Bornova Municipality at the 3rd Age University Festival with Its Vision for Healthy Aging

Participating in the 3rd Age Universities Festival held in İzmir, Bornova Municipality crowned its strong healthcare infrastructure with the announcement of a new initiative. Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki stated, “We have launched preparations for the Bornova 3rd Age University, where life experience will meet academic knowledge.”

Organized in cooperation with İzmir Büyükşehir Belediyesi and the Ege Geriatri Derneği at Kültürpark, the 3rd Age Universities Festival featured colorful scenes and strong public interest. Taking part in the festival, the Bornova Municipality Directorate of Health Affairs introduced its pioneering projects aimed at improving the quality of life for elderly individuals in the district.

At the municipality’s stand, the Healthy Aging Center—which serves as a hub for activities encouraging seniors’ participation in social life—along with Home Care Services and the Health Support Card project, attracted significant attention from participants.

From Primary Care to University: A Strong Foundation

Bornova Municipality has already laid the foundations for a “3rd Age University” model not only through physical healthcare services but also through its social projects. Educational, artistic, and sports activities organized for the “Plane Trees of Bornova” within the Healthy Aging Center serve as a natural preparation for the future university’s academic curriculum.

During the festival, it was announced that preparations have begun to transform this rich infrastructure into an official educational model.

Mayor Ömer Eşki: “We Do Not Retire Experience”

Highlighting the importance of the project for Bornova, Mayor Ömer Eşki stated that they see old age as a period of renewal and said:

“We want to bring together the experiences of our elders, who are the memory of our society, under an academic framework. We will crown the steps we have taken with our Healthy Aging Center through the Bornova 3rd Age University. Our goal is to ensure that every aging citizen in Bornova remains active, productive, and happy in life. We have much to learn from them.”

İzmir’s Educational Network Expands with Bornova

As part of the work carried out in coordination with the Ege Geriatri Derneği, the inclusion of Bornova in the system will transform İzmir’s 3rd Age University network into a large-scale lifelong learning platform covering the entire city.

Through this model, Bornova Municipality aims to prevent social isolation among elderly individuals and offer them what it describes as “a second life.”