caused the sociological structure of the region to reshape significantly and brought along a set of problems as well. One of the city of region is Batman has experienced the migration intensively. Migration process causes deep rooted modification in immigrants’ living conditions. Changing of social and physical environment of immigrant brought along adaptation problems of these novelties. Target group(s) from village to the city center had a set of difficulties in adapting the urban social life. Differences between rural and urban life, lack of education, unemployment has been arisen as main problems of immigrant population. As a consequence a set of psycho-social problems appeared in considerable part of the immigrant population. Especially, women, young girl and children were the main group affected harmfully in this migration process.
On the other hand the flood that occurred on 31st October-2nd November, 2006 caused high rates of life and property losses in 10 districts of Batman City. These districts consist of the most immigrated and being the highest unemployment ratio and low ratio of employed and qualified people. Flood disaster affected the people who live in these districts both economically and psychologically. The individuals live in the flood risk area and the area exposed to the flood in Batman City composed of; uneducated, unemployed, education and economic levels of whom are low, self-distrust and people extremely anxious for future, living in crowded families, working as seasonal workers, forced to work in their childhood, the ones who cannot support their families financially and therefore their participation to the economical life is low. As such in immigrant process again women and children, as fragile part of the social structure, become the most affected and disadvantaged social group in this bother situation.

What is the initiative about? (the solution)
A new initiative was started for the citizens that were affected by migration phenomenon and flood disaster. In the context of this initiative a series of project were implemented in further of participation of aggrieved population to the urban social life. Within the context of “Psychologic Support and Guidance Service for The People Migrated from Rural to Urban Project” Physiological Counseling and Guidance Center (Family Information Center) was established to give counseling to immigrant individuals can not to be adapted urban life thereupon they have problems such as economic, social and physiological. Alo 182 physiologic service hotline was set up. The Project has been ongoing since 2008 March and 300 women has been received consultancy from Services. 290 women have been cured in the trauma therapy Groups and in the individual interviews. “Straightening of Women in Socio-Economic Project” was implemented. By educating individuals who are 18-35 aged immigrants and living in the area that was affected by the flood and exposed to the flood o on the vocational course such as domestic economy, clothes, computer, make them have professional skills and elicit their employment. It is also by this Project aimed to increase their educational levels and professional aptitudes, provide employment for them and as a result provide self-confidence on them. Informative meetings about women right, civil law, family planning, water usage, hygiene, and child care and nutrition have been held in the province of Batman. 100 young girl and women attended to the workshops. Public awareness was increased on the subject of professional skill studies and workshops. By “I Support Education As Well Project” tuition assistance was provided to the children low income family enrolled in elementary school. 290 primary and elementary school students were given scholarship. “For Better Futures” Total 2000 children, 1045 girls and 955 boys, received various trainings, their social and mental development was promoted by giving them psychological and counseling guidance. In the context of “Come On Children, Let’s Go to Kindergarden!” contemporary preschool education was given to 4-6 aged 4000 children who were unable to receive preschool education throughout the city. Families were informed about preschool children education. “Journey to the History”: A trip to Istanbul and Çanakkale city has been organized especially for the immigrant students who cannot benefit from such travel opportunities determined by the school authority/board among those receiving primary and elementary education at the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and the 10th grades. 2016 students in total have benefited from the project. In the context of “Target Top 15 Project” 9249 immigrant students were provided with the guidance and counseling, family education and educational materials alongside with being educated in different subjects such as exam motivation and stress management; and seminars were held in all the schools of our city.

Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
Batman Governor Mr. Dr. Recep Kızılcık (PhD) offered solution. All the projects were implemented by Batman Governorship. Stakeholders are women, young girls, children and all the target group(s) and families which were affected by the flood, live in Batman City. I Support Education As Well Association, Multi Purpose Community Centre Association were important NGOs that attended designing of the projects, also named NGOSs have actively participated in implementation of the projects. Provincial Directorate of Social Services, Provincial Directorate of the Education and Social Solidarity Foundation took part of the designing and implementing of the projects. 7 philological counselors, 39 social servants, 4 social workers, 2 sociologists, 566 educators in different subjects took charge in projects.

Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
a. What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
Giving counseling and physiological support to the target groups and disadvantaged groups were affected by the flood disaster. Arranging the informative workshops and seminars about conflict in social and domestic subjects stem from migration process. Providing Employment capability of young target group(s) by bringing professional skills Providing the Social and economic integration of urban life of target group(s) Supporting the education of children Physiologists, social workers, counselors, guidance counselors took charge in all projects

b. What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
The projects which have started in 2007 are ongoing. As a result of the projects it becomes easier to reach social and civil services for target group(s). These target group(s) achieve their own self-confidence by social activities. Psychological Counseling Center’s studies make women to have more solidarity and be a part of social environment. Women’s professionalism and skills increased in Professional skill courses. Seminars and education arranged for the target group(s) thus it became more suitable to get benefits from social societies. It became easier and suitable for the children of the target group(s) to adapt school life with the projects as ‘’I Support Education As Well’’ and ‘For better Future’ A notable working capacity was come along result of the professional skills training in Batman city.

c. What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
Home visits arranged by psychologists and social workers to the target group(s) who showed unwilling to join the projects. As a result of the visits immigrant’s participation to the projects became very high as wished. People of Batman were well-informed about the projects by local media. The participation was high indeed in the process of projects.

d. What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
Human resources supplied by civil and local associations and the workers were the volunteers of the Project. Social Assistance Funds, Batman Government’s and benevolent citizens’ cooperation provided financial sources. The civil society’s depended Batman Government provided technical services. In the context of “Target Top 15 Project” 532 primary and elementary teacher took in charge actively A Project competition was arranged by the Government named “Social Public Support Programs” and Batman Governorship’ 42 projects were accepted to implementation. These project included personnel development, professional skills courses, family training workshops and seminaries.

Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
Yes. The Project is able to be continued and transferable. Batman Governorship started to implement the 42 new projects that were mentioned above in the context of “Social Public Support Programs” and different financial sources of the Governorship will be mobilized for sustainability. In addition to this, the initiative began to transform into the institutionalism City Directorships, Associations depended on Batman Government and citizens supported the projects in social and economical ways. Citizens’ participation was very effective. Teachers who work in civil societies, social service specialists, psychologists and guiders supported the Project as human resources. The Project of ours which became reality in the basics of using civil sources effectively could be widespread in national and international fields.

What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
The problems in adapting the urban life of the target group(s) and the disadvantaged groups were eliminated. Active participation of the target group(s) to the urban life was realized by training and counseling activities of the initiative. The trauma of the women, children and young girls was cured by physiological consultants Target group(s) were professed how can be coping with social and economical problems in training activities, workshops and seminaries Projects’ achievements stem from paying attention of stakeholders and target groups.


Institution Name:		Governorship of Batman
Institution Type:		Government Agency
Contact Person:		Mustafa Ertürk
Title:		Project Expert
Telephone/ Fax:
Institution's / Project's Website:
E-mail:		mustafaxerturk@hotmail.com
Address:
Postal Code:
City:
State/Province:
Country:		Turkey

The Problem

Solution and Key Benefits

Actors and Stakeholders

(a) Strategies

(b) Implementation

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

(d) Use of Resources

Sustainability and Transferability

Lessons Learned

Contact Information