Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş stated that the Ministry carried Darülaceze, a precious heritage, to the future with the New Social Service City and said, "I believe that the New Social Service City will be a visionary project marking the Century of Türkiye, as in many projects implemented under the leadership of Mr. President. Inshallah, Mr. President will be pleased to open up the city at the end of October and the beginning of November."

In her speech at the press conference held at the Darülaceze Social Service City, the foundation of which was laid in Arnavutköy Yassıören in May 2022 and the construction of which came to an end, Minister Göktaş stated that the institution had a long-established history.

Minister Göktaş stated that on the occasion of this meeting, which was valuable for history as well as for Ministers, they were proud to pass on a legacy of the past to the future.

Emphasizing that Türkiye did the work of the century in 22 years under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister Göktaş said that the AK Parti governments were the envy of the world and that the new Darülaceze Social Service City would be among the projects that would be envied worldwide in the field of social services.

 "We carry the accumulation inherited from the past to the future"

Minister Göktaş noted that the Darülaceze, which was founded in 1895 by Sultan Abdülhamit II Han, a home of compassion for 100.000 people including 30.000 children, and that it was still serving nearly 600 people without compromising its founding philosophy.

Expressing that the Darülaceze was a very valuable model in social work, Minister Göktaş stated as follows:

"We reach out to everyone regardless of language, religion, race, gender, sect. Darülaceze is a reflection of our civilization. There are not many places on Earth where human diversity is so wide. Here history offers us such a rich variety of people. There are very good examples in the history in terms of the experience of life. We have a social history where people are treated with justice regardless of their language, religion or sect. This experience also gives us great responsibilities. The New Darülaceze Social Service City is the projection of such a great vision and a precious past. We are protecting the accumulation inherited from the past and carrying it into the future."

Minister Göktaş pointed out that the new needs emerging with the increase in the rate of ageing in the world and in Türkiye transformed the understanding of social services and stated that new models had to be developed to ensure the welfare of persons in need of care.

Stating that it was their responsibility to increase opportunities and adapt to the requirements of ageing, Göktaş noted reaching the disadvantaged groups of the society and finding solutions to their issues was possible through sustainable models and the Ministry had strong experience in this regard.

The complex, built on an area of 145 acres, consisted of 23 blocks

Reminding that Darülaceze had been serving in its historical campus in Okmeydanı for more than 120 years, Minister Göktaş stated that there was need for a new residential complex in order to utilize the existing experiences and to provide services to more people, and that Darülaceze Social Service City was the product of such a search.

Minister Göktaş stated that the new campus was designed with an architectural approach that emphasized historical continuity and that the architecture of the buildings was a synthesis of the forms found in Seljuk and Ottoman architecture and the identity of Darülaceze.

Noting that traces of the historical compound could be seen in the general outlines of the new Social Service City, Minister Göktaş said that effective use of modern facilities was also considered.

Minister Göktaş stated that a very unique project was created and its construction started rapidly and said the following:

"The campus is being built on a total construction area of 145 acres. It is designed to consist of ground plus 3 floors with the principle of horizontal architecture. The project consists of 11 blocks with units for healthy, bedridden, donor residents with dementia, alzheimer's and dementia, and children in care. There are housing units with a total capacity of 928 beds. There are also social units such as the artist and athlete living center. The complex, consisting of 23 blocks, includes communal units and worship buildings, including a mosque, a church and a synagogue."

"Like Darülaceze, the New Social Service City will be remembered as a historical value"

Stating that Darülaceze was an institution far ahead of its time when it was first established and a very valuable model not only for Türkiye but also for the whole world in terms of social services, Minister Göktaş added: " Similarly, the new Social Service City is a unique and successful model. It will be a model that does not break its ties with the past and maximizes the opportunities of today. Hopefully, like Darülaceze, the New Social Service City will be remembered as a historical value."

Minister Göktaş said that AK Parti governments realized a great transformation in social assistance and social services in the last 20 years.

Stating that the Minister Göktaş continued to work to carry the values of a glorious past into the future with the responsibility imposed on them, she said: "Darülaceze is a precious heritage for us. We are carrying this model to the future with the New Social Service City. I believe that the New Social Service City will be a visionary project marking the Century of Türkiye, just like many other projects we have implemented under the leadership of Mr. President. Inshallah, Mr. President will be pleased to open up the city at the end of October and the beginning of November."

Following the speeches, Minister Göktaş and those accompanying her toured the complex and examined the ongoing works on site.