Youthpost.org is a Turkish youth portal launched in 2007 by the joint partnership of the Undp (United Nations Development Program) with the British Council’s Turkish branch and the GSM- Youth Service Centre. It has since become the official site for the National Human Development Report on Youth in Turkey as well as the hub for youth activities and information.
Launched in March 2007, in 11 months time it has received more than 35,000 hits, mostly from university students and youth NGOs. Approximately 3000 young people visits the web-site each month from 54 countries/territories, mainly from Turkey and from the USA, Greece, Germany, France, Netherlands, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Indonesia, Spain and so on. It counts with 6500 newsletter members, 16 voluntary translators and 25 Youthpost volunteers who are motivated to work in the promotion of the web-site.
What do you do at Youthpost?
I work as the editor of Youthpost. I provide ideas and possible solutions in information delivery and produce full design documentation in an appropriate format in cooperation with our voluntary researchers and translators. I am also responsible for ensuring that the web site is regularly updated.
Who is Youthpost meant for?
The portal was built for young people all around the world but specifically it aims to reach young people in Turkey and from the Balkans, Europe and the Caucasus. Our target audience is young people – university students, young professionals, youth volunteers and youth workers – but also NGOs, decision-makers, bureaucrats, local authorities, researchers and academics.
What does Youthpost do, specifically, to help youth?
The aim was to develop a virtual network, unique in Turkey that would enable young people to reach all sorts of information about youth policies, projects, programs, campaigns, both in Turkey and worldwide, in a compact and accessible format. The portal contributes to the capacity-enhancement in the area of human development.
What are the main challenges that Turkish youth face today?
Large numbers of youth are not visible, and there is not a comprehensive youth policy in Turkey. Besides these invisible youth, the ones who go to school have their own problems. There are quantity and quality issues in education. Not everybody can have higher education. Although primary education for 8 year olds is compulsory, the enrolment rate for secondary school drops radically to 60%. This rate drops to 20% in university education. In employment there are also problems. The word “youth” is usually used instead of “inexperienced, ignorant.” Since this is the perception, employers always prefer to employ more experienced people. When they employ inexperienced young people, they tend to exploit them with low wages and without social security.
How do young people contribute to Youthpost?
They are a vital part of this initiative. They can post us their messages and announcements to be published on the web site and in our bulletin. They can send their articles to be published on Youth Corner section of the portal. They can also work as voluntary translators with our team in the translation the youth policy documents. This process contributes both to their personal development and the youth development.
How important is this website to the youth? What does it mean to them?
The web-site has a crucial role in the dissemination of National Human Development Report on youth. Young people want to be listened attentively and to be involved in decisions that concern them. Here we aim at creating a space for dialogue and participation since we still see that apathy is a real problem among young generation.
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