Implemented within the framework of Local Agenda 21’s (LA21) “Support to Local Projects Programme”*, and

conducted by the local government, the town council and civil society volunteers, a cultural rehabilitation project in the historic town of Mustafapaşa in Central Anatolia has recently been completed. But “more work needs to be done”, says Süreyya Aytaş, one of the key players of the project, “we will move ahead under the action plan to not only rehabilitate the architectural form of Mustafapasa, but also restore its cultural heritage”.

The project aimed to raise awareness among local adults and youth on the importance of protecting their cultural heritage, to discuss the issue on democratic platforms and to remove the obstacles hindering protection and restoration works. The first phase of the project focused on educational seminars about protection and restoration techniques.

We spoke with Süreyya Aytaş, Secretary-General of LA21 in Mustafapaşa and Municipality Public Relations Director, about LA21 partnership and the progress of the “Protecting the Cultural Heritage of Mustafapaşa” project:

Süreyya Aytaş: Mustafapaşa is a little-discovered town in Central Turkey, also lovingly-called by the locals as “the sleeping beauty” of the Cappadocia region. Throughout its long history, Mustafapaşa has been home to several civilizations, which have left a rich architectural heritage behind them. Currently, we have more than 100 historic mansions under protection. But there are many more buildings, structures and monuments which need rehabilitation. Mustafapaşa’s historic, natural and cultural heritage needs protection, otherwise some of our “beauties” will soon be lost; we are all aware of that. But the local people do not have the material capacity to preserve the historical buildings. We are lucky to have a plan to protect the town’s heritage. However, this is not enough; it does not guarantee a sustainable solution. We must implement more detailed plans.

New Horizons: Have you faced difficulties in implementing this project? Was it difficult to convince the people of Mustafapaşa?

SA: Not in the least! On the contrary, it was the local folks who demanded a restoration project. The Town Council, Women’s and Youth Assemblies and local administrators have all been very keen to see the project working. It was partly funded by the local government of Mustafapaşa, which contributed $2,000. The main sponsor was the United Nations Development Programme, with $17,925.

NH: In which stage is the project?

SA: The project was officially launched in December 2005, and completed on 12 April 2006. However, this was only a preparation project! For the programme to be sustainable, we presented another project proposal to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, explaining how we’re planning restoration work on 20 mansions. After restoration, these 20 mansions will be opened to the public. People of Mustafapaşa have learned a lot from this initial project; they will not make the same mistakes when they move on to the restoration project. We are not worried at all because our people are very sensitive and careful in this issue. I can vouch for this as I have witnessed how our folks were committed to the project.

NH: What is the next step?

SA: As I’ve said, the project is now formally completed. However, much more work needs to be done. We took a big step in protecting the heritage of Mustafapaşa. Before the project was launched, people were pessimistic about it, but now the mood has transformed into optimism. We realised that we really can make a difference and improve our environment! The project opened up new horizons for us. Thus, we will move further ahead under the action plan to not only rehabilitate the architectural form of Mustafapaşa, but also restore its cultural heritage.

NH: How did Mustafapaşa Municipality benefit from the LA21 Programme? What would you recommend to other municipalities in Turkey that have not taken advantage of this programme yet?

SA: When we became a member of the LA21 Programme in 2001, they firstly suggested that we prepare a report on the existing situation and conditions in our town, to be followed by an action plan. So, we at the Municipality, and the Town Council worked together to make a thorough survey of the town’s inventory and then prepared our action plan. This study has been our guideline. I believe all towns in Turkey should, first and foremost, prepare similar studies.

In addition to the initial report, we also began to develop projects to deal with the various problems in our town, thanks to LA21’s project training workshop for the representatives of the Women’s Assembly, the Youth Assembly and the City Council. Along the lines of LA21’s objectives, we were able to facilitate townswomen’s participation in social and work life. Currently, a great majority of our female population are in business life, mostly in the tourism sector. Female unemployment rate has decidedly dropped. Now, there are very few unemployed women in Mustafapaşa. In my opinion, the biggest contribution of LA21 to Mustafapaşa has been to pave the way, for our women, from out of their homes into the heart of social life, as individuals who can freely express themselves and try to find solutions to their needs and problems single-handedly.

We continue our training activities in other areas, as well. For example, we try to establish collective decision-making and action process amongst the youth in our town. With the help of City Council and other working groups; we managed to integrate the people into local administration. Now, decisions concerning the town are first discussed and agreed on in City Council and then sent to Municipality Council. As an example, by implementing a local development project in Mustafapaşa, which is first started in Cappadocia, we worked in cooperation with City Council and Municipality Council to establish a university in the town and we actually opened the university. The university’s mission is to grow intermediate personnel for Cappadocia region and Mustafapaşa, reduce unemployment in the district by organizing special vocational trainings for the region and prevent migration. Our University, Cappadocia Vocational School, with its five departments, started its first educational year, in 2005-2006. Besides normal faculty education, the school also gives trainings to local people and enables them to benefit from social and cultural activities.

I can easily say that LA21 had a positive impact on the town and its people. We, as local people, the Mayor and I, do whatever we can do to make this impact sustainable. We did all these activities I mentioned to make Mustafapaşa a better place to live; and other cities should actively join Local Agenda 21 programme too. I also would like to add that, LA21 has been a beacon for us, but effort of the people of Mustafapaşa is what made it possible. Our only contribution was to mobilizing these people and letting them do something for their towns.

For more information on the LA21 please visit:
www.la21turkey.net or http://www.undp.org.tr/undp/_Bulletin_Archive/2006/03/eng/lar.htm#loc_agend

Supporting Local Projects Programme is a small grants scheme launched within the LA21 Programme. In the first phase of the implementation period of this programme 8 and in the second phase 16 projects have been found eligible for support. The 8 projects were endorsed in May 2005 and have started to be implemented as of August 2005. The second group of 16 projects has started to be implemented as of the beginning of 2006.