Academic Support for Neighborhood Heads Continues

The Bornova Neighborhood Heads Academy, implemented through the cooperation of Bornova Municipality, the Bornova District Governorship, Yaşar University, and the Bornova Association of Neighborhood Heads, continues its training programs without interruption. The latest session of the academy, which began last November, was held at the Bornova Municipality Nevzat Kavalar Cultural Center Council Hall.

From Defense to Local Governance, from Experience to Communication
In the first part of the training, Retired Colonel Orhan Kadir Gök, İzmir Regional Representative of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, delivered a presentation on the foundation’s mission and activities. This was followed by a presentation from Şahin Doğan, Director of Neighborhood Affairs at Bornova Municipality, who shared the activities, initiatives, and support provided to Bornova’s neighborhood heads in 2025, as well as plans for 2026.

The program also featured experience-sharing sessions by Muharrem Gülgü, President of the Çeşme Association of Neighborhood Heads; Fatma Zingi, President of the Gaziemir Association of Neighborhood Heads; and Mustafa Gülgü, President of the Karabağlar Association of Neighborhood Heads. In the final session, Dr. Lecturer Cudi Kaan Okmeydan from Yaşar University Vocational School delivered a training titled “Interpersonal Communication from a Public Relations Perspective.”

Comprehensive Six-Month Training Program for 45 Neighborhood Heads
The Bornova Neighborhood Heads Academy includes a total of 45 neighborhood heads and offers a six-month training program covering the following topics:

• Digital Literacy

• Basic Computer and Internet Use

• Effective Social Media Management and Digital Communication

• Online Meetings and Data Security

• Public Speaking, Listening, and Note-Taking Techniques

• Effective Meeting and Time Management

• Public Relations and Effective Communication

• Diction, Rhetoric, and Persuasion Skills

Mayor Eşki: “Our Neighborhood Heads Are the Strongest Representatives of Democracy”
Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized that the Neighborhood Heads Academy is a significant step toward strengthening local democracy, stating:

“Our neighborhood heads are the most fundamental representatives of democracy, forming the strongest link between citizens and public institutions in our neighborhoods. Empowering them with knowledge, communication skills, and digital competencies adds value to all of Bornova. We will continue to work with a local governance approach that never leaves our neighborhood heads alone and consistently supports their development.”