DELTA OF CIVILIZATIONS
MEANDROS PROJECT CONTENT AND ASSOCIATION our HISTORY
FROM MEANDROS VOLUNTEERS TO MEANDROS ASSOCIATION...
The Meandros Project and its idea sprouted in 2007. The historical, natural and cultural heritage of the Lower Büyük Menderes Basin; How can it be under the pressure of "fast consumption tourism" , which we can define as sea-sand-sun, which dominates the Aegean coasts? invisible It was the first problem identification that got us into action.
The starting point of the Meandros Project and its Volunteers was that the region, which was one of the most important stops of cultural tourism in the past years, became the center of cheap holiday tourism only in the whirlpool of the all-inclusive system stuck to the shore and its values became invisible even to the people of the region.
The first stage of the work initiated by a handful of volunteers was to identify and make visible the forgotten values of the basin.
Our purpose of departure; Considering the natural, cultural, historical and archaeological values around Söke, Didim and Bafa Lake, which are within the borders of the Lower Büyük Menderes Basin , as a whole and under the umbrella of a common regional brand; The aim was to create a tourism brand with the theme of "culture-nature" that could be used by all actors of the region. Thus, the headline "Delta of Civilizations Meandros" emerged.
Meandros Culture, Art and Tourism Association was founded in 2008 by Meandros Volunteers, who gave their heart and effort to this project, as a result of the need to carry the works we started to carry out under this title on an institutional basis.
MEANDROS FESTIVALS
With the Meandros Festivals , which we held for the first time in 2008, we have realized a comprehensive festival based on cultural-historical ties at the basin scale , at the regional level, for the first time in Turkey, by crossing the borders of provinces and districts.
With the Meandros Festivals, each of which lasts for 1 month, it is aimed; While carrying the tourism activities stuck on the coast to the villages in the interior, to carry out quality cultural and artistic activities in the unused ancient places of the region and to make all the values of the region as a whole visible.
Meandros Festivals are also the place where local government-civil society and private sector associations are in our country. It has become one of the most important experiences. All logistics needs of the festival were met by the Municipality of Söke, Didim and Kuşadası. All the leading non-governmental organizations of the region took part in the organization of the activities within the scope of the festival and supported them.
The "Village Square Festivities" , one of the most interesting events of the festival and held in villages with certain themes, were perhaps for the first time introduced to the countryside and values of their own regions. The traditions, production, natural wealth and local cultures of the villages became visible with the Village Festivals, and the forgotten values began to be remembered and come to light gradually.
Meandros Festivals, which is one of the most important experiences of what can be done with very small budgets, own resources and volunteering, was held for 4 years without interruption.
MEANDROS MAGAZINE
With the Meandros Project taking its first steps in 2007, the Meandros Volunteers started to conduct an inventory study by conducting field studies in the region. Forgotten stories, productions and traditions came to the fore again in the interviews and researches held in villages and city centers.
Meandros Magazine, which started its publication life with the aim of recording the local culture, forgotten traditions and archaeological-natural heritage of the region, soon became a periodical that the people of the region followed and claimed with enthusiasm.
for 3 months periods Meandros Magazine, which published 7 issues in total, had to take a break from its publication life due to economic reasons.
We continue to work on the digital re-sharing of the issues published so far and the continuation of the magazine in the digital medium, and our search for sponsors.