The Erasmus+ KA151 project titled “Youth Without Boundaries for an Inclusive Future,” carried out by the Bülbülzade Association under the umbrella of Bülbülzade Foundation and supported by the Turkish National Agency, has been completed.
Bülbülzade Foundation hosted a meaningful program within the scope of international youth mobility. The Erasmus+ KA151 project titled “Youth Without Boundaries for an Inclusive Future,” implemented by the Bülbülzade Association and supported by the Turkish National Agency, was held in Gaziantep between April 13–17, 2026. The program, which brought together approximately 50 young people from Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Syria, and France, concluded after five days of intensive and productive activities. ESC volunteers from Azerbaijan, the Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ukraine, affiliated with Bülbülzade Foundation and BEKAM, also took part in the project activities. With this wide participation, the project enabled different cultures to come together around shared values while producing significant outcomes in terms of social inclusion and coexistence.
A JOURNEY STARTING WITH SHARED VALUES
The first day of the program began with activities aimed at strengthening communication among participants and overcoming cultural barriers. Ice-breaking activities conducted under the guidance of Clinical Psychologist Sena Aldemir helped participants bond. Following the introduction presentations of partner institutions, Mesut Aydağ outlined the theoretical framework of the project with his session titled “The Key to Coexistence: Youth and Shared Values.” Participants had the opportunity to visit the Bülbülzade Foundation complex and its units, observing local civil society models on-site.
THEORETICAL DEPTH
In the following sessions of the project, Riyad Avlar, President of the Civil Law Association, met with the youth with his talk titled “Experience and Struggle: A Life in the Pursuit of Justice.” Moderated by Hacı Abuzer Nas, the panel featuring Salih Ekrem Oğlakcı and Dilara Osanmaz discussed “Youth and Cultural Identity.” Sena Aldemir and Zehra Aldemir further deepened the topic with their presentations titled “The Social and Psychological Effects of Coexistence” and “Boundaries and Flexibility.” In the practical phase of the program, a workshop titled “NGO Policies for Inclusive Coexistence: The Role of Youth” was conducted using the Station Model. As an outcome of this workshop, a policy document will be published.
CULTURAL EXPLORATION
Mehmet Ali Eminoğlu, President of BEKAM, encouraged young people toward social participation with his speech on “Active Citizenship Models for Youth as the Key to Social Participation.” As part of the city tour, the historical texture of Gaziantep was explored through the narrations of Hüseyin Rahmi Açıkkol and Asım Mıhçıoğlu. Within the cultural program, participants embarked on a journey through the region’s historical heritage. They experienced the magnificent atmosphere of Rumkale and the stunning view from the glass terrace. Afterwards, the group traveled to Halfeti by boat, where they explored the region’s ancient history through expert narratives and closely experienced its cultural heritage.
CURIOSITY MET EXPERIENCE
One of the most interactive parts of the project, the “Fishbowl Answers” activity, brought together participants’ curiosity with the foundation’s deep-rooted experience. Notes prepared under the guidance of Zehra and Sena Aldemir were collected in a bowl, containing all questions about the project and the foundation. Rabia Aldemir, one of the founders of the foundation and President of the Mosaic Women and Family Association, along with Fatma Eminoğlu, Member of the Board of Bülbülzade Foundation, sincerely answered these questions, clarifying all uncertainties regarding the project’s goals and the foundation’s vision.
WE EXAMINED THE GAZIANTEP MODEL ON-SITE
One of the most remarkable stops of the project was the meeting with Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin. The participants had the opportunity to hear about the “Gaziantep Model,” which has entered international literature, directly from Şahin. She shared successful strategies in migration management, education of refugee children, and social services, offering a visionary perspective to the youth. During this meeting, participants observed concrete examples of the critical role of local governments in building inclusive societies.
THEY LEFT THE PROJECT’S MEMORY IN NATURE
The project was not limited to indoor sessions. In the “Human Library” activity, Emre Karaçaylı, Coordinator of the Bülbülzade Foundation Project Unit, and Lütfiye Güvenç shared their life experiences with the youth, contributing to breaking prejudices. Additionally, participants planted saplings in the Bülbülzade Foundation Liberation Forest, leaving a lasting memory of the project in nature. Field visits were completed with tours to symbolic locations of the city such as Millet Mosque.
FAREWELL WITH A CERTIFICATE CEREMONY
The workshops, seminars, and field visits held throughout the week concluded with a general evaluation session on Friday, April 17. At the end of the program, participants were awarded YouthPass certificates. The young people left Gaziantep not only with theoretical knowledge but also with strong friendships, promising to become ambassadors of the project in their respective countries.
