Sibel Mustafaoğlu calls on youth: “The future of Rhodope lies in its young people”
Sibel Mustafaoğlu, Chair of the Board of the Orfeas Addiction Prevention Center, has issued a strong message addressing young people and policymakers, drawing attention to rising migration trends affecting the region in recent years.
Mustafaoğlu emphasized that the greatest asset of the Rhodope region is its young population, warning that the continuous outflow of youth seeking better education and employment opportunities is creating serious social and demographic consequences.
In her statement, she noted that many young people are leaving for Athens, Selanik, and various European countries in search of improved living conditions, education, and career prospects.
“With every young person who leaves, another family disappears, a neighborhood grows quieter, and a village becomes lonelier,” Mustafaoğlu said, stressing that the issue is not only economic but also deeply social and demographic in nature.
She underlined the need to create conditions in Rhodope where young people can work, build families, invest, and plan their future securely. According to her, increasing investment and employment opportunities is essential to reversing the trend.
“Creating opportunities for youth is a shared responsibility,” she added, calling for expanded support programs aimed at young people. “A region that loses its youth loses its future.”
Mustafaoğlu concluded by reaffirming ongoing efforts to strengthen the region, saying the goal is to build a more productive Rhodope where young people can remain and thrive.
