Establishment and Activities of Edirne Community Center

Abstract

The Community Centers, which played an important role in conveying and explaining the Turkish Revolution to the public, were first established in 1932 in 14 provincial centres. Community Centers, which were organized throughout the country in a short time, operated as a cultural institution affiliated to the CHP due to the political structure of the period. Literacy and vocational courses were opened in Community Centers, and sports, cultural and artistic activities were carried out. With this aspect, it is also aimed that the Community Centers will become a gathering center for the people.

Edirne Community Center was established on 24 June 1932. In accordance with the instructions prepared for the Community Centers, literacy and vocational courses were also opened within the Edirne Community Center. In addition, sports, cultural and artistic events were organized. The most active branches of Edirne Community Center are Sports, Ruralism and Social Aid Branches. However, in the light of the archival documents of the period; It is understood that the inspector reports prepared about Edirne Community Center are generally negative and the activities of the Community Center are found insufficient. The reasons for the inadequacy mentioned in the reports were explained by the reluctance of the local administrators, the inability to provide the necessary financial aid to the Community Center, and the military measures taken in Edirne during the World War II. However, Edirne Community Center operated as the most important educational and cultural institution of its neighborhood, within the conditions of its time. After the Democratic Party came to power the Community Centers were liquidated on 11 August 1951. Edirne Community Center was closed on the same date by transferring its immovable properties to the state treasury. Our study has been prepared in order to examine the organization and activities of Edirne Community Center. In addition to copyright and research works related to the subject, archive documents, official publications and press resources of the period were used.