Investing in Youth is Investing in the Country

Although often devalued, the younger generation is each country’s hope for a better future. Investing in youth’s education is not only about providing them with knowledge, but it also actually means giving them useful tools so that they can be active citizens in the society and become professionally competent to the workplace, which undoubtedly will create more opportunities and a better economy. 

Nowadays, Turkey has one of the youngest populations in Europe, mainly between the ages of 15 and 24. And, even though they seem to be deeply worried with their future, particularly given the latest developments in the country – economic crisis and unemployment, which will get worse with earthquakes’ consequences –, it is commonly known that youth policies and youth work have been a priority for the Turkish government. 

In fact, we, as ESC volunteers under ANDER Association, had the privilege to verify that one of the distinctive features that one might notice in the country is the presence of Youth Centres all over Turkey. The initiative was promoted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, who is the main institution responsible for creating youth policies at the national level. These spaces are free of charge and the main goal is to contribute to their education, self-development, and professional improvement, through language courses, classes of creative drama, guitar project writing, speaking clubs, poetry contests, etc. It is an example of non-formal education, where young people (14–29-year-old, and the background does not matter) will be stimulated and motivated to carry out tasks, activities, and challenges. Consequently, they will develop skills (for instance, critical thinking, communication, teamwork), become creative and discover new passions and interests. 

We had the opportunity to visit the Altındağ Gençlik Merkezi', and spending several days there, so we acknowledged the feeling of “belonging” and inspiration young people feel there, in particular because even the decoration of each room has a meaning, and it almost feels we entered in a different world. In addition, it is also worth mentioning that, with the artistic and cultural activities organised, the youth that could possibly face the risk of social exclusion become an equal part of the social body. 

In conclusion, if one intends to have a prosperous society, the key is the investment in youth. Motivated to learn, they will be the society's drivers of growth.

Inês Martins

Seiran's Experience in Ankara

Hello. I’m Seyran from Azerbaijan. This is my first project abroad, in Ankara.
I would like to share my experiences and memories with you during this month. But, a month passed so quickly.. I wish I could turn back in time and live it again and again. While writing this blog, I sat and thought, all my experiences flashed before my eyes. But when I thought about it, I realized how much I’ve been through, what beautiful memories, what beautiful people I have accumulated.
Let’s start with my first arrival in Ankara, what we did here, and the places and cities we went to.
The first day I came to Ankara, it was like a dream to come here. The streets were so amazing. It was like I was in a dream and I was very excited. It felt very exciting to settle in a new city for the first time (although for a short time), meeting new people from different countries. The best part of this project is that it allows you to meet people from different countries and different cultures. When I first came here, I thought I could “just” make more friends and experience other cultures, but I gained a new family... It’s a great feeling.. The project time is 2 months, I wish I could stay longer. Even though we have time to explore new places, taste food and visit touristic places every day, these 2 months flew by like air. The closer I get to the project deadline, the more I get upset. But I still want to share these unforgettable moments and feelings with you.

Volunteer work

The organization I volunteer with aims to deliver food to people in need, teach languages to children and education.

As someone who loves children very much, I was very happy when I saw that this was one of the subjects of the project. But on the sixth of February, Turkey faced great disaster. We are going through difficult times right now. But the earthquake also affected our project. Since all universities, kindergartens and schools were closed, we only started to help earthquake victims. It felt great to help earthquake victims, to touch the lives of people who went through bad situations, to show that we stand by them with our help. After our project changed, we worked together with other organizations. After the earthquake, all people came together and sent so many things, food, clothes, toys for children.. We were only able to support them such as sharing food and clothing, spending time with people and talking to them.

Then we went to the dormitories and prepared plays for the earthquake victims, danced and made pictures in them. It is very difficult to describe to you the joy on their faces and the sparkle in their eyes.

Glad I came and experienced them.

Food delivering 

On the other hand, we are part of the “food delivering” project. It is a very nice feeling to be in this project, to help the migrant who needs food and help in the distribution of food, to touch a person’s life for the first time in our life, to feel that we are doing a good job for humanity. All these scenes taught us to be more grateful for what we have and how to talk to people and empathize. It made us realize the importance of what is really important in the world, the change of humanity. I hope the world will always turn into a place where people can live better and get along.

Social media

Ander has Instagram, Facebook and YouTube accounts, and we share Instagram posts and edit videos for YouTube every week. Normally, I’m not that much of a social media user in my daily life, but I love things like creating creative things and editing videos. I learned to do things like that even better an Instagram post, editing, Instagram story sharing thanks to Ander. We do a lot of creative videos and posts on social media to explore traits that teens have never explored and create educational videos to help them become their best selves, and I really enjoyed the time we worked together as a team.

Social life

Now let’s move on to our social life.

Ankara is such a wonderful city for me... Hamamönü, Bahçelievler, Kızılay, Anıtkabir, National library, Ankara castle, Atakule and others.

Hamamönü is a beautiful place.

There were buildings that showed the old and modern styles. Turkey is a country that truly embraces all its values and tries to preserve all its beauties in their natural state. This was one of my favorite aspects.

I wanted to see Ankara Castle very much, but it was closed due to certain conditions, this made me very sad ☹

As you know, Anıtkabir is the first thing that comes to mind when Ankara is mentioned. One of Turkey’s most important works of art is Anıtkabir. Anıtkabir is a work that consists of Atatürk’s life, age and the things he used. What impressed me the most was that not only Turks but also all foreigners in Turkey visited the Anıtkabir for the first time.

Atakule

If you want to feel Ankara under your feet, this is the place you should definitely go. The view of Ankara is magnificent, but I think if you go in the evening, you will see how the whole city has turned into a masterpiece.

National Library

If you are looking for any study to study, this is the right place. You can see people of all ages, not just students. I don’t think there is a second such library in the world. Its structure, processing and appearance simply fascinate people. I just said “Wow” when I left.

Istanbul

I think Istanbul is also a very cute city, but frankly, it didn’t meet my expectations :’). During my 4-day Istanbul trip, I tried to go to the famous places of Istanbul and I managed to go to most of them. Galata Tower, Bosphorus, Istanbul coast, Taksim, Ferry and many other places were fascinating. To be honest, eating “fish bread” on the beach (Eminönü) was one of my biggest dreams, no matter how small it may seem. I was able to do that thanks to this project. I would recommend those who are considering going to Istanbul to never forget to eat Fish and Bread. Although Istanbul did not meet my expectations, its magnificence is truly dazzling.

I’m going to Izmir next week.

Izmir is one of my favorite cities. I tried “Kumru” in Ankara and “İzmir bomba” in Azerbaijan, but in my opinion, you should try the food of each city in its own city. (I’m a food lover hahaha) Alsancak, Clock Tower, Kordonboyu and Konak Square are among the places I want to see. Wait for my other blog to learn even more.

In general, places to visit in Ankara never end. We have prepared many lists for you on Instagram post and in real terms. If you want to see both touristic and fun places, I say take a look at them.

Finally, let me say that if you want to live in one city, this is Ankara, if you want to visit other cities, you can go to any city you want. In short, wherever your soul takes you. For example, Istanbul is best known as a touristic city. But for me, Ankara became a city far beyond Istanbul. If you want city advice, I can say İzmir, Nevşehir (Cappadocia), Antalya, İstanbul, Hatay, Eskişehir, Trabzon, Gazientep, Bursa.

Ending

Being a part of this team created a certain atmosphere that made me work harder to be better, do my job better and give more than I could give. So I want to say to anyone who is afraid to apply for ESC volunteering programs, don’t be afraid, don’t wait for a sign to meet new things, to see that life is even better outside of your comfort zone. Everything is in your hands, apply without waiting and do not miss this opportunity. Frankly, I was very indecisive at first, but after seeing these beauties and how beautiful life is on my feet, I said “Well done Seyran”.

As I said, this is my first overseas experience. And I’m really not exaggerating, it was the most amazing experience in my life. I will always remember the memories I lived, all the memories we spent with girls, people, children, migrants, I was so heard even as I was writing these, but it still put a smile on my face. Wow, what have I experienced in this 1 month ☺

And finally, a big thank you to Ander and our team, I love you so muchhh girlsss, see you on another project someday.

Seiran Aliyeva

Volunteering during the Earthquake

Hello everyone!

My name is Nur, and I am a volunteer in ESC and it is my first month in Ankara to work with a local organization. I wanted to share my experiences of my first month in this amazing city and the work that I am doing to help the community.

When I first arrived in Ankara, I was struck by the city's energy and vibrancy. The streets were busy with people, cars, and buses, and there was a sense of excitement in the air. As I settled into my new accommodation, I felt a mixture of nerves and excitement about the work that I was about to embark on.

The organization I am volunteering for is focused on providing food delivery to underprivileged people in Ankara and language teaching opportunities for children. As someone with a passion for education and social justice, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with them.

However, on the morning of February 6th, everything changed. A strong earthquake occurred in 10 regions of Turkey. Dozens of buildings were destroyed and thousands of people lost their lives. 7 days of mourning were declared in the country.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, my plans as a volunteer were put on hold. The organization I was working with had to shift its focus to providing immediate relief to those affected by the earthquake. As someone who had come to Ankara with the desire to help, I was determined to do whatever I could to assist.

 I have been involved in a range of activities to help those affected by the earthquake. This includes distributing food and supplies to those in need and offering emotional support to those who have lost loved ones or been left without a home.

Although my time in Ankara has not gone as planned, I am grateful for the experience and for the chance to help those in need. I am reminded of the importance of flexibility and adaptability, and I am humbled by the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

 In addition to these I've had the opportunity to explore some of the city's amazing cultural landmarks in my free time. In particular, I've been blown away by my visits to Anitkabir and the library.

Anitkabir

Anitkabir is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey. As a history buff, I was really excited to visit this important landmark. The architecture of the mausoleum is truly stunning, with its grand columns and sweeping lines. Inside, the museum offers an in-depth look at Ataturk's life and legacy, with exhibits that cover everything from his military career to his political achievements.

What struck me the most about my visit to Anitkabir was the sense of national pride that it inspired. Everywhere I looked, I saw people of all ages paying their respects to Ataturk and his vision for a modern, secular Turkey. As a foreign volunteer, it was incredibly moving to see the impact that Ataturk's legacy continues to have on the people of this country.

The Library

Another highlight of my time in Ankara has been my visits to the city's stunning library. The library is housed in a beautiful modern building with sleek lines and plenty of natural light. Inside, the space is vast and welcoming, with countless shelves of books and comfortable seating areas for reading and studying.

What I love most about the library is the sense of community that it fosters. Every time I've visited, I've seen people of all ages and backgrounds using the space for their own purposes. Some are reading for pleasure, while others are studying for exams or working on research projects. Whatever the reason, everyone seems to feel at home in this vibrant, welcoming space. One of my favorite things about the library is that it's open 24/7 and offers free drinks and cupcakes.

I feel incredibly grateful to have the chance to be a part of this vibrant, welcoming city. Whether I'm exploring the cultural landmarks or giving back through my volunteer work, I am constantly inspired by the warmth and generosity of the people of Ankara. I can't wait to see what the rest of my time here has in store!

Nuriyye Ceferova

My Motivation for Volunteering Abroad

Merhaba ! 

My name is Takoi from Tunisia. I would like to share my first experience of volunteering abroad and the  importance of volunteering for me and its positive impact on human life. 

How was the beginning.. Where and when? A must question. 

The start was from the preparatory school by participating in youth centers and  activities of charitable associations, up to the university level I have always  taken the initiative to participate in these activities that focus on the preparation  of youth service organization and contribute to the organization of cultural  events and competitions. 

First of all Volunteering for me can be a means of feeling useful and satisfied.  By helping others or contributing to a larger cause, volunteers can feel a sense of  achievement and meaning in their lives and can also be a way to get to know  new people and connect with others who share similar values and interests so  Volunteering can provide opportunities to learn new skills or put them into  practice. For example, a person interested in planning an event could volunteer  to help organize a charitable fundraiser. And from then on, I started looking for volunteer opportunities, especially  experiences in a different country from mine. And I started my search journey  through the platforms related to youth activities and the social networking sites  of associations and organizations and the most important :“The European Youth  Portal” is an initiative of the European Commission and was launched in  2004.The portal was suggested in the European Commission's White Paper "A  new impetus for European Youth". It has been developed with and for young  people, particularly in association with Eurodesk and the European Youth  Forum.. One of the strategy's objectives is to enhance the participation of all  young people in society and to increase their participation in civic life and in  representative democracy.

Until I found an opportunity to volunteer in Ankara with “ANDER Ankara  Eğitim Gönüllüleri Derneği” ANDER - Ankara Education Volunteers  Association is an active Civil Society Organization working on education, youth  and lifelong learning. The association carries out activities with the aim of  contributing to the development of all individuals, especially young individuals,  in social, cultural and educational issues. Of which I submitted my application  and sent all the necessary documents, and I was very excited by this experience.  I kept waiting for a response, then I did many interviews with them to finally be  accepted.So I started with all the preparations and did some research and  discovered places in Ankara and their culture through the Internet and  preparations, including flight tickets and all travel equipment. 

The day of my trip was February 1st. The first flight was from Tunisia to  Istanbul, and the second flight from Istanbul to Ankara it was my first travel  experience solo , which I really enjoyed and contemplated on its details. It was a  marvellous experience, especially when I came to Ankara, the mountains and  buildings were covered with snow. It was a wonderful sight. 

The start was to meet the whole team, including Azerbaijan, Italy, Hungary,  Ukraine and Georgia. It's a truly amazing team. We shared ideas and cultures,  and we enjoyed spending our time either in the activities we do or in the visits  we make to Ankara. I couldn’t be more grateful for such an opportunity is given  to me by such people.

And here I am in my fourth week on the trip. They may seem a little to you, but  for me, they are a complete stage in which I learned a lot, in which I discovered  many things of culture, food, and places, and I had the friendship of nice people, gained skills, and trying to got out of my comfort zone.

Finally, volunteering abroad can be an incredibly rewarding experience that  allows you to make a positive impact on the world while also gaining valuable  personal and professional skills. Just remember to do your research, plan ahead,  stay open-minded, and prioritize your safety. 

My journey of self-realization continues, and I continue to have adventures and  discoveries.

Takoi Gharsellaoui

My First Month in Ankara

I started my journey on the 1st of February. I went to the airport early in the morning with full of questions about what’s to come. Deep down I could feel that it was a good decision, but leaving home was hard and I had some worries about the next 2 months. But let me tell you, coming here was the best decision I could’ve made.

When I decided to apply, it was so random, I couldn’t explain my reasons why. The date of the project was in a time period when I had nothing to do and I had a feeling that it would be a great experience. So I applied. And I was accepted. Approaching the starting date of the project, my doubts started to raise as it was the first time for me to be away from my home for such a long period. I was preparing to go into the unknown, to live with people I’ve never met, to do work I’ve never done. Naturally, some anxiety comes with that. But honestly, after arriving, all my worries went away. I could feel that I am in the right place.

In the first 2 days of the months almost everybody arrived and we familiarized ourselves with the city, bought SIM cards, met with coordinator, had our introduction training and just spent time together. On our first day, we already had really good conversations and after one week I felt like I’ve known these girls for a long time, not just 7 days. In the meantime, the last person from the team, my roommate arrived and with that the team was complete. 

While living our first week in Ankara, in the southern part of the country the earthquake destroyed the lives of many people. With that our usual activities changed a bit. We spent most of our days in the Youth Center helping with the donations and spending time with the children who were there to help as well. It was mind-blowing to see how many people helped and how many children joined.  Other times we were in the office, working on our social media tasks. We made Youtube videos, prepared posts for Instagram and had a great time doing it. In our free time, we spent lots of time together as well. We ate Turkish dishes – Mantı, Tavuk Şiş, Simit and Chocolate Baklava are must-try foods in my opinion. We also tried the traditional Turkish breakfast and drank Turkish coffee. We explored the city and I have to mention Anıtkabir and Millet Kütüphanesi because they’re one of my favorite things. We experienced snowy Ankara then in the second half of the months, we experienced the sunny Ankara (personally, I prefer the second one). We also started to learn Turkish, which was an interesting experience for me because the structure of the grammar is similar to Hungarian. It is not an easy language but it’s worth to learn at least the basics because Turkish people barely speak English. 

It is weird how easily I adapted to my life here. Obviously I needed some days to get used to this place and this culture, but it came so easily and naturally that at one point I just felt comfortable and at home. It is not the most touristic place you will ever find, but the atmosphere is something you have to experience. Taking a walk and seeing the beautiful mosques is magical – especially at night. Going out to buy baklava in the evening and being on the lively streets of Kizilay makes me feel truly happy that I can be here. Meeting with the amazing Turkish people and making memories with them always feels special.  Coming home and wrapping ourselves in the comfort battaniye (=blanket; that we bought in the first days because it was so cold) before doing our work or continuing the Turkish series we started to learn some Turkish, is already a routine. And I could go on with this for so long.

After 1 months of being in Ankara, I can confidently say that I love being here. I love the atmosphere of the city, I love the work that we’re doing, I love the people we’re meeting but above all I love my friends here. I am convinced that this adventure wouldn’t be this good, if it wasn’t for them. I look forward to every new experience with them because I know they’re going to be amazing and memories for a lifetime. 

Panni Mayer

ITALYALIYIM, ANKARA' DA!

Merhaba!

Benim adım Vıttoria. Italyalıyım. This was my only turkish knowledge in my first days here in Ankara, other than baklava and kebap. At first it was quite overwhelming being in such a different environment, however, despite the communication struggles, I enjoyed this place since the first days, especially thanks to the other volunteers here that made me feel at home. This adventure started in February and soon we had an unexpected

situation: the earthquake that hitted the south of the country. Luckily, Ankara was not directly hitted by the disaster but obviously the repercussions were felt in all the country. Our scheduled activities also changed: we had the chance to help an amazing group of volunteers in a youth centre with the collection of items to send to the earthquake places. They welcomed us heartily, showing their amazing initiatives and involving us in their work. That place is full of good energy and people of all ages, from kids to elders, always ready to help and share. After the practical work in the first days of emergency, we have done other types of activities: English lessons for the kids volunteering there, we took part in Turkish lessons together with kids and youngsters from different countries, had drawing session with them and in the free time we had the chance to talk, learn about new cultures, exchange knowledge.

On other days we stay in the office of the association, learning more about volunteering, project management and creating contents for social medias: graphics for Instagram posts, shooting and editing videos to share on YouTube. I’m really glad to have this occasion to step out of my procrastination and improve creativity and technological skills, fundamental for sharing with more people our experience and ideas. Once a week we have also a Turkish lesson and it’s so good to have the chance to use soon what we learn in class in our everyday life.
However, the experiences and new learnings are not restricted just to the activities. Living in a completely new environment makes every day an adventure. We’re exploring the city in all its nuances. We visited some symbolic places such as Anıtkabir, Hamamönü, some mosques but the most interesting thing for me is to enjoy simple places of everyday life: coffee places, cozy restaurants, parks, libraries (noteworthy is the Presidential Library, a huge library open 24/7 full of students studying or just chilling in relax rooms), bars, groceries shops…The opportunity to enter in contact with the real everyday life of the city and create our routine here is priceless. Sometimes I love to have some random walks and just enjoy the flow of the city. Especially when I’m walking by night, every time I’m amazed by the view of Kocatepe Camii with its lights, one of the spots I’m most fond of.

Even staying at home is never boring. Living with other volunteers, even the simplest things are memorable: chilling in our cozy living room talking and drinking çay, eat together, watch tv series, learn about other’s cultures...  And special nomination goes to Turkish food that surprised me with its variety and it’s just delicious, especially when shared with amazing people.
So, what else to say, it’s impossible to fully describe this experience in a blog page, this is just a taste of it. I’m getting used to live here and after one month I can already feel that I’m going to miss all this. But a new month is coming, full of new adventures. So, hadi gidelim!

Hugs! Güle güle! :)

Vittoria Zotti