All posts by imece network

Training Course “The Road to Recovery” in Pamporovo

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Spiritual and mental healing was the main goal of the project that took part in Pamporovo, Bulgaria. Young people from 8 different countries faced their fears and learned how to get through them.

The project was held between the 8th and 14th of August. Imece was represented by 3 people. The project aimed to improve the opportunities for the personal and professional realization of young people after the global pandemic, by building healthy habits, improving their motor skills and understanding the factors influencing all aspects of the physical, spiritual and emotional development of the individual. 24 participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine and Bulgaria spent 7 days together in the middle of nature and talked about their lives during a pandemic.

“We had very good days from the first day of the project. We bonded with each other and shared our feelings. I especially liked the activity we imagined we were on the ship. I realized what I wanted to do with my life”, shares Cemile.

Other participants agree that this time was unforgettable. Sumeyra adds: “It was so nice to meet people who can understand what you feel, what you have been through during coronavirus days. As it always happens in Erasmus+ Projects; we didn’t want to say goodbye to each other on the last day. However, we know that we will always remember and support each other even if we can’t meet again, thanks to this project”.

Training “CLAIM IT” in Mugla

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Our volunteer – Rumeysa took part in the training in Fethiye Oludeniz. The main goal of the project is to increase dialogue between public institutions and youth organizations at the national and international levels.

The first part of the training took place between 1st and 7th August. A group of young people gathered together to discuss the importance of youth organizations, their role in the country and cooperation with public institutions. The training was given by GoFor – Youth Organizations Forum in Turkey.

“We learnt about public resources and EU funds that we can use in this programme in the days of public resources and civil society relationship, as well as EU funds, being international public resource”, says Rumeysa. It is worth nothing that according to the Mapping and Needs Analysis Report of Youth Organizations in Turkey, prepared in 2021 by GoFor, of which we are one of the member associations, 6 out of 10 youth organizations find their cooperation with public institutions almost non-existent or insufficient.

During the training, participant had a chance to learn also about legislation for civil society. “I think we will better understand that in the second part of the project, which will take place in Ankara”, adds Rumeysa.

LTA Beyond Borders in Paris

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In the end of June, Özgür had a chance to participate in the event “LTA Beyond Borders”. Programme focused mostly on developing collaboration initiatives between neighbouring partner countries within the Erasmus+ and ESC programmes.

The project was held in Paris between 20th and 24th of June. More than 120 participants from 30 countries took part in it. During those few days, they organized various workshops on increasing the visibility and value between the programme and partner countries, withing Erasmus+, ESC and international cooperation with the three regional SALTO Centers.

As Özgür is sharing, it is difficult to put his experience he gained there into words. Not only workshops that were held there but people he has met, he will remember for a long time. “Exploring Paris during this process created the most enjoyable moments of the experience. I would like to thank Imece Network for providing opportunities for youth”, he adds.

YE “Sport A Language We All Speak” in Bulgaria

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Young people from Turkey had a chance to participate in a project in Bulgaria. Between 25 – 31 May, they gathered with other young people from Europe in a Lozen, a village located in the Stolichna Municipality of Sofia.

The project dealt with the importance of sport as an educational tool for intercultural learning, fighting discrimination and promoting social inclusion. Imece network was represented by 4 participants and 1 leader. One of them was Efe, who shares: “For me this project was incredible. Before the project, I always had a question mark about its subject, but they told us the subject in a very good way with the workshops they prepared meticulously.”

The moment he remembers the most is when they took on the roles they gave them and tried to play them for 1 hour.“This left a good impression on me. We cannot prevent discrimination in sports, even if we do not want it due to the media. While everyone knows very famous male actors, we may not even be aware of the existence of female athletes with the same degree. This is true for all sports and athletes.”

The project in Sofia left an impact on all participants. Efe adds: “I have removed one more obstacle in my mind”.

Testimonials From Youth Exchange in London

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Hello, I’m Âsûde.

I was a participant from Turkey in the Resolve: Peace Camps project in London on May 17-22. This project has participants from Cyprus, Hungary, Spain and Bosnia.

The Resolve: Peace Camps project consisted of many events emphasizing peace on a global axis. It was a full-blown session where we discussed what we can prioritize from the past conflicts with the guest speakers, visited the war museum about Britain and talked about the conflicts on the artefacts here, information has be given about the European Union and Brexit in the Europe House, and discussed the issues that occupy the agenda in international relations specific to various identities.

In addition, being involved in a project in London, one of the world’s leading metropolises, is enough to have unique experiences in many ways. You can encounter a different celebration every season. It was also enjoyable to explore the streets and talk to the people you met there.

There are many parameters that ensure the healthy development of communication on platforms where people from different cultures come together. I had no difficulty in communicating and establishing relationships with the participants in this project. All of them were people I was very happy to meet, had a great time with and would like to meet again in the future.

Finally, I believe that such projects support development in many areas. I am very happy to be with İmece Network in this project and I would like to thank İmece Network for this.

Âsûde Özkal

YE “Digital Transformation” in Greece

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6 participants from Turkey took part in a Youth Exchange in Thessaloniki from 31st March to 9th April. This time helped young people to gain hard and soft skills important for the digital era and the labor market but also made it an unforgettable experience for them.

This youth project aimed to encourage young people to use more effectively digital tools and resources, through non-formal education activities. The project included 2 activities: the APV and the Youth Exchange, which the second one was the main activity. In Nea Kallikratia, Halkidiki young people from 9 countries came to improve and strengthen the knowledge, skills and behaviors regarding digital transformation and its connection with the current labor market.

During the project young people could take part in workshops like: introduction to Digital Transformation, getting a job vs. creating a job, Digital Tools for Project/ Time Management, Debate (pros & cons of Digital Transformation), role play theater and many more. Cansu, participant from Turkey, says that she really liked the debate: “It was a very nice experience, it definitely changed my perspective”.

Not only non-formal education and workshops were part of the project. People coming from different countries had a chance to share their culture and values. It was a time to make new friendships and discover new cultures. “Culture nights were the most entertaining activities for me. Because it is very nice to learn about different cultures and taste their food”, says Furkan, the other participant. “What I liked most was that as all the participants, it felt like we were family, not from different countries, it felt like we shared the same cultures”, adds Cansu.

This Youth Exchange gave the opportunity for young people to spend time in intercultural environment, get connected and be active on local, national and international level as well as become more aware of Digital Transformation and its connection with the current labor market. And as the Furkan is saying: “It was a beautiful project. I learned a lot of new digital tool usage. And it was an experience I will never forget in my life”.

Youth Exchange “Erasmus + Matrix”

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Erasmus + Matrix event took place in Sarajevo on February 22-28. Many startup ideas emerged at the event. In the name of entrepreneurship, so many good ideas have emerged with different approaches of different countries that we would like to tell you about them.

The goal that we have to achieve: Changing the world by solving problems. Yes, you heard right, we brought the country’s problems to the agenda at the event, and we both developed ourselves in the name of entrepreneurship and thought about how countries should develop more. Now you should consider an enterprise. You should also bring new horizons to entrepreneurship ideas by thinking about the problems of different countries with your country; we have revealed these ideas, now we are working on our projects to realize them, you can do this too. Many ideas might be showed up in your mind, yes, think about them now and take part in the world as an entrepreneur. This is never difficult, not impossible.

It was so enjoyable to talk about the business life of different countries with the participants from many countries. The most important building blocks of successful organizations are professionalism, working knowledge and talent. Thank you for your support in our adventure as of being the best by always putting +1 on it. Some of the things definitely deserve more than one thanks. Thank you very much IMECE NETWORK!

Gizem Kara

Mediterranean Plural

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We participated a project called “Plurale Meditarenao” (literally “Mediterranean Plural”), which aims at promoting dialogue among Mediterranean countries.

The main aims of the project were the followings:

1- To create an illustrated book including 10 essays on a variety of subjects shared by all the Mediterranean countries, ranging from cultural features to biodiversity.

2- To make 2022 calendar featuring the national, religious and popular holidays of all the Mediterranean countries.

The contributions of Imece Network to the project were:

Promotion of a culture of Peace and dialogue between the countries of the Mediterranean Area.

Search and suggest festivity proposals to contribute to the 2022 calendar featuring the national, religious and popular holidays of all the Mediterranean countries.

Work in the field of peace education, using the editorial projects included in the project.

Here are the links of the book and the calendar:

Click to access PM_Calendario_Eng_Stampa_1.pdf

Click to access PluraleMediterraneo_Web_1Page.pdf

Thanks to our volunteer Hilal Duran

Urve Abak

Lets Play All Together

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We participated the Erasmus Sports Project “Lets Play All Together” by APD Roma Volley.

The main aims of the project were the followings:
1- Exchanging best practices for freeing sports from bullying and for using sports as educational tools against bullying;
2- Creating a European network of non profit organizations committed in educational values of sports against bullying.

During the project, were realized 3 international meetings (the kick off meeting, an international exchange and a final workshop).

The video created by our first group:

Thanks to Cansu Ak for creating the video

Gallery by our second group:

The outcomes of the workshops at the end:

Book of Results

For more details please click the official website:

Lets Play All Together

Field Visits in Egirdir/Isparta

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Within the scope of the mentoring support of the 5th Young Social Entrepreneurs meeting, the social initiative of Seda Vural, a member of our association, “Anne Çocuk Yaşam Merkezi (Mother Child Life Center) – Eğirdir” will be realised soon. For the project Seda interviewed with the district governor and the mayor.

After these meetings, field visits were realised on possible places for our activities with the instruction of the mayor of Eğirdir, Veli Gök.

The first stop of the field visits is Dündar Bey Madrasah. And later on Aya Stefanos (Yeşilada) Church, Eğirdir Social Facilities and Historical Eğirdir House were visited respectively.