The First International Rural Youth Conference within the scope of the project titled “Developing a Chain of Rural Youth Network between Turkey and Europe” was held in Mersin Congress and ExhibitionCenter.

The first of the opening speeches in the first day of the conference that was held between 17-18 April 2009 was made by Hilmi Dulkadir, the Chairman of ICEV (Icel Handscraft Education Foundation).

Voicing that this conference has broken new ground in this field in Turkey, Dulkadir said “We are trying to introduce the youth issue into Turkey’s agenda.”

Miroslav Nikolov, Chairman of the Europartner2000 Foundation, said “We are partners to the Project, we have developed good relations with ICEV and we will create larger projects in near future.”

Olivier Toutain, a project participant from France, said “Turkey has a young population, and needs to make good use of this advantage comparing to that of Europe’s, with a gradually aging population.”

The final of the speeches was made by Ahmet Zahterogullari, a project participant and Secretary General of Special Provincial Administration. Zahterogullari said “According to the 2000 Census, the population of Turkey was 67.803.927. In 2007, this figure reached 70.586.256. According to the data from the Turkish Statistics Institute, 50.32% of the population is under the age of 24. Whereas the number of people under 40 is 73.36%.”

“Turkey still has a young population but this situation will change sometime soon. The percentage of the youth between 0-19 has already decreased and the only percentage rise will be seen in the ages of 65 and over.”

“Thus, Turkey’s demographic window of opportunity will also have been closed in 2040. So, Turkey needs a youth employment strategy. It is best to handle the youth employment issue within a national action plan. As Special Provincial Administration of Mersin, we will focus on the youth issue by making alterations in the strategic plan. We will use the amount of TRL 100.000, which was allocated to farmer training in the agricultural field, for the agricultural training of the rural youth and implement new youth projects under the Marta Project which is being carried out with the Dutch Government.” 

DEVELOPING A CHAIN OF RURAL YOUTH NETWORK BETWEEN TURKEY AND EUROPE PROJECT

Presented by: Hilmi Dulkadir, Chairman of Icev 

“One of the main principles of the strategy prior to Turkey’s inclusion into the European Community is to strengthen the political and cultural dialogue between Turkey and the EU. By improving the civil society dialogue, it is aimed that the long-term cooperation and give-and-take activities are established between European and Turkish NGOs. In accordance with this, the EU and Turkey has started a project in developing the civil society dialogue. The project aims to establish a sustainable cooperation between the youth initiatives in Turkey, Member and Candidate Countries, to improve contact and mutual understanding between the youth initiatives in Turkey, Member and Candidate Countries, and to increase the capacity of Turkish youth initiatives.
This project includes raising awareness among the public and the concerned departments that carry out studies specific to the rural youth in Turkey, setting up of a network between the NGOs that deal with the rural youth, increasing the capacity of these NGOs and inclusion of such network into the current network between the European Countries. There is no rural youth structuring in Turkey yet, but we expect that a large number of rural youth structures is formed as the result of this project.  

PRESENTATION FROM EC PROJECT PARTNER

Presented by: Miroslav NIKOLOV, Chairman of Europartners2000, Bulgaria 

Turkey toward the problems of rural youth. We are very pleased to have taken the first step of the project and believe that the partners will come closer thanks to the project, and relations with Turkey will increase and we will implement larger projects in the coming times.”

Mersin CSD Projects:: COOPERATION of MERSIN and DRAMA MUNICIPALITIESON ACCESSIBLE TOURISM (MEDRA)

Presented By: Ahmet ATA (Turkey) 

It is highlighted that the MEDRA (Mersin and Drama Municipalities Cooperation on Accessible Tourism) Project is being conducted in Mersin along with the coordination of ToroslarMunicipality, the partnership of Greece Drama Municipalities Association and the cooperation of university of Mersin and Salonika, AristotleUniversity. It is also highlighted that the project is a 206.134,29 Euros – budgeted research – awareness project and is supported under the scope of “Cities – Municipalities”   Civil Society Dialogue.   

In the presentation, the concept of accessible tourism which is significant for both our country and Mersin was approached under 4 (four) sub-titles. It is also expressed that the following results are expected:

1- To create accessible tourism networks between two regions; to prepare common seminars and workshops for the purpose of solving the problems related to accessibility and to examine good practices in the EU.

2- Regarding accessible tourism, to evaluate the national policies, legislations related to the tourism and good practices in national and local levels.

3- Examinations on tourism industry and the accessibility of tourism regions (Mersin-Drama)

 Mersin CSD  Projects:: ACTUS (Accessibility Network for Turkish Greek Societies) 

: MERSİN WITHOUT HINDRANCE PROJECT

Presented by: Asst. Prof. Dr. Evrim Demir Mishchenko 

The project which is aimed at improving the mobility and access of handicapped people and promoting the cooperation between the University of Mersin and University of Aristotle, Salonika, and which has a budget of 312.000 Euros is being applied during a period of 18 months between June 2008 – November 2009.‏

Project’s Target Group: People with physical handicaps (disabled) and disadvantages (elders, children, pregnant women and others).

Mr. Asst. Prof. Dr. Evrim Demir Mishchenko, who presented the Project stated that “the ACTUS project would create a sustainable cooperation with Salonika, Aristotle university in various subjects so as to found a knowledge background on the required physical arrangements in the university and the city for handicapped people during and at the end of the project progress. The project will raise the awareness on the disability and environments without hindrance in administrative, practical and social circles. It is one of the most significant projects of Mersin in urbanization and architecture fields. The project is an important step towards a “MERSİN without HINDRANCE”.

MERSİN SPECIAL PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION’S EC PROJECTS

Presented by: Sait Koralp ÖZKUT, Special Provincial Administration, Project Expert (Turkey)  

Giving the foreign origin projects that Mersin Special Provincial Administration takes part, Sait Koralp ÖZKUT, expressed that Mersin Rok Project - “Agforise” (which has also been taken into the scope of   7^th Framework Program). He also said that “the project which will continue for 36 months and which has a budget of 1.000.000 Euros, aims to create a Technology Based Economy in Agriculture – Food Sector”. Expressing that this project is the fist “Region of Knowledge” project of Turkey, Mr. Özkut added that, with Improvement of Administrative Capacity in Local Governments - EALA project, they are aimed at the Application and Promotion of Special Provincial Administration Act, numbered 5302, within the framework of European Local Administrations Self-Government Charter and that this project was taken into the scope of MATRA and has a budget of 400.000 Euros.

Stating that they are assisting various institutions and organizations in various fields like partnership, participant, project writing and application assistance, Mr. Özkut underlined that 6 more projects are still being conducted by the special provincial administration.

PROJECTS FOR TURKISH RURAL AREAS (The Project of Promoting the Active Participation of Youth into the Local Life of Mersin Special Provincial Administration)

Presented by: Hilmi DULKADİR, Mersin Special Provincial Administration, Head of Human Resources Department 

The Head of Mersin Special Provincial Administration, Department of Human Resources, Mr. Hilmi Dulkadir stated that being in touch with the youth, the Special Provincial Administrations have a key role in assisting the participation of youth in the local life.

“Developing only political and administrative systems for a successful, sustainable and meaningful participation of youth into the local life would not be enough. Any attempt or policy regarding the promotion of the youth participation in to the social life has to consider the highly various needs, conditions and tendencies of the youth.” Said Mr. Dulkadir and gave following concrete examples showing how special provincial administrations can assist the youth:

“Special Provincial Administrations could include the youth and promote the active participation of youth’s associations.”

“Special Provincial Administrations could consider different needs of youth living in rural areas and could assist the projects regarding the satisfaction of their needs.”

“They can found job recruitment centers within their organizations and unemployed young people could take part in the administration of such centers.”

“Special Provincial Administrations could support the associations or groups that promotes social networks of youth”

“Special Provincial Administrations could found and develop a consultation mechanism among all youth organizations, elected representatives and social and professional groups devoted to proliferation of social welfare and social health.”

“Special Provincial Administrations could support the assignments of young women and men to the responsible roles in professional life, in associations, in politics and in local governments and could take positive steps for this purpose.”

PRESENTATIONS OF 2^ND DAY 

TURKISH RURAL YOUTH NETWORK– FROM IDEA TO THE REALITY (Rural Youth NGOs, Data Base, Rural Bulletin and Project Web – Site)

Speaker: Mr. Sayın Hilmi DULKADİR,  Chairman of  ICEV, Mersin (Turkey)  

Delivering the first speech of the second day, Mr. Hilmi Dulkadir, Chairman of ICEV, gave information on the web site, Bulletin and Data Base of the Project. Explaining the content of the web site named www.ruralyouth.org.tr which is broadcasted in Turkish and English languages and introducing the bulletin named KIRSAL (Rural) which is published on-line on the web site and giving details on the organization of network practically on the web site, Mr. Dulkadir stated that the Bulletin named KIRSAL is published in Turkish – English languages monthly as 8 pages. “There are already hundreds of NGOs entered into the data base and the communication among them continues via the web site” he added.

TURKISH RURAL YOUTH NETWORK AND EU NETWORKS COOPERATION. INFORMATION POINTS AND EUROPE WORK VISIT EXPECTATIONS

Presented by: Miroslav NİKOLOV - Europartners2000 Foundation, Bulgaria 

Bulgaria into the European Union and other North Atlantic Organizations and promoting the economic, political, cultural and intellectual dialogue between Bulgaria and the European Union.

Stating the aims of the foundation as: sustaining the democracy through dialogue, partnership and consensus; encouraging the creation of new partnerships among societies, organizations, institutions and individuals as a founding stone for the development and consolidation of the society; to provide assistance as one of the fundamentals for obtaining sustainability, development and prosperity, to form and to encourage business partnerships basically among SME (Small and Medium sized enterprises) Subsidies in national, regional and local levels. Mr. Nikolov stated that they have formed an internet access project in e-centers for mobil education for 120 groups in rural and distant areas through out the country and for the education for those being isolated from the social life and for elder people. Such activities are conducted with the partnership of State Agency of Sports and Youth, State Agency of Information Technologies and Bulgarian Information Technologies Association.

“Europartners2000 Foundation is an active member and main supporter of several international networks” said Mr. Nikolov and stated that they are members of following networks:

•         South East European NGOs network (SEE NGOs) established in 2002 by the Stability Pact

•         European Forum for Vocational Education and Training

•         REIN Network (Reseau Europeen for l’insersion social des personnes defavorisees)

•         EWNE Network (East-West Network Europe)

•         VIA Network (Volunteers para Insercion Social)

•         CCN (Consumer Citizenship Network) Erasmus Thematic  Network 

THE BEST PRACTICES IN ITALIAN YOUTH NETWORKS

Presented By: Gonzalo Santamaria - QP Quality Projects S.L, ITALY 

“The total population of youth between the ages 13 -30 is 11.917.600;  the proportion of youth people between the ages 13 -30 to the total population 20,2 %; The proportion of young women: 9,94%, the proportion of young men: 10,35%”

Italy, along with Malta, has the highest level of family dependency ratio: in 2003 64% of men younger that the age 35 were still living with their parents (The same ratio in Germany were %21).”

NATIONAL YOUTH AGENCY [AGENZIA NAZIONALE PER I GIOVANI]  - http://www.agenziagiovani.it/

The National Agency plays a linking role between The Commission of Europe, project contributors in national, regional and local levels and among the youth. The agency has a key role with this regard. http://ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.htm

NATIONAL YOUTH FORUM [FORUM NAZIONALE GIOVANI] - www.forumnazionalegiovani.it

It is the sole national network of Italian youth institutions that represent more than 3,5 million young people and that is a member candidate to European Youth Forum. www.youthforum.org

http://www.portaledeigiovani.it/ 

European Youth Portal provides information related to Europe and Italy to the youth living, studying and working in Europe. Portal provides information on 8 main subjects while it covers 31 countries. The portal is available in 25 languages. http://europa.eu/youth/index.cfm?l_id=en (13)

Youth Networks and Projects

Associazione Nazionale Giovani Agricoltori (ANGA)

[National Association of Young Farmers] -  www.anga.it

Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori (CIA)

[Italian Agricultural Confederation] - www.cia.it

National Confederation of Direct Cultivation  www.coldiretti.it

ARCI - Associazione Ricreativa e Culturale Italiana

[Association of Social Promotion] www.arci.it

UNCEM - Unione nazionale comuni comunita' enti montani

[National Union of Mountain Municipalities, Communities and Authorities]   www.uncem.it   

Reteleader –

National Network for Rural Development [Rete Nazionale per lo Sviluppo Rurale] www.reteleader.it

FIS  - [Italian Scout Federation]

www.scouteguide.it      

Policoro Project [Progetto Policoro]   www.progettopolicoro.it 

RURAL YOUTH ACTIVITIES AND NETWORKS IN LIMOUSIN, FRANCE

Presented by: Olivier TOUTAİN - i2er , France 

“France is composed of 22 regions. In Limousin, one of these regions, 731.000 people are living. The region is the oldest region of France. Only 22% of the population is between the ages of 11 – 30.

The youth of Limousin immigrate to urban areas (like Paris, Nantes, Lyon, Marseilles) from rural areas to seek for a job or to work.

The unemployment rate among the youth of Limousin is high. Especially, the qualified jobs have lower wage levels than other regions.

So, what can motivate youth to stay and live in such a rural area like Limousin?

Entrepreneurship Qualifications, Economic Plan, Values and Limitations in Rural Areas,

Awareness rising in order to encourage the youth in the subjects of initiative and entrepreneurship can be conducted in following ways:

Promoting innovative instruments in entrepreneurship, international exchanges, Erasmus for young entrepreneurs, social and economic assistance,

A regional system based on coordination between the socio-economic for the services in the creation of new fields for assisting the youth.

Assistance services for universities so as to encourage the students to create and develop their own business (AVRUL  incubator in Limoges)

To sum up,

The aim of these exemplary actions is to promote the entrepreneurship in rural areas regarding the inter-action among 3 poles.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFIED EUROPE PROJECTS

Presented by: Luis LİZAMA Spain 

“QP was participated in numerous European Projects on Education and Life - Long Education”

“QP regularly organizes education sessions aimed at the construction and management of European Projects and Networks for all actors in public and private sector corporations.”

“QP is an expert in e-education thanks to our linked platform, the NETCAMPUS.”

“QP, mainly provides quantitative and qualitative evaluation services focused on process and result analyzing measurements.”

“With regards to Public Relations, QP is an expert on media relations: pres relations, media follow-up and pres cutting, pres bulletins, pres articles, strategic propagation campaigns and activity management planning.”

Lizama gave following details about their main customers:

CECE Spanish Education Centers Confederation (Confederación Española de Centros de Enseñanza) -  www.cece.es  - Madrid – ES.  The Coordination of International Projects on the Implementation of Information and Communication Technologies in Education,

DGE Bruxelles Consulting Group – www.dge.es    - Madrid – ES.  Preparation of Public Healthcare Invitation Proposals’ Draft and Development and deliverance of life – long education on European Project Management field in Romania. Evaluation process projects.

CESES–European School, Education and SocietyCenter Centro Europa per la Scuola, l'Educazione e la Società -  www.ceses.it , Milan – IT. Delivering life – long education lessons on European Project Management.

Cenasca – CISL – www.cenasca.it , Rome, IT – Cooperation on European Education Projects’ Draft.

Spanish Interflora Association Asociación Española Interflora - www.aefi.es/ - Madrid – ES. Detailed preparation and implementation of life – long education program.

Angel Martinez Fuertes Foundation Fundación Angel Martinez Fuertes – www.fundacion-amf.org – Madrid –ES.  Cooperation on European Education Projects’ Draft. 

Mersin CSD  Projects: YOUNG ECOLOGICAL INITIATIVES PROJECT (EKOLOG33)

Presented by: Nuray TANIŞ, Project Coordinator (Turkey) 

One of the Mersin CSD projects is the EKOLOG33 project which is conducted under the scope of Improving Civil Dialogue, Youth Initiatives Grant Program of the EU. The Project has a budget of 87.461 Euros.

The coordinator of the Project, Mrs. Nuray Tanış listed the goals of the project in her speech delivered in the conference: “to contribute the sustainable development goals; to create cooperation between Turkish and European NGOs within the framework of youth employment and youth policies; to contribute in the improvement of Mersin’s socio- economical structure through increasing the employment rate; to educate young ecological entrepreneurs which will use the existing natural resources of  Mersin properly within the triangle of energy, environment and economy; to utilize the regional potential of Mersin in the ecological agriculture and ecological tourism; to educate young experts in to preparing and managing projects so as to improve the effectiveness of civil society.”

THE INTERWIEV WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF INFORMATION CENTERS (DESKS) OF RURAL YOUTH NETWORK OF TURKEY AND PARTICIPANTS SELECTED FOR THE EU WORK VISIT

As a project activity, the Information Centers of Rural Youth Networks of Turkey were founded in Izmir (Aegean Region), Istanbul (Marmara Region), Trabzon (Blacksea Region), Ankara (Central Anatolia Region) and Mersin (Mediterranean and Other Regions).

From the Special Provincial Administrations and NGO representatives, which consist of these centers, 2 representatives from Izmir, 2 others from Istanbul, 3 from Ankara and 1 from Trabzon came to Mersin to attend to the conference.

Attending to the conference and interweaving with local and foreign partners and contributors, the representatives discussed the details of work visit to the Europe which will be held at the end of the conference.  

QP Quality Projects SL is a leading Spanish consultancy company focused on Management of European Projects, Survey Services and Public and Press Relations. The company is one of the contributors of our Project. Delivering a speech on behalf of the QP, Luis Lizama gave following information on qualification fields:

Delivering a speech on behalf of our Project Contributor İ2ER , Mr. Oliver Toutain expressed following opinions:

YOUTH PORTAL [PORTALE DEI GIOVANI]  -

YOUTH CONNECTIONS 

Delivering a speech on behalf of our project partner QP Quality Projects S.L. Mr. Gonzalo Santamaria firstly defined the profile of Italian youth;

The Chairman of Europartners 2000 Foundation, Mr. Miroslav Nikolov, expressed that the foundation has been founded in September 1999 by a group of university professors and EU experts. He stated that the foundation undertook the mission of integrating

“This project, which is being implemented in the national sense, is a major step in

FIRST DAY PRESENTATIONS

The conference hosted representatives of Special Provincial Administrations of Izmir, Istanbul, Trabzon and Ankara along with NGO representatives operating in these provinces; 80 participants consisting of NGOs, Sub-provincial Agricultural Development Cooperatives, village youth groups and young people from Mersin; and our foreign guests, Miroslav Nikolov from Bulgaria - Europartners2000 Foundation, Gonzalo Santamaria from Italy, - QP Quality Projects S.L., Luis Lizama from Spain - QP Quality Projects S.L. and Olivier Toutain from France - i2er.