Gençlerin Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı Tarafından Yönetilen Cami Gençlik Merkezi İşbirliğine Dayalı Hizmetlere Bakışları ve Beklentileri: İstanbul Örneği

• Published in: Eskiyeni no. 53; pp. 635 - 660
• Main Authors: Günler, Serdar, Zengin, Mahmut
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Turkish
• Published: Anatolian Theological Academy 2024; Anadolu İlahiyat Akademisi
• Subjects: Social Sciences; Theology and Religion; MosqueYouth; Youth Services; Religious Education; Presidency of Religious Affairs; Youth Center
• ISSN: 1306-6218; 2636-8536

Mosques play an important role in helping people acquire material and spiritual values. In addition, it also contribute to their integration, socialization through various mosque-centered activities and thus leading a life in solidarity. The mosque-centered service concept does not have the traditional purpose of teaching only the Holy Qur’ān and some basic religious knowledge. At the same time, this concept aims to meet many educational, artistic, sports, psychological and religious/spiritual needs of especially young people. In order for the steps to be taken and the contents to be created to provide maximum benefit in this regard, it is extremely critical to introduce a new perspective and a service model structured accordingly. The main objective of this study, which aims to examine the views of young people about the mosque youth centers collaborative services managed by Presidency of Religious Affairs and their expectations, is to identify the socio-cultural and spiritual problems of young people and to identify their socio-cultural and spiritual problems based on the mosque-youth center collaborative religious service approach. and to reveal their expectations from their officials. In addition, it seeks to answer the question of what kind of social religious service can be provided to young people as mosque and youth center officials. The study was carried out based on qualitative research methodology. In this context, the interview method, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. For the research problem and sub-problems of the field data, a semi-structured interview form was prepared by taking the opinions of expert faculty members and youth coordinators in the field, and the field data was collected through this form, which was conducted with volunteer young people attending Presidency of Religious Affairs youth centers between 10-25 September 2022, each lasting approximately 30 minutes. It was collected as a result of face-to-face interviews and subjected to descriptive analysis. In this context, the study group of the research consisted of 17 young people, aged between 15-18, who were randomly selected from the youth centers within the Pendik Mufti’s Office, where youth activities are intensively carried out, and who voluntarily participated in the research by having them sign an informed consent form. They also studied at different high schools. According to the findings obtained from the interviews conducted with young people within the scope of the research, it is understood that presenting mosque-youth center activities through the right channels and in a way that appeals to young people in an attractive manner is an important factor in young people's participation in these activities. However, the findings have shown that young people's seeing the activities carried out in youth centers or being together with those who know and experience these activities increases their reasons for participating in the activities and choosing these places. Therefore, in terms of control and development of young people, establishing communication with them with correct and effective methods, as well as providing them with correct guidance regarding the selection and environment of friends, emerge as important issues that must be followed carefully.