ODUNPAZARI LISTENING, DIALOGUE, SOLIDARITY (3D) YOUTH FESTIVAL
Odunpazarı Listening, Dialogue, Solidarity (3D) Youth Festival, Eskisehir, Turkiye
Odunpazarı Listening, Dialogue, Solidarity (3D) Youth Festival is the governance and political participation platform that can contribute to the solutions to common economic, social, political and cultural problems of the society in Eskisehir and Turkey.
The festival has been successful in encouraging political participation and increasing social awareness among individuals, political parties, non-governmental organisations, unions, chambers of commerce and industry, local media, municipalities, government institutions and organisations. 3D means Listening (Dinleme in Turkish), Dialogue (Diyalog in Turkish), Solidarity (Dayanışma in Turkish). 3D resembles a 3D printer. From this point of view, the organisers have perceived the festival as a 3D printer that enables and shapes democracy.
Purpose and vision
The festival's purpose is to identify the common economic, political, social and cultural problems in society and enable discussions about solutions to these problems.
In this regard, the festival aims to:
adopt all kinds of social-political differences as richness by making tolerance dominant in society,
directly convey individual or social problems to their interlocutors,
eliminate the prejudices that may exist against different opinions,
and most importantly, promote principles of national and international democratic governance.
Another important purpose of the festival is to foster a culture of discussion, reconciliation, listening, understanding and science in society.
Founder and year of establishment
Odunpazarı Listening, Dialogue, Solidarity (3D) Youth Festival was established in 2022 by Eskisehir European Union Association. The Festival has been jointly organised within the scope of the Protocol signed between Eskişehir Odunpazarı Municipality and Eskişehir European Union Association.
Organisational structure
Eskisehir European Union Association has taken the leading role in the organisation of the festival by providing academic, staff and volunteer support. The municipality is responsible for the festival area, promotional materials, and free food and beverages for visitors. The Mayor of Odunpazarı Municipality has also assigned the relevant Deputy Mayor, the Directorate of Culture and the Youth Center, to run the festival on a full-time basis.
Location and length
The first festival was held on 17-19 May 2022 in Eskişehir Odunpazarı, Kanlıkavak Park. Odunpazarı is a district municipality in Eskisehir. Eskişehir is located in the northwest of the Central Anatolian Region. The distance between Ankara, the Capital of Turkey, and Eskişehir is 236 km. The location of the festival was chosen due to its proximity to the city centre, good location (easy access and relaxing nature) and benevolent, democratic and governance-friendly municipality.
Size – number of participants and events
According to the information given by the municipality authorities, in the first festival year, the estimated number of visitors was 5,000 people, including festival team, volunteers, and event organisers. However, no counting was made at the entrance and exit to the event area. The visitors attended the meetings in the tents, concerts and other activities held in the festival area.
In 2022, the programme featured 30 events organised by non-governmental organisations and university students clubs, including painting exhibitions, theatre plays, activities for kids, dance performances, music concerts and tree planting activities. Among the organisers were Eskişehir Photography Art Association, Eskişehir Art Association, Odunpazarı City Council, AIESEC Eskişehir. Youth societies and various non-governmental organizations were given stands for promotion activities.
People attending the festival
Despite the fact that the festival has had "youth" in its name, people of different ages, social groups, ethnicities and gender living in Eskişehir had participated, among them forty student clubs and non-governmental organisations
Admission was free. Odunpazarı Municipality has covered all the festival-related costs, including free beverages (coffee, tea) and food for festival attendees. No products were allowed to be sold.
Involvement of the political parties
Twelve political parties of different ideologies participated in the festival, including the mayor of Odunpazarı Municipality. Provincial and District Presidents, Heads of Youth Policies and representatives of the parties at other levels attended all the sessions.
Programme
Odunpazarı Listening, Dialogue Solidarity (3D) Youth Festival was held for three days. Public discussions were held simultaneously in two separate tents: Tent A and Tent B. Various non-governmental organisations, professional chambers, municipal employees and youth societies organised cultural and artistic activities. Youth concerts, theatre plays, dance performances, and photography exhibitions took place in the event area.
Youth societies and various non-governmental organisations were provided with stands to introduce themselves and interact with people who have not had the opportunity to communicate with them before.