The “Youth International Networking and Civil Diplomacy Skills in the Digital Age” activity, organized within the scope of the Erasmus+ KA151 Youth Mobility project supported by the Turkish National Agency and carried out by Bülbülzade Association, was successfully completed on 14 August 2026 in Kızılcahamam, Ankara.
The Erasmus+ KA151 youth activity titled “Youth International Networking and Civil Diplomacy Skills in the Digital Age,” supported by the Turkish National Agency and implemented under the leadership of Bülbülzade Association, was successfully completed with the closing program held in Kızılcahamam, Ankara. The activity, organized between 10 and 14 August 2026, was attended by Alaca Association from North Macedonia, USAP and Maarif Europe from Germany, Maarif Belgium from Belgium, IFS EMMAUS from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Novi Pazar Turkish Cultural Center from Serbia, New Horizon from France, and Bülbülzade Association, Anatolian Student Union, BEKAM, REFAR and Yeşil Umut Association from Türkiye. During the four-day activity, young people received intensive training on topics such as civil diplomacy, intercultural communication and digitalization, and are preparing to return to their countries with the skills and knowledge they gained.
FOUNDATIONS FOR COOPERATION WERE LAID
The program, held at Eliz Hotel Convention Center Thermal Spa & Wellness, was carried out simultaneously with the 20th Anatolian Gatherings. Within the scope of the program, seminars, workshops, policy development activities, simultaneous youth forums, peer-learning activities, meet-and-greet and socialization events, a cultural evening, quizzes and various social activities were held. Thanks to the seminars, workshops and policy development forums held throughout the program, the foundations of new international collaborations were laid. The role of young people in building trust between societies was addressed with great care.
A KEY ROLE IN PREVENTING CRISES
The closing session held on the final day of the project was marked by colorful moments in which participating young people shared their feelings and thoughts. Taking the floor, the young people emphasized the importance of getting to know different cultures and developing a common understanding. Civil society leaders and academics who delivered the closing speeches of the program stated that civil diplomacy plays a key role in preventing crises. The speakers expressed that listening is a virtue that heals people and opens the way to hearts.
EMPHASIS ON INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD
Following the closing program, Youthpass certificates documenting the participants’ learning outcomes were presented by the project coordinators. Following the certificate ceremony, the Cultural Evening event began and truly became a colorful gathering of cultures. The participating young people shared different tastes by offering local snacks specially brought from their own countries to one another at the common tables set up. Throughout the night, local dances were performed to the accompaniment of national music from the countries, while the young people had very enjoyable moments. This cheerful event, which gave participants the opportunity to get to know each other’s cultures closely, further reinforced the project’s emphasis on international friendship and brotherhood.
