Istanbul community media center & digital skills for intercultural dialogue and lifelong learning

Abstract

This paper is to inform the audience about the İstanbul Community Media Center, how it was establishes as a project, how it works, and how it promotes digital skills for intercultural dialogue and lifelong learning through its local and international activities realized since November 2014. The idea of transferring the effective work of Burgerhaus Bonnehaus (Community Center) in Münster, Germany, became real after 2 years’ hard work and demanding project process in cooperation with YOUTHART Youth Art Research and Training Association, European Youth4Media Network e.V., Media Terra Nea and many other partner organizations and local stakeholders thanks to the funds and financial supports from the Republic of Turkey Ministry for EU Affairs within Civil Society Dialogue Programme Phase III and IV. Since its establishment in 2015, İstanbul Community Media Center has reached to 3000+ participants and visitors in the local and international activities, 250.000+ online followers and viewers. Through its activities, the most important social impact of the center has been on the intercultural dialogue and lifelong learning outcomes, which ultimately foster civil society dialogue, better understanding of social dimensions, healthier integration of modern city life, active participation in the democratic and civic life, and effective use of digital and media skills. Statistics gained from online tools proves well that such a center is highly useful especially for the youth and disadvantaged groups of the societies.