Tag Archives: Erasmus+

Imece Network in Bulgaria! 🇹🇷🤝🇧🇬

27 July 2025 imece network Leave a comment

Between 21–27 July 2025, Eren, Tuncay, and Özcan represented Imece Network at the Inner Peace, Outer Impact Training Course in Pamporovo, Bulgaria. 🌿✨

They joined youth workers from 8 countries to explore mental health, resilience, and healthy lifestyles — combining workshops with nature hikes, mindfulness walks, and intercultural nights. 🌍💬

During the program, Tuncay Vural led a workshop called From the Past to the Future using a tree metaphor. Participants reflected on their “roots, soil, trunk, branches, leaves, blossoms, and dead branches” through personal and group activities, encouraging deep self-awareness and shared growth. 🌳💡

Bringing back fresh ideas and strong international connections, our team is ready to spread the impact in Türkiye! 🚀

A Sustainable Step with Imece Network: My Experience at the Eco Coach Training in Struga

17 July 2025 imece network Leave a comment

What was it like to explore the fantastic intersection of sustainability and entrepreneurship, all against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake Ohrid? Representing Imece Network at the “Eco Coach Training” project in Struga, North Macedonia, from July 11-17, 2025, was a unique adventure where I found answers to these questions and so much more.

Funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme, this training course by Youth Council Prilep brought together a group of eager youth workers to explore how green practices can inspire innovation and business ideas. Through workshops and hands-on activities that blended creativity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, we learned how to turn eco-friendly concepts into concrete and impactful ventures. We didn’t just stick to theory; we saw how to bring our ideas to life using digital tools as well.

This journey, staying at Hotel Ambient on the shores of Lake Ohrid, was of course not limited to training alone. One of the most colorful moments of the project was the “International Night”. As participants from different cultures, we spent an evening filled with flavors and traditions from each other’s cuisines. Furthermore, thanks to the “Organization Market” where each participating organization could introduce itself, I was immensely proud to represent Imece Network and connect with other inspiring initiatives.

This experience not only broadened my horizons on what can be done for a sustainable future but also allowed me to break down prejudices against different cultures and improve my English communication skills. I believe I will carry this acquired knowledge and inspiration into Imece Network’s work and share it with many more young people.

I sincerely thank Imece Network for providing me with this unforgettable opportunity, Youth Council Prilep for their hospitality, and all the participants with whom I shared all these beautiful moments. This green journey in Struga will guide me both in my personal and professional life.

Mehmetcan
Imece Network Volunteer

Imece Network Youth Participated in the LEAD Youth Exchange in Romania!

13 April 2025 imece network Leave a comment

Between April 5-13, 2025, a team of 8 young people from Imece Network — including one team leader (Tuncay) and seven participants — took part in the Learning, Engaging, Acting for Democracy (LEAD) youth exchange, hosted in Horezu, Romania. For most of the participants, this was their very first international experience.

The project gathered 46 young people from Türkiye, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Hungary, creating a multicultural environment where ideas and cultures could meet. The program combined workshops, debates, role-plays, simulations, and outdoor activities to foster learning through non-formal education methods.

Throughout the exchange, participants explored key topics like democracy, cultural understanding, and active participation. The activities were designed and facilitated by experienced youth leaders, focusing on teamwork, creativity, and open-mindedness.

Our participants shared that this experience helped them break down prejudices, especially towards neighboring cultures. Many also expressed that their self-confidence and English communication skills improved significantly during the project.

The LEAD project was not only a platform for learning but also a place for new friendships and meaningful cultural exchange. As Imece Network, we are proud to continue supporting young people in their personal and international development journeys!

My Digital Journey Through Bulgaria: A Youth Exchange Experience

8 April 2025 imece network Leave a comment

I’m Melike, and I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the “Digital Storytelling on Rails 0.2” Youth Exchange project, which took place from March 31 to April 8, 2025, across three Bulgarian cities: Sofia, Plovdiv, and Veliko Tarnovo. The project brought together participants from Turkey, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Armenia, creating a vibrant multicultural environment focused on the power of storytelling through digital tools.

The main theme of the project was exploring storytelling techniques using digital skills. Throughout the exchange, we engaged in various interactive activities. One of the highlights was creating our own stories using drawing-based narration and visual storytelling techniques. These creative exercises helped us strengthen our digital competencies and experiment with different narrative styles.

In addition to the workshops, we enjoyed cultural nights, where each country shared elements of their culture. These evenings were not only fun but also enriching, allowing us to learn about each other’s traditions, music, food, and values. It was a beautiful way to build friendships and deepen our understanding of other cultures.

A unique aspect of the project was that it took place in multiple cities, and we traveled between them by train. These train journeys became more than just transportation—they turned into moving classrooms where we brainstormed ideas, shared stories, and reflected on our learning experiences. Traveling through Bulgaria’s picturesque landscapes added a magical backdrop to our discussions on digital storytelling.

As we explored each city’s cultural and historical richness, we also had the chance to apply and develop our storytelling skills in real-world contexts. This made our learning more engaging and meaningful.

In conclusion, this project offered me not just a chance to improve my digital storytelling techniques, but also a profound opportunity to connect with people from different cultural backgrounds. The friendships we formed, the stories we shared, and the memories we created all contributed to an unforgettable experience. Projects like this, I believe, are essential for young people to broaden their perspectives, enhance their digital and cultural literacy, and truly feel like part of a global community.

Melike Beygirci

Imece Network’s Journey to Latvia: Empowering Youth Workers

30 November 2024 imece network Leave a comment

From November 22 to 30, 2024, Imece Network sent three participants to the Erasmus+ training course “Smooth and Successful Transition into a Labour Market” in Saulkrasti, Latvia. This program gathered 28 youth workers, educators, and NGO representatives from across Europe.

The project aimed to equip youth workers with essential knowledge, tools, and skills to support young people’s transition from education to employment. Through non-formal education and experiential learning, participants explored challenges and solutions for bridging the skills gap in the European labor market.

Workshops focused on mentorship techniques, practical strategies, and creative approaches, encouraging learning by doing. Intercultural evenings added a cultural exchange dimension, where Imece Network’s team proudly represented Turkey.

Our three representatives returned with fresh perspectives, enhanced skills, and strong international connections. Their experience reflects Imece Network’s commitment to promoting non-formal education and strengthening youth work across borders.

Stay tuned for more stories from our international journey!

ErasmusDays 2024

19 October 2024 imece network Leave a comment

3 senedir devam ettirdiğimiz Gençlik Buluşması etkinliğimiz bu sene 19 Ekim Cumartesi günü Şişli İPA Habitat’da gerçekleşti.

İPA ve İBB Gençlik Hizmetleri Müdürlüğü iş birliğiyle hazırladığımız programda 10:00-19:00 arası Gençlik STK’ları fuarı ve yine gün boyu atölyeler ve söyleşiler yapıldı.

Katılan Kurumlar:

AEGEE Istanbul
Aktif Şehirler Derneği
Circle Up
Erasmus İstanbul Sports (ESI)
European Youth Parliament
EUROPUBlic
Genç Düşünce Enstitüsü
GHD Gönüllü Hizmetler Derneği
İBB Gençlik Ofisleri
İklim Öncüleri
İmece Network Eğitim ve Kültür Derneği
İmza Dergisi – Z Kuşağı
JCI İstanbul
Nişantaşı Üniversitesi Erasmus Kulübü
Takım Yıldızı SK
Young Future Association
Yücel Kültür Vakfı

Atölye ve Söyleşi Programı

10:30-11:00 Human Bingo
11.00-11.30 Uluslararası Gençlik Kampı
11.45-12.15 Gençlik ve Kampçılık
12.30-13.00 Proje Yazma Üzerine Temel Bilgiler
13.15-14.15 Postürünle Gücünü Hisset
14.30-15.00 Erasmus Spor
15.15-16.15 XVIII. Crossroads Uluslararası Kısa Film Festivali
16.30-17.00 Erasmus Faaliyetleri ve Sürpriz Oyun
17.15-18.15 Yazarlık Atölyesi
18.30-19.00 Erasmus Staj

Resim galerisi yakında eklenecek!

Stay tuned!

#imecenetwork #imece #erasmusdays #erasmusplus #eurodesk #eurodesktr

TC “From Mental Health to Democratic Participation”

21 July 2024 imece network Leave a comment

At 15th of july our volunteers participated in a week long Erasmus+ training course in Pamporovo Bulgaria.

Topics of the training were:
Raising awareness about how mental health effects all aspects of our everyday life.
And exercises we can do promote our mental and physical well being.

The project included 19 participants from different backgrounds and nationalities.

During the project participants did lots of activities and workshops together. Such as drawing and discussing. Allowing them to learning by doing.

Outside of sessions participants organized cultural nights to represent their countries. Showing traditional dances, musics and offering snacks.

At the end of the project volunteers left to return their counties as more open minded and mentally resilient individuals. Therefore contributing more to their communities.

TC “Innovative and Good Practices in the Youth Work”

14 May 2024 imece network Leave a comment

On the 8th of May our adventure started. Three of our volunteers attended the five-day training course that took place in Varna. The training course was organized by the association “Inspiration” Ruse, Bulgaria. Eight countries took part in this course, besides Turkey.

The youth workers played lots of fun games, had some challenging activities and got a chance to improve their communication skills, to be more open-minded, learned not to trust everything they hear in the newspaper. One of the topics that volunteers had a chance to discuss was the topic of human rights.

Of course, every job deserves a treat. On the training courses, we call them intercultural evenings. Every night we brought new information about the other countries that participated in the project. Some countries even did some quizzes to see how much they remembered the presentation or to give them a chance to learn something new about their country.

Sadly, as everything on this project came to an end by the 14th of May, when our volunteers packed their bags and hit the road to Turkey, where they came with lots of excitement and good memories of new friends and places!

Youth Exchange “Our Rights: Human Rights”

6 April 2024 imece network Leave a comment

From 29th March to 6th April 2024, the Infinite Opportunities Association organised a 7 days exchange programme called ‘Our Rights: Human Rights’, which was co-funded by the European Union.

The aim of the programme was to bring together youth from multiple countries in the world, and give an international and intercultural perspective on human rights. There were 36 participants in total, of which 5 were from Turkey.

Each day was packed with workshops and activities aimed at understanding human rights issues and to encourage conversation on challenging topics. These sessions included: understanding stereotypes and prejudices, freedom of speech versus hate speech, women’s rights and gender equality, understanding privileges in society and who are the underprivileged.

Non-formal learning approaches were used to try to give a solution to the issues discussed. Gamification and campaigning were discussed as tools for promoting social inclusion and human rights. Participants were also encouraged to share literature such as books and leaflets, enriching each other’s understanding and commitment to human rights advocacy.

Intercultural nights allowed participants to share their local foods and drinks with those from other countries, and promoted learning about different cultures too. There were also recreational activities such as tourism or sports that allowed for team building and forming friendships.

By the end of the programme, these young ambassadors returned home, ready to uphold human rights and effect positive change in their communities and beyond.

Dissemination After the TC in Italy

21 February 2024 imece network Leave a comment

The “Transfer Experience” event at our office was a fascinating exploration of the Wim Hof Method and Italian cultural experiences. Held in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere, the event attracted a diverse group of participants eager to learn and share. The evening began with an engaging introduction to the Wim Hof Method, a breathing and cold exposure technique known for its health benefits.

Our friends Ömer and Ceren, from the training course in Italy, guided the attendees through the basic principles and scientific background of the method. Participants were then led through a practical breathing session, which left many feeling invigorated and curious about incorporating it into their routines. Following this, the focus shifted to Italian experiences, highlighting the rich cultural heritage and vibrant lifestyle of Italy.

Stories about Italian traditions, cuisine, and travel destinations captivated the audience, painting a vivid picture of the country. Our friends shared personal anecdotes from their travels in Italy, offering unique insights and tips for those planning to visit. The evening concluded with an open discussion, where attendees exchanged thoughts and experiences related to both topics. The event was not only informative but also inspired a deeper appreciation for holistic wellness and cultural exploration.

#imecenetwork #imece #erasmusdays #erasmusplus #eurodesk #eurodesktr

International Platform on Education, Culture