More than ninety youth institutions came together for the first time at the Youth Knowledge Fair held on 22-23 March and decided to establish a comprehensive youth platform. The two-day Youth Knowledge Fair organized in Ankara formed the introduction phase of the 2008 National Human Development Report prepared by UNDP on “Youth in Turkey” to youth and NGOs. The report was initially launched on 21 March 2008 in Ankara and was presented to state agencies and decision-takers.
The Youth Knowledge Fair carries great importance in the decision of individuals and institutions – that came together in the meetings and workshops that were organized – to strengthen their communication networks by establishing a youth platform for the first time. With the youth platform envisaged to be established and of which signatures have already been collected for participation, civil society organizations working in the field of youth, individuals and state agencies will be informed of each others’ works and will be able to provide support and exchange of ideas to each other. Most importantly, through the platform, institutions will not only develop new projects but will ensure the visibility of their joint works and work to transform these studies into policies.
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In the context of the Youth Knowledge Fair attended by hundreds of people and more than 90 institutions including NGOs, student groups of universities, youth centres, youth assemblies, sports federations and representatives of state agencies working in the field of youth, 9 workshops participated by 280 people were organized along with theather shows, plays, concerts, dance and rhythm shows and folk dances. Project owners whose projects were awarded – in the context of the preparation process of the National Human Development Report – as “best practices in youth work” on 4 October 2007 had the opportunity of coming together at the Youth Knowledge Fair and introducing their projects. Some of the participating agencies were Turkey Environmental Protection and Greening Organization (TÜRÇEK), Alternative Life Association, Youth for Habitat Association, Ari Movement, GSM-Youth Services Centre, AEGEE Ankara, Community Volunteers Foundation (TOG), Turkish Youth Federation, Turkish Educational Volunteers Foundation, Turkish Democracy Foundation, Economic Policy Reasearch Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), Turkish Red Crescent Association, World Wildlife Foundation, Regional Rotaract Clubs, National Youth Assembly, Amnesty International, Life Plus Youth Programme and European Union Information Centre.
The Youth Knowledge Fair, created an environment where young people can receive information on how they can actively participate into community life and to meet NGOs working in this field. This environment also gave the opportunity for NGOs to seek young volunteers and to enhance their communication with other NGOs working in the same field and developing new joint projects.
