Aysun Koca

She graduated from Yıldız Technical University City and Regional Planning Department undergraduate, Istanbul University Economic Sociology master's degree and Yıldız Technical University City Planning doctorate programs respectively. During her doctorate, she worked on “Child participation in decision-making processes: A method trial for local governments in Istanbul”.

She became the founder, volunteer and professional employee of Sulukule Volunteers Association, respectively. She worked at the association on facilitating workshops, resource development, administrative processes, monitoring and evaluation, and project coordination. In August 2022, she started to work as a mentor on the institutional development of non-governmental organizations in the Together II Program.

Since 2009, after the social and physical destruction caused by the urban transformation in Sulukule, to work on the issues of child participation and school dropout prevention; she continues to research and write in the field of children and the city.