Yazar Youth Club

Our youth club was founded with the goal of empowering young people through non-formal education, intercultural learning, and active citizenship. Since its establishment, the organisation has worked continuously to support the personal, social, and civic development of young individuals—particularly those with fewer opportunities. The club functions as a grassroots initiative run by a group of youth workers, educators, and young volunteers who are committed to creating inclusive, sustainable, and meaningful learning experiences. While we are a relatively young organisation, our commitment to the Erasmus+ programme, and to European youth work values, has been strong and consistent from the beginning. Our field of expertise lies in non-formal education for young people aged 13–30. We focus particularly on themes such as environmental awareness and sustainability, disaster preparedness, digital and media literacy, youth participation, and inclusion of marginalised youth. We also actively support initiatives that promote intercultural dialogue, mobility, and solidarity among young people from diverse backgrounds. Our organisation regularly organises local workshops, awareness events, study visits, and campaigns while also encouraging young people to take part in international mobility opportunities. Although our official institutional history is relatively short, the founding team—including myself as the club president—has been involved in youth work and international projects for many years. Through my own active participation in Erasmus+ projects as a youth leader and learner, I have gained extensive experience that has greatly shaped the direction and quality of our club’s current activities. These experiences have not only contributed to my individual development but also helped us to adopt more structured and inclusive approaches in our work with young people. One of the key characteristics of our club is its focus on young people with fewer opportunities. Many of our members face various barriers—economic, geographical, educational, or social—that limit their access to international opportunities or non-formal education. This is why we place great emphasis on creating accessible and supportive environments where these young people can express themselves, develop new skills, and participate actively in society. By prioritising inclusion, we aim to ensure that mobility programmes and youth work activities truly reach those who need them the most. Over the past years, I have had the opportunity to personally participate in several international projects which have shaped both my understanding of youth work and the identity of our organisation. One of the most impactful projects I joined was titled “Rivers Flow into the Life”. This youth exchange brought together young people from different countries to explore the importance of protecting water resources and promoting environmental sustainability. The programme combined theoretical learning with hands-on experience: we participated in river clean-ups, visited water treatment facilities, engaged in group discussions, created awareness posters, and even transformed recycled materials into artworks. During the project, I presented the current environmental challenges facing our region and learned how other countries were tackling similar issues. The project had a transformative effect on me. It encouraged me to think critically about how environmental sustainability could be integrated into local youth work. After the mobility, I led a series of local workshops in our club focused on eco-awareness and waste reduction. We also organised clean-up actions and upcycling sessions with our members, especially targeting those who had never had the chance to join an international project before. The project not only empowered me with new tools and methods, but also helped our club expand its environmental education initiatives in a very practical and engaging way. Another major experience came through my participation in the “Public Supported Capacity Development Program for Civil Society Workers.” Unlike traditional youth exchanges, this project was tailored for NGO staff and civil society actors who are looking to improve their organisational capacities. The training modules were rich and diverse, covering topics such as advocacy, public outreach, programme design, campaign planning, and volunteer management. As a representative of our youth organisation, I gained a broader perspective on how to manage and scale civil society work sustainably. This experience helped us professionalise our club’s internal structure. Upon returning from the project, I initiated a strategic planning process within our organisation and introduced clearer role definitions for our volunteers. We also began to apply more formal methods of needs analysis, monitoring, and evaluation. These changes enabled us to deliver more effective and targeted youth activities. Additionally, we improved our ability to build cross-sectoral partnerships with local schools, municipalities, and NGOs. The project was a milestone in shaping our capacity to apply for and manage Erasmus+ projects with greater confidence and quality. One of the most socially relevant projects I took part in was titled “Ready for Tomorrow: Equipping Youth with Disaster Prevention Skills.” This project was developed in response to the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters across Europe and aimed to train young people in basic disaster preparedness, first aid, and emergency response. The learning process was both theoretical and practical—covering risk assessment, simulation exercises, and first aid practices. There was also a strong emphasis on teamwork, communication, and resilience-building. Given that our region is prone to earthquakes and seasonal floods, this project was highly applicable to our local context. When I returned, I worked with our team to develop a local initiative called “Disaster Ready Youth.” The programme involved awareness sessions in schools, simulations of emergency scenarios, and basic first aid training for young people in our community. We also developed information materials to be shared digitally, targeting youth from remote or underserved areas. Thanks to the project, we were able to integrate disaster preparedness into our regular youth work, empowering young people to be not only aware, but also proactive in times of crisis. Through all these experiences, I have come to deeply understand how international participation can translate into local impact. Each project I have joined has equipped me with knowledge, skills, and networks that I have shared with our members and used to strengthen our organisational practices. Whether it’s promoting sustainability, increasing civil society effectiveness, or preparing youth for emergencies, the learning outcomes from these projects have become cornerstones of our club’s current activities. In terms of working with young people with fewer opportunities, this is one of our foundational values. Many of our members come from rural areas, economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or have limited access to digital tools and formal education. This reality shapes the way we design and implement our activities. We strive to eliminate barriers to participation by offering support, mentorship, and tailored learning paths. In Erasmus+ projects, we prioritise the inclusion of those who would not otherwise have access to such experiences. Our internal practices are aligned with the Erasmus Youth Quality Standards, especially with regards to inclusion and diversity, learning and recognition, and active youth participation. As we continue to grow, our youth club remains committed to using Erasmus+ opportunities as a catalyst for positive social change. The experiences we gain through participation are not ends in themselves, but tools to foster empowerment, build community resilience, and promote European values at the grassroots level. We strongly believe in the power of non-formal learning, youth mobility, and intercultural exchange—and we aim to share this belief with as many young people as possible, especially those who are too often left behind. I would like to highlight that while our organisation is relatively young in terms of formal project coordination, our foundation is built upon the active Erasmus+ participation of our team members—especially in roles such as youth participants, group leaders, facilitators, and civil society actors. These individual experiences have significantly shaped our understanding of high-quality youth work and the Erasmus+ framework. Our participation in previous projects has not only equipped us with valuable knowledge and best practices in non-formal education, but also fostered a strong sense of European identity and solidarity within our youth group. We have observed firsthand how well-structured mobility projects can empower young people with fewer opportunities, enhance their confidence, and expand their perspectives on lifelong learning, sustainability, and inclusion. Although we have not yet coordinated a large-scale Erasmus+ project independently, we have been actively preparing for this step by strengthening our organisational capacity, building partnerships, and engaging in long-term strategic planning. We have also started to replicate key elements of successful international projects in our local work—especially around environmental education, disaster preparedness, and civic participation. Looking ahead, we are motivated to take a more active role in Erasmus+ not only as beneficiaries but as reliable project organisers and multipliers. We see Erasmus+ as a powerful tool to reach and uplift the most disadvantaged youth in our community, and we are committed to aligning all of our future actions with the Erasmus Youth Quality Standards. We believe our unique position—as an emerging youth organisation led by individuals with direct mobility experience—gives us both authenticity and motivation. It allows us to understand the needs of young people from their perspective while maintaining a responsible and impact-driven organisational vision.