Youth Project Participation at Gazi University, Ankara

Between 1^st July – 7^th July and 26^th August - 2^nd September members of the LCSS’s Youth Platform participated in the Youth Project organized by Gazi University in Ankara and funded by the EU. Project leader Ayse Zeynep Demir was present at Ankara, leading both groups, in which the former group consisted of Serife Tekdal, Aysel Fadil, Vanessa O'Donnel and Abi Brogan and the latter of Ugur Zeki Bar, Ozdemir Ahmet, Serife Tekdal and Seher Tekdal.

The projects consisted of workshops, in which participants were split into groups to formulate ideas and projects on the topics of youth unemployment, entrepreneurship and youth volunteering. The projects brought together a large number of participants from different organisations of different European countries. This was a fantastic opportunity for the participants to meet peers from different cultures and discover their perspectives on the topics.

Besides the workshop programme, the youth project included exciting activities for the participants. Both groups were taken to Anitkabir, a mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. An intercultural evening was also organised for the participants to acknowledge and appreciate the different cultures and traditions of all those who took part in this project. A variety of food and drink from all of the participating countries were provided. National flags of each country at the event were a real reflection of harmony and friendship. On the Saturday, participants enjoyed a day at Cappadocia, a region in Turkey with exceptional natural wonders; viewing the fairy chimneys, rock houses and rock cut temples, before returning back to their respective countries.