Informal learning in the struggle against urban transformation in a district of Istanbul

The purpose of this case study is to find out the informal learning experiences that the participants of the social movement against the urban transformation had in a district of Istanbul and the outcomes that they acquired with these experiences. The study was carried out in 2022-2023 in Tokatköy district of Beykoz municipality of Istanbul. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews and analyzed thematically. Through the analysis of the informal learning experiences of the participants, the content and the ways and means in which this informal learning took place were revealed. The findings of this study show that the participants experienced informal learning processes on the urban transformation and on the social struggle during the movement they developed in response to the urban transformation. These informal learning processes took place to a great extent through the social relations that the participants experienced within the context of this social movement. These informal learning processes brought about changes in the participants' earlier thoughts about urban transformation. These processes also led to the acquisition of new knowledge, attitudes and values by the participants within the context of a social movement. This study is important in terms of recording informal learning processes and the outcomes of these latter in the context of a social movement.