Atatürk (1881–1938) and Sabiha Gökçen (1913–2001) visit the People's House in Pertek, 1937

The educational project of the People's Houses (Turk. Halkevleri), initiated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938) in 1932, aimed to improve the level of citizens' education and to introduce them to modern European culture as well as to promote reflection on Turkish popular culture. This was also intended to limit the influence of neo-Ottoman circles. The People's Houses included libraries as well as reading rooms and offered free courses that covered such topics as literature, music, art and rhetoric, but also taught sewing skills, folk dancing, and music.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his adopted daughter Sabiha Gökçen visiting the Pertek People's House, black-and-white photographie, 1937, photographer: T.C.; source: Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atat%C3%BCrk_Pertek_Halkevi%27nde_(1937).jpg, public domain.