BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES ANNOUNCED
In the context of the 2007 National Human Development Report that is being written on “Youth in Turkey”, UNDP for the first time has selected and awarded “best youth projects” that have contributed to the enhancement of capabilities of youth. Best practices were selected from approximately 40 entries by a panel of youth and development experts and representatives from UNDP and the European Union Information Centre on the basis of the projects’ innovative approach, sustainability, level of partnership, efficiency and impact. While the awarded projects mainly focus on disadvantaged youth groups to improve their access to services, some support youth in solving serious social, economic and environmental problems at the local level; and others focus on increasing respect for differences in the society through cultural and sport activities. But as a whole all projects represent possible solutions that would lead to equitable and socially inclusive paths to development. Regarding the youth projects that are being implemented all across Turkey, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Mahmood Ayub said: “I really want to commend the people involved in conducting these youth projects. They increase the capabilities of the youth and provide inspiration urgently needed in our efforts to help youth realize their potential”. In order to recognize and award best youth projects, an award ceremony will be held on 4 October 2007 in Ankara with the participation of UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Mahmood Ayub and Lord (Neil) Kinnock, Chair of the British Council and European Commission Former Vice President as well as senior officials of diplomacy, academics, NGOs, representatives of public institutions and the media. The event will be hosted by the British Council in its role as one of the supporters of the national youth report. The stories of the “best practice” youth projects that have contributed to the change and development of youth will be published in a brochure to be distributed along with the National Human Development Report. The 20 awarded projects owners and their projects are as follows:1) Youth for Habitat / Youth Assemblies Project: aims to establish Youth Assemblies that aim to build youth’s capacities and ensure their participation into decision-taking mechanisms, works to bring together youth NGOs across Turkey, high school and university student bodies and representatives of the youth branches of chambers and unions under one roof.
2) Arı Movement / Youth Net Project: aims to eliminate youth’s lack of self-confidence and to encourage them to take initiatives in issues related to them and their dwellings. The project also aims to improve youth’s leadership skills and to create an awareness for their participation.
3) Nature Association / Nature School: aims to train youth who consider taking active roles in Turkey’s nature preservation works on nature preservation techniques thus establishing a human resource specialized in this field.
4) Beyaz Nokta Development Foundation / Learning Houses: aims to develop youth’s learning skills thus encouraging youth to stand on his/her own feet and to teach them to develop solidarity in achieving their personal goals.
5) Youth Sports Foundation / Youth Social Development Project: aims to improve youth’s social capacity, self-confidence and their skills regarding employment issues.
6) Alternative Life Association / Alternative Camp: aims to create conscious for volunteerism, eliminate social exclusion and racism, to ensure self-confidence via sports activities and to provide an alternative vacation model for different disabled groups.
7) Community Volunteers Foundation / ATAK Project: aims to encourage motivation among young volunteers, bring together youth from different cultures thus ensuring societal peace, raise youh’s awareness towards society’s problems and to encourage youth to take initiative in solving problems.
8) Youth Services Centre / Youth NGOs and Public Coordination Project: aims to improve communication and partnership between youth NGOs and public institutions and among other NGOs and to establish permanent and sustainable youth policies.
9) European Student Forum (AEGEE) / Turkish-Greek Civil Dialogue: aims to establish dialogue and a network between youth initiatives and organizations in Turkey and Greece and to encourage the development of joint projects between Turkey and Greece.
10) Social Responsibility Association / Street League: aims to contribute to youth’s personal development who have limited access to sports facilities or who are at a disadvantaged state via football. In this context trainings are given on team work, social unity, positive thinking and self-confidence.
11) Private Sanko Schools / Rumkale, No Longer Alone: aims to raise awareness on history and to encourage students to examine the history, architecture, artistic value, social, physical and religious structure of Rumkale.
12) International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation / Sexual and Reproductive Health Project for Young People at High School Age in Ardahan: aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health status of the young population living in Ardahan.
13) Hand in Hand for Youth / Hand in Hand Towards Love: aims to socially and culturally integrate youth living with their families and youth living in orphanages and to eliminate the feeling of exclusion among orphans by building friendships.
14) Menemen Anatolian Vocational High-School / Walking on Moon: aims to build conscience on art and culture among students and to realize inter-cultural learning.
15) Association for Solidarity for Youth Deprived of Freedom / Child, Adolescent Solidarity Centre: aims to ensure the active participation of children who have a tendency for crime.
16) Access Association / 5th Sense Art Project: aims to increase the participation of people belonging to different disabled groups into art, dance and music.
17) Kemaliye Culture and Development Foundation / Kemaliye International Nature Related Sports Festival: aims to direct youth to have a healthy body and a positive thinking structure while realizing nature related sports, encourage youth to respect the environment and to ensure the exchange of different cultures via international camps and activities.
|
|
18) Boğaziçi Univeristy Social Services Club / OSS Training Projects: aims to find solutions to the inequality of opportunities in education.
19) Turkey Environment Protection and Greening Institution / Akasya National Youth Environment Summits: aims to bring together NGOs, university clubs or personal initiatives who wish to work in the field of environment and to ensure young environmentalists to have a say in environmental policies.
20) Turkey Re-Autonomy Foundation of Turkey / Educational, Social, Artistic and Sportive Activities Project: targets imprisoned youth aged 12-18 and works so that their imprisonment does not have a negative impact on their development. In the context of the project, educational, social, artistic and sports activities are organized to develop imprisoned youth.
Kaynak: http://www.undp.org.tr/Gozlem2.aspx?WebSayfaNo=1067
Popularity: 1% [?]
