The Balat Cultural Center to be used by the Turkish Federation of Soroptimist Clubs and renovated by the Governorship of Istanbul, the Special Administrative Bureau of Istanbul and the Municipality of Fatih, was opened with a ceremony. At the opening ceremony were present CHP Party Member of Parliament from Adana Ms. Gaye Erbatur, General Secretary of the Special Administrative Bureau of Istanbul Mr. Sabri Kaya, Undersecretary of Public Policy and Safety Mr. Muammer Güler, Governor of Istanbul Mr. Avni Mutlu, Central Governor Mr. Hüseyin Çapkın, Soroptimists International President Ms. Hanne Jensbo and Europe President Ms. Elianne Lagasse. In addition, many people including Minister of State Ms. Selma Aliye Kavaf and Minister of National Education Ms. Nimet Çubukçu, sent congratulatory messages.

Emine Erdem: “We are opening up new opportunities for women”

The President of the Turkish Federation of Soroptimist Clubs Emine Erdem said that Balat’s history, culture and social structure included many features that could be adapted to the modern day. Erdem went on to say that with this project their plan had been to achieve something different than the previous endeavors carried through jointly with the Governorship of Istanbul and the Municipality of Fatih and that their objective in restoring the dilapidated building had been to provide the residents of the district with an active and functioning cultural center. Erdem added that the center would be organizing various events and activities such as vocational courses, photograph exhibitions, workshops and social gatherings and continued, saying: "We are proud of opening the first cultural center of Balat. Until today, the lack of such a place in our district has been an important drawback”. As emphasized by Erdem, the cultural center will primarily open up new opportunities for women who can develop their personal talents and acquire a profession thanks to the vocational courses at the center. At the end of the ceremony Undersecretary of Public Policy and Safety Mr. Muammer Güler congratulated Emine Erdem, calling her by phone.