SOCIAL LIFE IN THE MIT

The MIT has kept up with the contemporary norms not only in the means and methods it employs while it conducts its mission, but also in the life standards of its members. However, to realize where the starting point was before reaching the present state and how limited the means were at the beginning would give a better chance of assessing the current situation. The foundation days of the MIT coincided with a period in which Turkey had won a victory in its struggle for independence despite all the negative conditions and in which it was waging a struggle in the economic field. The Directorate of the Security Services, as it was then called, began operating in a timber building with two storeys and five rooms located in a narrow street at the address of the present day "Sehit Keskin Sokak No:14" in the neighborhood of Hadji Bayram Mosque in Ankara.

The increase in the number of staff made it necessary to move to a larger building and after a period of six months which was a short time, the Organization moved to an apartment building located in Isiklar Street with four storeys, each with three bedrooms and a living room. When it was decided that this building would be demolished and in place of that building, a business center would be constructed by the Turkish Red Crescent, the Organization moved in 1934 to the building of Foundations "Vakiflar" opposite the Youth Park.

As a result of the needs emerged in the course of the time, new places within the same building or new buildings have been rented and the office block has been expanded. At the beginning of 1970's, the construction of the compound in which the current headquarters is located has been started and the main service units have been gathered in this compound.

Today the employees working in many service units throughout Turkey and especially those working in the headquarters in Ankara are provided with some additional opportunities which do not exist in normal work places in consideration of the nature of the duty. The members of the MIT can live in the flats provided to the employees for certain terms. In fact a great majority of the Organization members live in those flats which are located in a large social complex providing many modern facilities and those members who are single can also be settled in the MIT's flats, on condition that they live with their families.

The flats provided to the employees in the headquarters in Ankara are located in a broad area together with the shopping center, day nursery, playground, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness center and a walking track, and it is ensured that the members of the MIT together with their families take advantage of these facilities.

The health problems of the members of the MIT and their family members are handled through modern means. The MIT members can also take advantage of the guest houses, clubs and cafeterias, summer and winter recreational facilities in our various centers.

In the headquarters there is also a library including all kinds of publications which would ensure the increase in the professional level in particular and the intellectual level of the employees in general.