The participation of children in activities organized by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
recently in southeastern Anatolia has prompted the government to initiate sports and cultural activity projects in the region, aiming to keep youngsters away from violence.

Police forces in the region will attract the attention of children to the government-sponsored sports activities. The government's Social Support Project (SODES), which is part of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), will provide new social services and establish new recreational facilities

in which young people can engage in sports and cultural activities.

Additionally, guidance and counseling centers will be opened in the region in order to convince children to be stay away from violence and engage in sports activities. The project will be carried out by the State Planning Organization (DPT) and will start Jan. 1.

The government has already transferred YTL 37 million to governorships in the region and expects to increase this number to YTL 130 million next year. All in all, a total of YTL 600 million will be allocated to SODES by 2012.

The government has allocated YTL 1 million to carry out related projects specifically in Diyarbakır. The authorities will, for instance, endeavor to involve children in soccer matches by establishing small soccer leagues, which may lead skillful children to eventually join professional soccer teams. Furthermore, they will supply the necessary sports equipment. In addition to Diyarbakır, the government will build sports facilities in eight other provinces in the region, including venues for basketball, tennis, skiing, water sports and fighting sports. The government also hopes this project will help train successful athletes to compete in international sports organizations.

SODES has received 1,500 project proposals. The projects focus on employment, social development, cultural activities and sports in nine southeastern provinces: Adıyaman, Batman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Kilis, Mardin, Siirt, Şanlıurfa and Şırnak. Diyarbakır has the most projects, followed by Şanlıurfa and Adıyaman. The DPT recently decided to initiate 398 of these projects. SODES also aims to help people who have migrated from rural regions to urban areas adjust to their new environment. DPT officials recently underlined that the project, once it is launched, will keep people from joining the PKK by offering them more attractive options.

Recently, the PKK organized various violent demonstrations involving clashes with police forces, including children who attacked police with stones. Society reacted negatively to the appearance of children at the front lines of some of the events.

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