understanding europe
DESCRIPTION
A project carried out by AEGEE-Ankara between 2005 and 2009.TRANSCRIPT
An AEGEE-Ankara Project 2005-2009
European Students’ Forum A E G E E- ssociation des tats énéraux des tudiants de l' urope
ANKARA
UnderstandingEuropeUnderstandingEurope
Meh
met
Uðu
r G
öçen
Pre
sid
ent,
20
06
- 20
07
AE
GE
E-A
nka
ra
We
wou
ld l
ike
to e
xten
d ou
r si
ncer
e gr
atit
udes
for
you
r va
luab
le
cont
ribu
tion
and
sup
port
to th
e U
nder
stan
ding
Eur
ope
Pro
ject
car
ried
ou
t by
AE
GE
E-A
nkar
a.
Dea
r S
ir/M
adam
Gü
lece
Þen
elP
roje
ct M
anag
erA
EG
EE
-An
kara
Publisher & Copyrights:
AEGEE-Ankara MM- 120, 06531ODTÜ Ankara, TURKEY+90 312 210 36 25www.understandingeuropeproject.orgwww.aegee-ankara.org/[email protected]
Understanding Europe Project Result Book Editor:
Gülece Þ[email protected]
Design / Lay-out:
Arif Cem Gündoð[email protected]
Printing:
Çatým Ajans+90 312 397 87 20
Circulation:
350 copies
ISBN :
978 - 975 - 93373 - 3 - 9
2009, AEGEE-Ankara
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated, reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic (CD-Rom, Internet, etc.) or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from AEGEE-Ankara.No citation can be made without reference.
Meh
met
Uðu
r G
öçen
Pre
sid
ent,
20
06
- 20
07
AE
GE
E-A
nka
ra
We
wou
ld l
ike
to e
xten
d ou
r si
ncer
e gr
atit
udes
for
you
r va
luab
le
cont
ribu
tion
and
sup
port
to th
e U
nder
stan
ding
Eur
ope
Pro
ject
car
ried
ou
t by
AE
GE
E-A
nkar
a.
Dea
r S
ir/M
adam
Gü
lece
Þen
elP
roje
ct M
anag
erA
EG
EE
-An
kara
Publisher & Copyrights:
AEGEE-Ankara MM- 120, 06531ODTÜ Ankara, TURKEY+90 312 210 36 25www.understandingeuropeproject.orgwww.aegee-ankara.org/[email protected]
Understanding Europe Project Result Book Editor:
Gülece Þ[email protected]
Design / Lay-out:
Arif Cem Gündoð[email protected]
Printing:
Çatým Ajans+90 312 397 87 20
Circulation:
350 copies
ISBN :
978 - 975 - 93373 - 3 - 9
2009, AEGEE-Ankara
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated, reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic (CD-Rom, Internet, etc.) or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from AEGEE-Ankara.No citation can be made without reference.
3
Flash News
The Understanding Europe Project is granted the Euractiv Awards for Debating Europe Nationally!
AEGEE-Ankara is one of the three winners of the EurActiv Awards. Launched by Euractiv, the independent media portal specialised in EU affairs, the awards intend to recognise successfully executed ideas for debating Europe nationally and locally and which could be applied in other countries. AEGEE-Ankara was granted the award thanks to its 'Understanding Europe Project.'
3
Flash News
The Understanding Europe Project is granted the Euractiv Awards for Debating Europe Nationally!
AEGEE-Ankara is one of the three winners of the EurActiv Awards. Launched by Euractiv, the independent media portal specialised in EU affairs, the awards intend to recognise successfully executed ideas for debating Europe nationally and locally and which could be applied in other countries. AEGEE-Ankara was granted the award thanks to its 'Understanding Europe Project.'
4
Contents
5
Greetings
Greetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Project Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Chapter 1 : Understanding Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Seminars On Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Training For Trainers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Chapter 2 : Explaining Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Mobile Trainings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Survey Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Summer Camp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Visit to Brussels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Chapter 3 : Closing Ceremonies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Chapter 4 : New Beginnings & Afterword . . . . . . . . . 79
Press Mirror. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Gratitudes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
The Understanding Europe Project
As the president of AEGEE-Europe, it is a pleasure to welcome you through the pages of the Understanding Europe Project's result book.
AEGEE has been involved in education and youth policies since the very early years of its
creation. Indeed, from the implementation of the E R A S M U S P ro g r a m m e t o t h e S u m m e r
1 2Universities or Education Unlimited! , AEGEE always tried to have an impact on young people, involve them in the society and make them work on the matters concerning them.
The Understanding Europe Project is particularly innovative; because it is the first project in Turkey on Active Citizenship targeting high school students and it used a peculiar methodology. The project also organised the first comprehensive summer camp on Active Citizenship for high students in Turkey and in Europe. This field is of particular importance. With the ever expanding EU and the influence of its policies on neighbouring countries, it is prominent for young people to understand the EU and European policies as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the European dimension is still missing in the education systems.
That's why; I welcome projects such as the “Understanding Europe” with a great pleasure. It seems that some other young people involved in AEGEE also got inspired and will go on working with high school students. We had the Noah's Ark, a training on Active Citizenship, Intercultural Learning and Leadership for high school students from all around Europe, that will be realised in the Aegean Sea in summer 2008 as well as the YOUrope Needs YOU Project, growing little by little and trying to take place all over Europe. I also have to mention the initiative of the European Parliament, the EUROPOSCOLA.
I am glad to see that we take into consideration citizens at an earlier stage than university and I am proud of seeing our AEGEE members using their experience of exchanges and activism in a European environment to show their enthusiasm to young people and motivate them to become active.
I hope that you will also get inspired by the next pages and I wish you to be one of these inspirers, motivators, teachers, and initiators… One of those, who make the world go round...
Laure OnidiPresident of AEGEE-Europe2007-2008
1 Summer University is the eldest project of AEGEE. It was
started in 1988. It gathers young people from all over Europe in more than 90 cities every year and makes them discover either the culture or the language or the countries. Most of the participants are traveling abroad for the first time and make their first meeting with "Active and European Citizenship."
2 “Education Unlimited!” is the flagship project of AEGEE in
2007. The aim of the project is to inform about the European Higher Education Area and in particular, the Bologna Process as well as about non-formal education, its impact, outcome and recognition.
4
Contents
5
Greetings
Greetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Project Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Chapter 1 : Understanding Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Seminars On Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Training For Trainers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Chapter 2 : Explaining Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Mobile Trainings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Survey Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Summer Camp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Visit to Brussels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Chapter 3 : Closing Ceremonies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Chapter 4 : New Beginnings & Afterword . . . . . . . . . 79
Press Mirror. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Gratitudes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
The Understanding Europe Project
As the president of AEGEE-Europe, it is a pleasure to welcome you through the pages of the Understanding Europe Project's result book.
AEGEE has been involved in education and youth policies since the very early years of its
creation. Indeed, from the implementation of the E R A S M U S P ro g r a m m e t o t h e S u m m e r
1 2Universities or Education Unlimited! , AEGEE always tried to have an impact on young people, involve them in the society and make them work on the matters concerning them.
The Understanding Europe Project is particularly innovative; because it is the first project in Turkey on Active Citizenship targeting high school students and it used a peculiar methodology. The project also organised the first comprehensive summer camp on Active Citizenship for high students in Turkey and in Europe. This field is of particular importance. With the ever expanding EU and the influence of its policies on neighbouring countries, it is prominent for young people to understand the EU and European policies as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the European dimension is still missing in the education systems.
That's why; I welcome projects such as the “Understanding Europe” with a great pleasure. It seems that some other young people involved in AEGEE also got inspired and will go on working with high school students. We had the Noah's Ark, a training on Active Citizenship, Intercultural Learning and Leadership for high school students from all around Europe, that will be realised in the Aegean Sea in summer 2008 as well as the YOUrope Needs YOU Project, growing little by little and trying to take place all over Europe. I also have to mention the initiative of the European Parliament, the EUROPOSCOLA.
I am glad to see that we take into consideration citizens at an earlier stage than university and I am proud of seeing our AEGEE members using their experience of exchanges and activism in a European environment to show their enthusiasm to young people and motivate them to become active.
I hope that you will also get inspired by the next pages and I wish you to be one of these inspirers, motivators, teachers, and initiators… One of those, who make the world go round...
Laure OnidiPresident of AEGEE-Europe2007-2008
1 Summer University is the eldest project of AEGEE. It was
started in 1988. It gathers young people from all over Europe in more than 90 cities every year and makes them discover either the culture or the language or the countries. Most of the participants are traveling abroad for the first time and make their first meeting with "Active and European Citizenship."
2 “Education Unlimited!” is the flagship project of AEGEE in
2007. The aim of the project is to inform about the European Higher Education Area and in particular, the Bologna Process as well as about non-formal education, its impact, outcome and recognition.
Greetings Greetings
6 7
Thus, at this point, I would like to thank everyone and all organisations that contributed to the project.
Now, please turn over the pages.
You will find out how the Understanding Europe Project came into life and also, the outcome of four-year long, intensive work launched by AEGEE-Ankara in cooperation with several organisations. And remember, you can say “I am alive”, only when you develop your own ideas and put them into practice.
Uður GöçenPresident of AEGEE-Ankara2006-2007
Feeling Alive
Dear Readers,
First of all, I would like to express how proud I am for being involved in a project the like “Understanding Europe”, which will always be shown as a best practices example. Its r e a l i s a t i o n d u r i n g m y presidency is a great honour
and happiness for me.
We learn continuously all through our lives. However, we learn only a very little of these by being aware of them (i.e. inquiring). Most of the time, learning is just a matter of accepting for all of us, until we comprehend the importance of developing our own ideas as well as being ourselves. In universities, people have opportunities to notice this. Moreover, during their university education, students discover themselves.
At the very beginning of the Understanding Europe Project, we discussed why such initiatives always targeted university students, but not implemented in high schools. This was the first spark of the project. As AEGEE-Ankara, by the Understanding Europe Project, with our friends studying at high schools, we tried to make this dream come true and we succeeded. Furthermore, we realised our dream not only in a city or a region; but in 22 different high schools all around Turkey. At first glance, this number might seem very few, however, while you are reading this result book, you will notice that this project did not end here, it is already being furthered by the participants as they apply the skills and knowledge they acquired during the project.
This result book is all about great efforts of a group of wonderful people, who put their hearts to this project. They made it real, while it was only a dream for some others.
From Sunrise to Sunset
The passage from the sunrise to the sunset can be considered as an easy act, when it is taken as a mere rotation of the Earth within 24 hours. When looked from the perspective of the history of mankind, however, it wil l be noticed that the replacement of the sunrise by
the sunset is not limited to a cyclical movement, but also includes all kinds of material and moral contrasts and peculiarities of the human being.
The Republic of Turkey woke up to a new sunrise on October 29th, 1923 and geared her path towards the 'civilisation' through reforms. Back then, the civilisation compass was pointing the west. Turkey was moving towards the sunset despite all the challenges; and in Aramaic language “sunset” meant “Europe.”
During the last 85 years, as was the case in the prev iou s centur ies , many changes and transformations have been recorded on the pages of history throughout the cycles between the sunrise and the sunset. On the one hand, understandings, cultures, economies, borders and countries have become very similar; and on the other hand, rather different.
As the globalisation came into play, people and perceptions have been reshaped day-by-day. The end of the World War II heralded a new sunrise in Europe - which took its name from the sunset - and this time, there was a desire for a brighter and more peaceful sunrise. The wish for a better future and collective decision-making for future marked the beginning of a new socio-economic and cultural formation in the Rome Treaty (1947) and in the foundation of the Council of Europe (1949).
Being a founder member of the Council of Europe in 1949, Turkey was making her existence visible in
the new formation processes. In 1960s, Turkey took further steps for its full engagement in the supranational project (today called as the European Union), as she was searching for her colour in the sunset…
At the end of 1980s, the World was re-establishing its balance of power. The East was not merely the address of the sunrise any longer, and the West recognised within a short period of time that there lied the “East” in its west. 15 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain, the colours of the East were reflected into the sunset… Furthermore, just a short time before the said enlargement in 1999, the West opened its doors to the marbling, which was defined as 'the other' for centuries; with the aim of converging and sharing the future, it started new relations, away from prejudices, with Turkey.
The Helsinki Summit, whilst bringing Turkey closer to the sunset, pointed out important needs; needs to remove stereotypes that might damage the harmony of colours in the sky, to prevent lack of knowledge and disinformation, and to have a better understanding of how the sunset is perceived or what it is. On October 3rd, 2005, the issue of catering those needs as quickly as possible became an issue of paramount importance.
As one of the most active branches of a large-scale international network, which believes in a 'sunset without borders', AEGEE-Ankara realised the importance of this issue. It looked at the roots of those issues and decided to employ methods that have never been experimented before, either in the organisations' history or in Turkey. It aspired to understand Europe, who was engaged in a love and hate relationship with Turkey. It wanted to tell all about Europe at the grassroots level, to sustain such activities for the future generations and to communicate its results at international platforms. It intended to replace those high school students, who are obliged to shape their lives by selecting one
Greetings Greetings
6 7
Thus, at this point, I would like to thank everyone and all organisations that contributed to the project.
Now, please turn over the pages.
You will find out how the Understanding Europe Project came into life and also, the outcome of four-year long, intensive work launched by AEGEE-Ankara in cooperation with several organisations. And remember, you can say “I am alive”, only when you develop your own ideas and put them into practice.
Uður GöçenPresident of AEGEE-Ankara2006-2007
Feeling Alive
Dear Readers,
First of all, I would like to express how proud I am for being involved in a project the like “Understanding Europe”, which will always be shown as a best practices example. Its r e a l i s a t i o n d u r i n g m y presidency is a great honour
and happiness for me.
We learn continuously all through our lives. However, we learn only a very little of these by being aware of them (i.e. inquiring). Most of the time, learning is just a matter of accepting for all of us, until we comprehend the importance of developing our own ideas as well as being ourselves. In universities, people have opportunities to notice this. Moreover, during their university education, students discover themselves.
At the very beginning of the Understanding Europe Project, we discussed why such initiatives always targeted university students, but not implemented in high schools. This was the first spark of the project. As AEGEE-Ankara, by the Understanding Europe Project, with our friends studying at high schools, we tried to make this dream come true and we succeeded. Furthermore, we realised our dream not only in a city or a region; but in 22 different high schools all around Turkey. At first glance, this number might seem very few, however, while you are reading this result book, you will notice that this project did not end here, it is already being furthered by the participants as they apply the skills and knowledge they acquired during the project.
This result book is all about great efforts of a group of wonderful people, who put their hearts to this project. They made it real, while it was only a dream for some others.
From Sunrise to Sunset
The passage from the sunrise to the sunset can be considered as an easy act, when it is taken as a mere rotation of the Earth within 24 hours. When looked from the perspective of the history of mankind, however, it wil l be noticed that the replacement of the sunrise by
the sunset is not limited to a cyclical movement, but also includes all kinds of material and moral contrasts and peculiarities of the human being.
The Republic of Turkey woke up to a new sunrise on October 29th, 1923 and geared her path towards the 'civilisation' through reforms. Back then, the civilisation compass was pointing the west. Turkey was moving towards the sunset despite all the challenges; and in Aramaic language “sunset” meant “Europe.”
During the last 85 years, as was the case in the prev iou s centur ies , many changes and transformations have been recorded on the pages of history throughout the cycles between the sunrise and the sunset. On the one hand, understandings, cultures, economies, borders and countries have become very similar; and on the other hand, rather different.
As the globalisation came into play, people and perceptions have been reshaped day-by-day. The end of the World War II heralded a new sunrise in Europe - which took its name from the sunset - and this time, there was a desire for a brighter and more peaceful sunrise. The wish for a better future and collective decision-making for future marked the beginning of a new socio-economic and cultural formation in the Rome Treaty (1947) and in the foundation of the Council of Europe (1949).
Being a founder member of the Council of Europe in 1949, Turkey was making her existence visible in
the new formation processes. In 1960s, Turkey took further steps for its full engagement in the supranational project (today called as the European Union), as she was searching for her colour in the sunset…
At the end of 1980s, the World was re-establishing its balance of power. The East was not merely the address of the sunrise any longer, and the West recognised within a short period of time that there lied the “East” in its west. 15 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain, the colours of the East were reflected into the sunset… Furthermore, just a short time before the said enlargement in 1999, the West opened its doors to the marbling, which was defined as 'the other' for centuries; with the aim of converging and sharing the future, it started new relations, away from prejudices, with Turkey.
The Helsinki Summit, whilst bringing Turkey closer to the sunset, pointed out important needs; needs to remove stereotypes that might damage the harmony of colours in the sky, to prevent lack of knowledge and disinformation, and to have a better understanding of how the sunset is perceived or what it is. On October 3rd, 2005, the issue of catering those needs as quickly as possible became an issue of paramount importance.
As one of the most active branches of a large-scale international network, which believes in a 'sunset without borders', AEGEE-Ankara realised the importance of this issue. It looked at the roots of those issues and decided to employ methods that have never been experimented before, either in the organisations' history or in Turkey. It aspired to understand Europe, who was engaged in a love and hate relationship with Turkey. It wanted to tell all about Europe at the grassroots level, to sustain such activities for the future generations and to communicate its results at international platforms. It intended to replace those high school students, who are obliged to shape their lives by selecting one
8 9
Thanks for the each and every single letter we wrote together and good luck with every line you will add from now on…
A new day is rising…
Ankara May 5, 200805:30 am
Gülece ÞenelUnderstanding Europe Project Project Manager2006-2009
of the five choices given in the multiple-choice exams for entering universities and high schools in the Turkish education system, with a youth that creates its own choices. Since there was no single second to waste, a group of university students hit the road to understand the sunset and to share their knowledge with high school students.
They visited Ankara, Ýstanbul, Ýzmir, Antalya, Erzurum, Diyarbakýr and Samsun. They chanted “Tell me about (your) Europe!” to more than 1500 students in 22 high schools. Then, they watched the sunset together with 43 brilliant participants in Ankara, which is located in the east of hometown of some and in the west of the others'. Afterwards, they took some of the high school students with them and went to the sunset, Brussels. This time, they were all together talking to the sunset: “Tell me about (your) Europe!”…
The Understanding Europe has been a road trip, starting with “the self”, which then melts and fuses into the other “you” and “us”. A story built on acquaintance that included many people in the past four years and to engage many more in the future… These pages are about the heroes of this long story; about what they achieved and what is left… It's all about the great efforts made to involve more young people in Turkey's journey from the sunrise that awakened her in 1923 to the sunset as the compass pointed…
Now, the sunset is more familiar to those who took part in this story…
Now, the day ends brighter.
Now, the sunset is ready to fuse marbling into itself…
And my colleagues, our supporters; we wrote a delightful story with our hearts. I know that whilst the old shapes the new and the new carries it forward, there will be someone to take a moment and to salute us…
Greetings Greetings
electoral bodies, taxpayers, members of civil society and Europeans, we should always focus our attention to one point; the human factor.
As at each societal transformation stage, also during the EU membership process, the initial point, driving force and target of each development should be determined by the human factor that forms the society. In societies like Turkey, where the youth population is high, the human factor and construction of future stand at the same point. Future is not built for the youth; instead, the youth is preparing the future of Turkey.
I congratulate the young members of AEGEE-Ankara for their contribution through the Understanding Europe Project to the societal transformation processes in Turkey. Moreover, I hope that the Closure Reception in Brussels has been a successful end for this project, whilst heralding future projects.
Vural ÖgerMember of European Parliament
Youth Shapes the Future
As one of the founders of the European project, J e a n M o n n e t emphasised, “The aim of unity in Europe is not an ideal of integration at state level, but rather at societal and individual level.”
Being one of the founder members of the Council of Europe in 1949, Turkey signed the Ankara Association Agreement with the European Economic Community in 1963. Then, during the European Council Meeting in Helsinki in December 1999, she was officially announced as a candidate country. Consequently, the aim of full membership, which was foreseen by the 1963 Association Agreement, was once more legally approved.
At the end of a chequered period, as a result of the reforms, on 17 December 2004, the final declaration of the European Summit mentioned the decision about starting the accession negotiations with Turkey. Thus, despite the efforts of some opponents, the membership negotiations between Turkey and the EU began on 3 October 2005 with the unanimous decision of the 25 member states. This was an important milestone in the Turkey-EU relations. In the beginning of the new millennium, Turkey encountered a good opportunity.
It is of prominent value for the EU to welcome a Turkey which has already been acquainted with the European values as a member. She commenced the EU membership process as an ideal of the Republic. In this process, going forward while taking lessons from the successes and failures of the EU is more than a hope for the youth, it is rather homework.
In this legally complicated, politically obligatory and economically sensitive period, as individuals,
8 9
Thanks for the each and every single letter we wrote together and good luck with every line you will add from now on…
A new day is rising…
Ankara May 5, 200805:30 am
Gülece ÞenelUnderstanding Europe Project Project Manager2006-2009
of the five choices given in the multiple-choice exams for entering universities and high schools in the Turkish education system, with a youth that creates its own choices. Since there was no single second to waste, a group of university students hit the road to understand the sunset and to share their knowledge with high school students.
They visited Ankara, Ýstanbul, Ýzmir, Antalya, Erzurum, Diyarbakýr and Samsun. They chanted “Tell me about (your) Europe!” to more than 1500 students in 22 high schools. Then, they watched the sunset together with 43 brilliant participants in Ankara, which is located in the east of hometown of some and in the west of the others'. Afterwards, they took some of the high school students with them and went to the sunset, Brussels. This time, they were all together talking to the sunset: “Tell me about (your) Europe!”…
The Understanding Europe has been a road trip, starting with “the self”, which then melts and fuses into the other “you” and “us”. A story built on acquaintance that included many people in the past four years and to engage many more in the future… These pages are about the heroes of this long story; about what they achieved and what is left… It's all about the great efforts made to involve more young people in Turkey's journey from the sunrise that awakened her in 1923 to the sunset as the compass pointed…
Now, the sunset is more familiar to those who took part in this story…
Now, the day ends brighter.
Now, the sunset is ready to fuse marbling into itself…
And my colleagues, our supporters; we wrote a delightful story with our hearts. I know that whilst the old shapes the new and the new carries it forward, there will be someone to take a moment and to salute us…
Greetings Greetings
electoral bodies, taxpayers, members of civil society and Europeans, we should always focus our attention to one point; the human factor.
As at each societal transformation stage, also during the EU membership process, the initial point, driving force and target of each development should be determined by the human factor that forms the society. In societies like Turkey, where the youth population is high, the human factor and construction of future stand at the same point. Future is not built for the youth; instead, the youth is preparing the future of Turkey.
I congratulate the young members of AEGEE-Ankara for their contribution through the Understanding Europe Project to the societal transformation processes in Turkey. Moreover, I hope that the Closure Reception in Brussels has been a successful end for this project, whilst heralding future projects.
Vural ÖgerMember of European Parliament
Youth Shapes the Future
As one of the founders of the European project, J e a n M o n n e t emphasised, “The aim of unity in Europe is not an ideal of integration at state level, but rather at societal and individual level.”
Being one of the founder members of the Council of Europe in 1949, Turkey signed the Ankara Association Agreement with the European Economic Community in 1963. Then, during the European Council Meeting in Helsinki in December 1999, she was officially announced as a candidate country. Consequently, the aim of full membership, which was foreseen by the 1963 Association Agreement, was once more legally approved.
At the end of a chequered period, as a result of the reforms, on 17 December 2004, the final declaration of the European Summit mentioned the decision about starting the accession negotiations with Turkey. Thus, despite the efforts of some opponents, the membership negotiations between Turkey and the EU began on 3 October 2005 with the unanimous decision of the 25 member states. This was an important milestone in the Turkey-EU relations. In the beginning of the new millennium, Turkey encountered a good opportunity.
It is of prominent value for the EU to welcome a Turkey which has already been acquainted with the European values as a member. She commenced the EU membership process as an ideal of the Republic. In this process, going forward while taking lessons from the successes and failures of the EU is more than a hope for the youth, it is rather homework.
In this legally complicated, politically obligatory and economically sensitive period, as individuals,
Beyond Fifty Years, Which Europe?
“It is too early to make an evaluation”. This is what Zu Enlai, China's Prime Minister for ceaseless 27 years until he died in 1976, said, when his opinions about the French Revolution were asked. It is also not easy to make an absolute evaluation in 2007, at the end of fifty years
after the institutional foundations of the European Union were laid.
How Did The Construction of The EU Begin?
There have been many attempts to realise the aim of political unification in Europe: Roman Empire, Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, East Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire, Napoleon's French Empire, Hitler's Third Reich disaster...
The approach after the Second World War was totally different. It was idealist. First, in 1954, the European Coal and Steel Community was founded by Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. These countries delegated their production and commerce structures in those sectors to a supranational administration, in which they were also involved.
Following the success of the project of constituting a union of common interests, European Economic Community was founded with the Treaty of Rome in 25 March 1957. In ten years, a common market; in twenty years, trials of a common foreign policy, in thirty years, a better working single market; in forty years, partial transition to a single monetary currency were realised. In the mean time, the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Court of Justice gained supranational authority. The EU law acquired a place above the national laws. At the end of fifty years, the number of European Union members reached to 27.
Inquiries of Existence
In the European press, the assessments of the past 50 years vary among different countries, political tendencies, economic points of views as well as social expectations:
“Celebrations of the victory of peace in Europe” “Europe in mid-age crisis”, “Fifty years passed, Europe stayed in words”, “Democracy, prosperity, freedom in fifty years”, “The most successful political and economic union project in the history”, “Historical delusion”, “A more advanced Europe in 21st century”, “Which Europe?”
Which Europe? Maybe that is the key question. After the Second World War, which Europe was desired? Which Europe was achieved? Tomorrow, which Europe will appear on the world scene? Which Europe do the European societies want?
World scene and the European societies: two factors that will determine the second fifty years of Europe. Both are dependent on each other; but at the same time, in most of the cases, they seem to be torn apart. The better societies perceive global developments, the more the Europe understands its obligation to be wider, united and more effective.
Test on Turkey
There are serious dissidence about the future of Europe. At first sight, there seems to be the advocates of a wider and more flexible political area on one side and those, who dream of a more limited, inward–looking and tight political union on the other; but as the level of analysis deepens, there emerges another fault line.
In the ideal of the first group, a democratic Turkey that adjusts the values and conditions of the EU in the medium term appears as a big achievement. For the second group, the short term benefits of anti-Turkey expressions look more attractive. Although
this second group made more noise until now, in the end, the rationalism and idealism of the first group always have surpassed.
Turkey faltered as a candidate country in the past forty years out of fifty years of Europe. She has to achieve her full membership aim in the upcoming decade. In the coming years, the EU and Turkey will go through some substantial changes. Turkey ought to better catch-up with the global and European developments and become a stronger democracy, economy and society. At this point, the role of youth NGOs such as AEGEE-Ankara and realisation of successful projects like the “Understanding Europe” are of prominence.
I congratulate the architects of the Understanding Europe Project and hope to see more successful youth and communication initiatives in Turkey and in Europe.
Dr. Bahadýr Kaleaðasý
TUSIAD - Turkish Industrialists' & Business Association, Representative to the EU and BUSINESSEUROPE- Confederation of European Business - Brussels
Patron of AEGEE-Ankara
Greetings Greetings
10 11
Beyond Fifty Years, Which Europe?
“It is too early to make an evaluation”. This is what Zu Enlai, China's Prime Minister for ceaseless 27 years until he died in 1976, said, when his opinions about the French Revolution were asked. It is also not easy to make an absolute evaluation in 2007, at the end of fifty years
after the institutional foundations of the European Union were laid.
How Did The Construction of The EU Begin?
There have been many attempts to realise the aim of political unification in Europe: Roman Empire, Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, East Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire, Napoleon's French Empire, Hitler's Third Reich disaster...
The approach after the Second World War was totally different. It was idealist. First, in 1954, the European Coal and Steel Community was founded by Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. These countries delegated their production and commerce structures in those sectors to a supranational administration, in which they were also involved.
Following the success of the project of constituting a union of common interests, European Economic Community was founded with the Treaty of Rome in 25 March 1957. In ten years, a common market; in twenty years, trials of a common foreign policy, in thirty years, a better working single market; in forty years, partial transition to a single monetary currency were realised. In the mean time, the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Court of Justice gained supranational authority. The EU law acquired a place above the national laws. At the end of fifty years, the number of European Union members reached to 27.
Inquiries of Existence
In the European press, the assessments of the past 50 years vary among different countries, political tendencies, economic points of views as well as social expectations:
“Celebrations of the victory of peace in Europe” “Europe in mid-age crisis”, “Fifty years passed, Europe stayed in words”, “Democracy, prosperity, freedom in fifty years”, “The most successful political and economic union project in the history”, “Historical delusion”, “A more advanced Europe in 21st century”, “Which Europe?”
Which Europe? Maybe that is the key question. After the Second World War, which Europe was desired? Which Europe was achieved? Tomorrow, which Europe will appear on the world scene? Which Europe do the European societies want?
World scene and the European societies: two factors that will determine the second fifty years of Europe. Both are dependent on each other; but at the same time, in most of the cases, they seem to be torn apart. The better societies perceive global developments, the more the Europe understands its obligation to be wider, united and more effective.
Test on Turkey
There are serious dissidence about the future of Europe. At first sight, there seems to be the advocates of a wider and more flexible political area on one side and those, who dream of a more limited, inward–looking and tight political union on the other; but as the level of analysis deepens, there emerges another fault line.
In the ideal of the first group, a democratic Turkey that adjusts the values and conditions of the EU in the medium term appears as a big achievement. For the second group, the short term benefits of anti-Turkey expressions look more attractive. Although
this second group made more noise until now, in the end, the rationalism and idealism of the first group always have surpassed.
Turkey faltered as a candidate country in the past forty years out of fifty years of Europe. She has to achieve her full membership aim in the upcoming decade. In the coming years, the EU and Turkey will go through some substantial changes. Turkey ought to better catch-up with the global and European developments and become a stronger democracy, economy and society. At this point, the role of youth NGOs such as AEGEE-Ankara and realisation of successful projects like the “Understanding Europe” are of prominence.
I congratulate the architects of the Understanding Europe Project and hope to see more successful youth and communication initiatives in Turkey and in Europe.
Dr. Bahadýr Kaleaðasý
TUSIAD - Turkish Industrialists' & Business Association, Representative to the EU and BUSINESSEUROPE- Confederation of European Business - Brussels
Patron of AEGEE-Ankara
Greetings Greetings
10 11
Starting with Understanding
We are living in an environment, where intense debates take place about the EU. Our country has been discussing Europe for long years; in these rhetorics, sometimes positive aspects sometimes negative aspects gain importance. The common point of these periods, however, is that the arguments are carried
out without considering the dynamics of the EU and are mostly based on stereotypes. For example, lately, the negative aspects of Turkey-EU relations are on the scene. Such a discussion environment cause alienation of people from the real meaning of the EU and Europe, whilst making it impossible to draw clear conclusions regarding the Turkey-EU relations.
T he Understanding Europe Project was intelligently and diligently designed and prepared by AEGEE-Ankara. While it emphasises the interaction between the understanding and explaining processes, its initial point is the necessity of beginning with understanding. Broadening of such projects will help us to understand Europe and the EU in addition to increasing participation of civil society in the EU process.
The Understanding Europe Project has pioneered by spreading the processes of learning and conveying Europe - related information from Ankara and Istanbul to other cities of our country. Another important contribution of the project is the scope of its target group; high school students between the ages 15-18. Considering that the stereotypes about Europe are shaped at very early ages, the prominence of the initiatives towards high school youngsters is apparent. It will be beneficial to implement such projects in elementary schools in the coming years.
I congratulate AEGEE-Ankara for realising such a meaningful project. I believe the cooperation between the Center for European Studies (CES) and AEGEE-Ankara in future projects will be beneficial in understanding and explaining Europe. I also wish success to AEGEE-Ankara in its further projects.
Prof. Dr. Atila EralpMiddle East Technical UniversityDepartment of International RelationsDirector of the Center for European Studies
Patron of AEGEE-Ankara
Greetings Greetings
12 13
We believe in Civil Society
Turkey and Britain work closely together in many areas. We take pride in this and in particular, we strongly support Turkey's entry to the European Union. Full membership is in the interests of Turkey, of Britain, and of Europe and the wider region.
As the British Embassy, we, therefore, support many projects to encourage Turkey's EU accession. Many of these projects are carried out with government ministries and departments; but we also believe that it is important to work with NGOs to develop and build the capacity of civil society, enabling reform and innovation to be embraced by the whole community. Our support to the Understanding Europe Project, which aims to introduce European values to Turkish youth, is an example of this approach.
Although Turkish youth is familiar with general EU concepts, high school students in different regions of Turkey do not necessarily have the detailed knowledge to enable them to fully grasp ideas such as “European Citizenship, Identity or Lobbying.” We believe that Turkey's future, and so the future of Turkish youth lies in the EU. Involvement of Turkish youth in the accession process is, therefore, essential.
We are delighted that the Understanding Europe Project, through the mobile trainings in different cities and the summer camp in Ankara, has succeeded in involving young people and will enable youth from very different backgrounds to have a better understanding of the EU values and the importance of their own contribution.
Penny MillerHead of Global Issues SectionBritish Embassy, Ankara
Starting with Understanding
We are living in an environment, where intense debates take place about the EU. Our country has been discussing Europe for long years; in these rhetorics, sometimes positive aspects sometimes negative aspects gain importance. The common point of these periods, however, is that the arguments are carried
out without considering the dynamics of the EU and are mostly based on stereotypes. For example, lately, the negative aspects of Turkey-EU relations are on the scene. Such a discussion environment cause alienation of people from the real meaning of the EU and Europe, whilst making it impossible to draw clear conclusions regarding the Turkey-EU relations.
T he Understanding Europe Project was intelligently and diligently designed and prepared by AEGEE-Ankara. While it emphasises the interaction between the understanding and explaining processes, its initial point is the necessity of beginning with understanding. Broadening of such projects will help us to understand Europe and the EU in addition to increasing participation of civil society in the EU process.
The Understanding Europe Project has pioneered by spreading the processes of learning and conveying Europe - related information from Ankara and Istanbul to other cities of our country. Another important contribution of the project is the scope of its target group; high school students between the ages 15-18. Considering that the stereotypes about Europe are shaped at very early ages, the prominence of the initiatives towards high school youngsters is apparent. It will be beneficial to implement such projects in elementary schools in the coming years.
I congratulate AEGEE-Ankara for realising such a meaningful project. I believe the cooperation between the Center for European Studies (CES) and AEGEE-Ankara in future projects will be beneficial in understanding and explaining Europe. I also wish success to AEGEE-Ankara in its further projects.
Prof. Dr. Atila EralpMiddle East Technical UniversityDepartment of International RelationsDirector of the Center for European Studies
Patron of AEGEE-Ankara
Greetings Greetings
12 13
We believe in Civil Society
Turkey and Britain work closely together in many areas. We take pride in this and in particular, we strongly support Turkey's entry to the European Union. Full membership is in the interests of Turkey, of Britain, and of Europe and the wider region.
As the British Embassy, we, therefore, support many projects to encourage Turkey's EU accession. Many of these projects are carried out with government ministries and departments; but we also believe that it is important to work with NGOs to develop and build the capacity of civil society, enabling reform and innovation to be embraced by the whole community. Our support to the Understanding Europe Project, which aims to introduce European values to Turkish youth, is an example of this approach.
Although Turkish youth is familiar with general EU concepts, high school students in different regions of Turkey do not necessarily have the detailed knowledge to enable them to fully grasp ideas such as “European Citizenship, Identity or Lobbying.” We believe that Turkey's future, and so the future of Turkish youth lies in the EU. Involvement of Turkish youth in the accession process is, therefore, essential.
We are delighted that the Understanding Europe Project, through the mobile trainings in different cities and the summer camp in Ankara, has succeeded in involving young people and will enable youth from very different backgrounds to have a better understanding of the EU values and the importance of their own contribution.
Penny MillerHead of Global Issues SectionBritish Embassy, Ankara
Turkey and The EU:Getting to Know Each Other
Turkey, being a part of it, h a s a l w a y s b e e n i n relationship with Europe in many aspects. After the European Summit held in Helsinki in December 1999, Turkey started to get closer to Europe more than ever in the last fifty years.
After receiving candidate country status at the Helsinki Summit, Turkey obtained a date for the start of negotiations on 17 December 2004 at the European Summit in Brussels. By autumn 2005, the accession negotiation process began between Turkey and the EU.
The success of negotiation process started on 3 October 2005 does not only depend on diplomatic relations, but also on the achievements of the civil society. During this process, communication is as important as reforms. As outlined in the White Paper on “European Governance (2001)” prepared by the European Commission, the civil society's role gains more and more prominence in the future of the EU and its structures. Therefore, the convergence between civil societies of member and candidate countries will enrich and ease the understanding, as well as the explaining stages and thus, will support diplomatic efforts and the negotiation process itself.
Today, the concept of civil society refers to non-political organisations. In other words, it is composed of the peoples. Hence, the Turkish civil society should play an important role in the EU accession process of Turkey. The Turkish society should, on the one hand, better understand the EU, and on the other better present itself.
Understanding can only be possible by referring to the appropriate information sources, interacting with personal contacts, creating new methods,
Greetings Greetings
removing existing stereotypes and being ready for change. On the contrary, explaining can be more effective after getting to know the other, by clearly expressing oneself with mutually acceptable methods and breaking the existing stereotypes. Consequently, understanding and explaining are complementary terms and should be considered as one in the EU negotiation process.
In the last years, Turkey has made important steps towards understanding Europe and explaining herself. In this respect, the initiative undertaken by NGOs is of great value. Thanks to their cooperation with European counterparts, NGOs in Turkey have been contributing significantly to the accession process through extending the understanding and explaining activities to the grassroot level. One of the most successful and prominent example is the “Understanding Europe Project”, carried out by AEGEE-Ankara and also supported by the European Union Communication Group (ABÝG).
To better understand and explain Europe, AEGEE-Ankara, as a youth NGO, hit the road with the motto “Tell Me About (Your) Europe.” The project team traveled all around Turkey and raised awareness of students in high schools on the issues related to Europe and the European Union. As a result, the team trained more than 1500 youngsters and helped them to acquire a better comprehension of Europe. During their visit to Brussels, they also contributed to the promotion of Turkey in Europe.
Being the future leaders, young people must have skills to successfully shape their own future. With its project team consisting of university students carrying out activities for the benefit of high school students, the “Understanding Europe Project” has paved the way for the new generation to build its own future. For the high school students, the project team members that are their peers; but are active in civil society served as good role-models.
Furthermore, the project outcome already show that in the upcoming years, we will see more active and conscious young people, who are willing to shape their own future.
As the European Union Communication Group (ABÝG), we are happy to be a partner of successful project and hope to cooperate again with AEGEE-Ankara in future projects.
I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the “Understanding Europe Project” for their efforts and wish them greater successes in the future.
ª evki MütevellioðluEuropean Union Communication Group (ABÝG)Director
14 15
Turkey and The EU:Getting to Know Each Other
Turkey, being a part of it, h a s a l w a y s b e e n i n relationship with Europe in many aspects. After the European Summit held in Helsinki in December 1999, Turkey started to get closer to Europe more than ever in the last fifty years.
After receiving candidate country status at the Helsinki Summit, Turkey obtained a date for the start of negotiations on 17 December 2004 at the European Summit in Brussels. By autumn 2005, the accession negotiation process began between Turkey and the EU.
The success of negotiation process started on 3 October 2005 does not only depend on diplomatic relations, but also on the achievements of the civil society. During this process, communication is as important as reforms. As outlined in the White Paper on “European Governance (2001)” prepared by the European Commission, the civil society's role gains more and more prominence in the future of the EU and its structures. Therefore, the convergence between civil societies of member and candidate countries will enrich and ease the understanding, as well as the explaining stages and thus, will support diplomatic efforts and the negotiation process itself.
Today, the concept of civil society refers to non-political organisations. In other words, it is composed of the peoples. Hence, the Turkish civil society should play an important role in the EU accession process of Turkey. The Turkish society should, on the one hand, better understand the EU, and on the other better present itself.
Understanding can only be possible by referring to the appropriate information sources, interacting with personal contacts, creating new methods,
Greetings Greetings
removing existing stereotypes and being ready for change. On the contrary, explaining can be more effective after getting to know the other, by clearly expressing oneself with mutually acceptable methods and breaking the existing stereotypes. Consequently, understanding and explaining are complementary terms and should be considered as one in the EU negotiation process.
In the last years, Turkey has made important steps towards understanding Europe and explaining herself. In this respect, the initiative undertaken by NGOs is of great value. Thanks to their cooperation with European counterparts, NGOs in Turkey have been contributing significantly to the accession process through extending the understanding and explaining activities to the grassroot level. One of the most successful and prominent example is the “Understanding Europe Project”, carried out by AEGEE-Ankara and also supported by the European Union Communication Group (ABÝG).
To better understand and explain Europe, AEGEE-Ankara, as a youth NGO, hit the road with the motto “Tell Me About (Your) Europe.” The project team traveled all around Turkey and raised awareness of students in high schools on the issues related to Europe and the European Union. As a result, the team trained more than 1500 youngsters and helped them to acquire a better comprehension of Europe. During their visit to Brussels, they also contributed to the promotion of Turkey in Europe.
Being the future leaders, young people must have skills to successfully shape their own future. With its project team consisting of university students carrying out activities for the benefit of high school students, the “Understanding Europe Project” has paved the way for the new generation to build its own future. For the high school students, the project team members that are their peers; but are active in civil society served as good role-models.
Furthermore, the project outcome already show that in the upcoming years, we will see more active and conscious young people, who are willing to shape their own future.
As the European Union Communication Group (ABÝG), we are happy to be a partner of successful project and hope to cooperate again with AEGEE-Ankara in future projects.
I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the “Understanding Europe Project” for their efforts and wish them greater successes in the future.
ª evki MütevellioðluEuropean Union Communication Group (ABÝG)Director
14 15
Introduction...
Who, Why, How? What is AEGEE? What is this project?
About AEGEE
17
European Students’ Forum
AEGEE, (Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l'Europe) is a student organisation that promotes cooperation and integration amongst young people in Europe. Through active and critical confrontation with Europe, AEGEE wants to help develop an open and tolerant society. As a non-governmental, politically independent and non-profit organisation, AEGEE is open to students in Europe from all faculties and disciplines.
AEGEE, which was founded in 1985 in Paris, puts the idea of a unified Europe into practice. A widely spread student network of 15.000 members in 232 local branches provides the ideal platform where young people can work together, free from any national way of thinking. AEGEE brings together youth workers and young volunteers from 43 European countries with activities such as conferences, seminars, exchanges, training courses, Summer Universities, case study trips and Working Group meetings. By encouraging travel and mobility, stimulating discussion and organising common projects, AEGEE attempts to overcome national, cultural and ethnic divisions and to create a vision of young people's Europe.
AEGEE's main fields of action are Peace & Stability, Active Citizenship, Cultural Exchange and Higher Education.
AEGEE does not consider any national level in its organisation and structure and relies solely on the local branches and a European level that consists of Working Groups, Commissions and the European Board of Directors. AEGEE has participatory status in the activities of the Council of Europe, consultative status at the United Nations, operational status at UNESCO and is at the same time a member of the European Youth Forum and the European Movement International.
AEGEE has a number of illustrious personalities amongst its patrons: Mikhael Gorbatchev - the
winner of the Nobel Peace Prize; Václav Havel - former President of the Czech Republic; Eric Froment - former President of the European University Association; Wolfgang Thierse - former President of the German Parliament; Bronislaw Geremek - former Chairman of OSCE and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland; Radmila Sekerinska - former Deputy President of the Government of Republic of Macedonia; Romano Prodi - former Prime Minister of Italy and former President of the European Commission.
AEGEE celebrates its 24th anniversary in 2009, with all its achievements in the past 24 years in Europe. Being the first student organisation to open up to Eastern Europe with the fall of the Iron Curtain, playing a pioneer role in the adoption of the Erasmus Mobility Scheme, AEGEE changed lives of many people in Europe. In the coming years, AEGEE will keep on playing its essential role, focus on more democracy in Europe, full mobility for students, as well as the integration process of accession and neighbouring countries into Europe.
www.aegee.org, [email protected]
About AEGEE-Ankara
18
the National Human Development Report. Thanks to the training courses organised every year, AEGEE-Ankara provided its members both with soft skills on project management, as well as knowledge on the philosophy of non-governmental organisations. Today, AEGEE-Ankara enjoys a legal entity and has around 300 members from many universities in Ankara. In its 14th anniversary, it became a platform, where young students come together, organise projects for a better future and realise their self-development and mental change.The patrons of AEGEE-Ankara are Prof. Dr. Atila Eralp, the Director of METU Center for European Studies (CES), Prof. Dr. Korel Göymen, Sabancý University and Ýstanbul Policy Center, and Dr. Bahadýr Kaleaðasý, Turkish Industrialists' & B u s i n e s s m e n ' s A s s o c i a t i o n ( T Ü S ÝA D ) Representative to the EU and BUSINESSEUROPE (Confederation of European Business), Assos. Prof. Dr. Cem Bozþahin, METU, and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Süha Sevük, Former Rector of METU.
AEGEE-Ankara has organised several international events and realised various projects. Among them the important ones are;• Two Sides of A Mountain, September 2009• Understanding Europe Project, 2005-2009• Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue Project, 2002-2006• European School 2, advanced training course, September 2005• Magellano Project Ankara, April 2005• Islam and Europe: Eye Contact, October 2005• Turkish-Hungarian Cultural Exchange, June 2001• Peace Summit Conference on conflict resolution under the Peace Academy Project, flagship event of UNESCO, August 2000• General Assembly of AEGEE-Europe – Fall AGORA 1997, November 1997• "Understanding Europe", the international student symposium, April 1996
www.aegee-ankara.org, [email protected]
About AEGEE-Ankara
AEGEE-Ankara was founded in 1993 by a group of young people from the Middle East Technical University and was accepted to the AEGEE network in 1995. Later on, AEGEE-Ankara became one of the most active local branches of AEGEE. The first international event of AEGEE-Ankara was the '95 Summer University on "Turkish Culture and L anguage" . T he "Understanding Europe Conference” was the first European event of AEGEE-Ankara. Integration of Ankara in AEGEE is accepted as a revolution, since AEGEE succeeded in breaking dogmas about modern European borders and introduced a new conception of "Europe of values" due to this integration. While celebrating 14th anniversary of its establishment in 2009, in the past years, AEGEE-Ankara made important contribution to Turkey's European integration through the achievements such as the promotion of the Community Education and Youth Programmes, the establishment of a National Agency in Turkey, the endeavours to found Turkish National Youth Council. AEGEE-Ankara has always organised pioneer projects with the support of European Institutions as well as Turkish authorities and brought young people across Europe in Turkey to discuss Peace and Conflicts, Turkish-Hungarian relations, Turkish-Greek relations, Islam and Europe, Euro-Scepticism as well as Human Rights and the EU process of Turkey. AEGEE-Ankara activities, such as two-week long Summer Universities every year, have served as important elements for young Europeans to travel to Turkey and to remove their prejudices. AEGEE-Ankara hosted twice the General Assembly of AEGEE titled “AGORA” and hundreds of students gathered in Ankara to shape the future of Europe under the patronage of important figures such as Süleyman Demirel, the former President of Turkey. Furthermore, at the end of 2007, among others, the Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue Project (2002-2005) of AEGEE-Ankara received the “Best Practices in Youth Work Award” by the United Nations Development Programme- Turkey in the context of
About The Project
19
The Understanding Europe Project
With its motto “Tell me About (Your) Europe”, the Understanding Europe is a mobile training project consisting of two main stages; Understanding and Explaining Europe. Moreover, it is the first initiative in Turkey in its field, which is carried out by voluntary university students in order to train high school students as active citizens.
In 1949, Turkey became one of the founder members of the Council of Europe and on 3 October 2005, she began the accession negotiations with the EU. Both developments opened a new episode in the relations between Turkey and the European countries. As a result, the subjects of “Europe, European Identity and the Role of Turkey in These Structures” gained importance on the agenda. However, due to the failures of the education system in Turkey, the lack of attention to non-formal education in addition to the stress that the university entrance exam creates on youngsters, high school students generally stay in the back; neither follow the agenda nor be sensitive towards any topic except their courses. Therefore, as the first source of information, young people mostly rely on their hearings, which are usually incorrect or insufficient. This situation leads youngsters not to inquiry themselves or their environment and not to be critical thinkers.
The Understanding Europe Project was aimed at solving the aforementioned problems by raising awareness of high school students on the concepts such as 'Active Citizenship and Civil Society' as well as by directing them to be critical, especially, towards the matters on the spotlight, and in the meantime, by encouraging them to overcome their stereotypes. The project utilised non-formal peer education methods while doing so.
The main objectives of this project were to inform high school students on Europe related issues such as “European Identity, Europe and Youth, Active C i t i z e n s h i p a n d N o n - G o v e r n m e n t a l
Organisations”, to nourish their interest in these subjects, to initiate the establishment of “Students Clubs”, which would focus on “Europe” and to build a discussion platform among high schools.
Having star ted in November 2005, the Understanding Europe Project was carried out by university students, all working on voluntary basis. To reach its above mentioned goals and objectives, it was based on two stages, namely “Understanding Europe and Explaining Europe.” The former one intended to provide the project team with the necessary theoretical background on the subject 'Europe' and to train them as trainers. In this respect, the Understanding Europe stage was completed in two steps; first one being the “Seminars on Europe” and the second, “Training for Trainers.” The “Seminars on Europe” were organised as two seminar serials, which were held in April-May 2006 and then, in December 2006. The seminars were open to university students from all universities in Turkey and academics, experts as well as journalists contributed to the seminars. Following the seminars, in 4-7 February 2007, in Gölbaþý- Ankara, the Training for Trainers took place.
On the other hand, the second stage of the project, Explaining Europe comprised three steps. These were “Mobile Trainings, Summer Camp and Visit to Brussels” respectively. The Mobile Trainings constitute the main goal of the project. The high school students were acquainted with the subjects of 'Europe and Active Citizenship' by the means of non-formal peer education. Within the course of the Mobile Trainings (March-June 2007), workshops under the topic “Europe and Youth; Problems, Solutions and Opportunities” were delivered in Ankara, Ýstanbul, Ýzmir, Diyarbakýr, Erzurum, Samsun and Antalya, each province representing a geographical region in Turkey.
About AEGEE-Ankara
18
the National Human Development Report. Thanks to the training courses organised every year, AEGEE-Ankara provided its members both with soft skills on project management, as well as knowledge on the philosophy of non-governmental organisations. Today, AEGEE-Ankara enjoys a legal entity and has around 300 members from many universities in Ankara. In its 14th anniversary, it became a platform, where young students come together, organise projects for a better future and realise their self-development and mental change.The patrons of AEGEE-Ankara are Prof. Dr. Atila Eralp, the Director of METU Center for European Studies (CES), Prof. Dr. Korel Göymen, Sabancý University and Ýstanbul Policy Center, and Dr. Bahadýr Kaleaðasý, Turkish Industrialists' & B u s i n e s s m e n ' s A s s o c i a t i o n ( T Ü S ÝA D ) Representative to the EU and BUSINESSEUROPE (Confederation of European Business), Assos. Prof. Dr. Cem Bozþahin, METU, and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Süha Sevük, Former Rector of METU.
AEGEE-Ankara has organised several international events and realised various projects. Among them the important ones are;• Two Sides of A Mountain, September 2009• Understanding Europe Project, 2005-2009• Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue Project, 2002-2006• European School 2, advanced training course, September 2005• Magellano Project Ankara, April 2005• Islam and Europe: Eye Contact, October 2005• Turkish-Hungarian Cultural Exchange, June 2001• Peace Summit Conference on conflict resolution under the Peace Academy Project, flagship event of UNESCO, August 2000• General Assembly of AEGEE-Europe – Fall AGORA 1997, November 1997• "Understanding Europe", the international student symposium, April 1996
www.aegee-ankara.org, [email protected]
About AEGEE-Ankara
AEGEE-Ankara was founded in 1993 by a group of young people from the Middle East Technical University and was accepted to the AEGEE network in 1995. Later on, AEGEE-Ankara became one of the most active local branches of AEGEE. The first international event of AEGEE-Ankara was the '95 Summer University on "Turkish Culture and L anguage" . T he "Understanding Europe Conference” was the first European event of AEGEE-Ankara. Integration of Ankara in AEGEE is accepted as a revolution, since AEGEE succeeded in breaking dogmas about modern European borders and introduced a new conception of "Europe of values" due to this integration. While celebrating 14th anniversary of its establishment in 2009, in the past years, AEGEE-Ankara made important contribution to Turkey's European integration through the achievements such as the promotion of the Community Education and Youth Programmes, the establishment of a National Agency in Turkey, the endeavours to found Turkish National Youth Council. AEGEE-Ankara has always organised pioneer projects with the support of European Institutions as well as Turkish authorities and brought young people across Europe in Turkey to discuss Peace and Conflicts, Turkish-Hungarian relations, Turkish-Greek relations, Islam and Europe, Euro-Scepticism as well as Human Rights and the EU process of Turkey. AEGEE-Ankara activities, such as two-week long Summer Universities every year, have served as important elements for young Europeans to travel to Turkey and to remove their prejudices. AEGEE-Ankara hosted twice the General Assembly of AEGEE titled “AGORA” and hundreds of students gathered in Ankara to shape the future of Europe under the patronage of important figures such as Süleyman Demirel, the former President of Turkey. Furthermore, at the end of 2007, among others, the Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue Project (2002-2005) of AEGEE-Ankara received the “Best Practices in Youth Work Award” by the United Nations Development Programme- Turkey in the context of
About The Project
19
The Understanding Europe Project
With its motto “Tell me About (Your) Europe”, the Understanding Europe is a mobile training project consisting of two main stages; Understanding and Explaining Europe. Moreover, it is the first initiative in Turkey in its field, which is carried out by voluntary university students in order to train high school students as active citizens.
In 1949, Turkey became one of the founder members of the Council of Europe and on 3 October 2005, she began the accession negotiations with the EU. Both developments opened a new episode in the relations between Turkey and the European countries. As a result, the subjects of “Europe, European Identity and the Role of Turkey in These Structures” gained importance on the agenda. However, due to the failures of the education system in Turkey, the lack of attention to non-formal education in addition to the stress that the university entrance exam creates on youngsters, high school students generally stay in the back; neither follow the agenda nor be sensitive towards any topic except their courses. Therefore, as the first source of information, young people mostly rely on their hearings, which are usually incorrect or insufficient. This situation leads youngsters not to inquiry themselves or their environment and not to be critical thinkers.
The Understanding Europe Project was aimed at solving the aforementioned problems by raising awareness of high school students on the concepts such as 'Active Citizenship and Civil Society' as well as by directing them to be critical, especially, towards the matters on the spotlight, and in the meantime, by encouraging them to overcome their stereotypes. The project utilised non-formal peer education methods while doing so.
The main objectives of this project were to inform high school students on Europe related issues such as “European Identity, Europe and Youth, Active C i t i z e n s h i p a n d N o n - G o v e r n m e n t a l
Organisations”, to nourish their interest in these subjects, to initiate the establishment of “Students Clubs”, which would focus on “Europe” and to build a discussion platform among high schools.
Having star ted in November 2005, the Understanding Europe Project was carried out by university students, all working on voluntary basis. To reach its above mentioned goals and objectives, it was based on two stages, namely “Understanding Europe and Explaining Europe.” The former one intended to provide the project team with the necessary theoretical background on the subject 'Europe' and to train them as trainers. In this respect, the Understanding Europe stage was completed in two steps; first one being the “Seminars on Europe” and the second, “Training for Trainers.” The “Seminars on Europe” were organised as two seminar serials, which were held in April-May 2006 and then, in December 2006. The seminars were open to university students from all universities in Turkey and academics, experts as well as journalists contributed to the seminars. Following the seminars, in 4-7 February 2007, in Gölbaþý- Ankara, the Training for Trainers took place.
On the other hand, the second stage of the project, Explaining Europe comprised three steps. These were “Mobile Trainings, Summer Camp and Visit to Brussels” respectively. The Mobile Trainings constitute the main goal of the project. The high school students were acquainted with the subjects of 'Europe and Active Citizenship' by the means of non-formal peer education. Within the course of the Mobile Trainings (March-June 2007), workshops under the topic “Europe and Youth; Problems, Solutions and Opportunities” were delivered in Ankara, Ýstanbul, Ýzmir, Diyarbakýr, Erzurum, Samsun and Antalya, each province representing a geographical region in Turkey.
20
The partners of the Understanding Europe Project are Middle East Technical University Center of European Studies (CES), the British Embassy- Ankara, European Union Communication Group (ABÝG), ÖGER Tour and TEMSA.
The Understanding Europe Project was granted the Euractiv Awards for Debating Europe Nationally in September 2009 for its contribution to Turkey's EU integration.
www.aegee-ankara.org/uepgwww.understandingeuropeproject.org
At the beginning of the project, it was planned to organise a “Final Conference” in A n k a r a , w h i c h w o u l d g a t h e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f g o v e r n m e n t i n s t i t u t i o n s , N G O s a n d o t h e r organisations such as the European Commission Delegation to Turkey together following the Mobile Trainings. However, as a result of the successful outcome of the Mobile Trainings and the requests of par ticipants, a more comprehensive training was designed. The Summer Camp was held in 20-24 June 2007, in Ankara with the participation of 43 high school students from all around Turkey. The Camp did not only included interactive lectures on 'Active Citizenship, L o b b y i n g , a n d I n t e r c u l t u r a l Communication', but also a simulation on 'Project Development.' Being the first in its field both in Turkey and in Europe, this event is of prominence.
The Understanding Europe Project ended with a Visit to Brussels, to the European Institutions and NGOs in July 2007. This step of the project integrated the Understanding and Explaining Europe stages. Moreover, it helped the project team members and high school students to learn more about Europe and the EU in the capital of the EU through face-to-face meetings, whilst sharing the Understanding Europe Project outcome, their other work as well as the recent situation in Turkey with the EU representatives.
Being a pioneer in Turkey with its methodology, target group, the characteristics of its project team and its content, the Understanding Europe Project first launched its results to Turkish society during the Reception hosted by Mr. Giles Portman, the Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy, on March 20, 2008. Then, on 14 May 2008, in the Closing Ceremony at the European Parliament, Brussels under the auspices of Member of European Parliament (MEP) Mr. Vural Öger, it announced the project results to the international community.
About The Project
21
Project Partners
European Union Communication Group (ABÝG)
ÖGER Group
TEMSA
European Union Communi-cation Group (ABÝG) was established following the start of full membership accession negotiations of Turkey with the EU. Its aim is to explain the contributions of Turkey to the
EU and to inform the EU public on the reforms realised by Turkey in the EU accession process. ABÝG, in this respect, develops the internal and external communication strategies of Turkey.
ÖGER Group is a Europe-wide expert in trips to Turkey. In 2007, the tour operators ÖGER TOURS and Att Touristik, and the
flight operator ÖGER TÜRK TOUR carried a total of 1.25 million passengers to 13 destinations such as Turkey, Thailand, Cuba and Dominican Republic. ÖGER Group has an annual turn-over of 623 million Euros and employs a total of 3100 people mainly in Turkey and Germany.
TEMSA manufactures buses and coaches that are distr ibuted in
Europe, Middle East, Gulf countries and North Africa. The production plant is situated in Adana (Turkey), which offers a yearly capacity of 1.000 coaches, 2.000 midicoaches and 7.500 light trucks. TEMSA is regarded as the second largest independent bus and coach manufacturer in Europe. Moreover, it is part of the Sabanci Group, which is listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange and in 2006, its consolidated revenues totalled $12.1 billion.
We are grateful to all our partners for their invaluable support!
British Embassy, Ankara
European Studies Center Middle East Technical University
Turkey and Britain has strong relat ions. T hese countr ies cooperate in many f ie lds , especially in politics and security, e n e r g y a n d e nv i ro n m e n t ,
terrorism and fighting against international crime as well as increasing commerce and investment. Britain supports Turkey's membership to the EU and she provides all kinds of help to Turkey to achieve this aim in the reform processes. Her contribution to the civil society projects is an extension of this policy. In this framework, British Embassy donates approximately 750.000 £ per year to various projects in Turkey.
CES-METU was founded in 1997 at the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences (FEAS) at METU in
Ankara, Turkey. It aims to contribute to comparative research on Europe and European Integration through an interdisciplinary team of researchers. The Center has been awarded the Comparative European Research Project (CES-CER) in May 2005 within the European Commission's 6th Framework Programme.
The research is conducted along three broad core research programs of 1. Integration, Neighbour-hood and Cross-border Issues; 2. Social, Economic and Territorial Governance; 3. Comparative Studies of Europeanization and transformation. CES-METU is also a partner in various research and teaching networks such as EU-CONSENT.
20
The partners of the Understanding Europe Project are Middle East Technical University Center of European Studies (CES), the British Embassy- Ankara, European Union Communication Group (ABÝG), ÖGER Tour and TEMSA.
The Understanding Europe Project was granted the Euractiv Awards for Debating Europe Nationally in September 2009 for its contribution to Turkey's EU integration.
www.aegee-ankara.org/uepgwww.understandingeuropeproject.org
At the beginning of the project, it was planned to organise a “Final Conference” in A n k a r a , w h i c h w o u l d g a t h e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f g o v e r n m e n t i n s t i t u t i o n s , N G O s a n d o t h e r organisations such as the European Commission Delegation to Turkey together following the Mobile Trainings. However, as a result of the successful outcome of the Mobile Trainings and the requests of par ticipants, a more comprehensive training was designed. The Summer Camp was held in 20-24 June 2007, in Ankara with the participation of 43 high school students from all around Turkey. The Camp did not only included interactive lectures on 'Active Citizenship, L o b b y i n g , a n d I n t e r c u l t u r a l Communication', but also a simulation on 'Project Development.' Being the first in its field both in Turkey and in Europe, this event is of prominence.
The Understanding Europe Project ended with a Visit to Brussels, to the European Institutions and NGOs in July 2007. This step of the project integrated the Understanding and Explaining Europe stages. Moreover, it helped the project team members and high school students to learn more about Europe and the EU in the capital of the EU through face-to-face meetings, whilst sharing the Understanding Europe Project outcome, their other work as well as the recent situation in Turkey with the EU representatives.
Being a pioneer in Turkey with its methodology, target group, the characteristics of its project team and its content, the Understanding Europe Project first launched its results to Turkish society during the Reception hosted by Mr. Giles Portman, the Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy, on March 20, 2008. Then, on 14 May 2008, in the Closing Ceremony at the European Parliament, Brussels under the auspices of Member of European Parliament (MEP) Mr. Vural Öger, it announced the project results to the international community.
About The Project
21
Project Partners
European Union Communication Group (ABÝG)
ÖGER Group
TEMSA
European Union Communi-cation Group (ABÝG) was established following the start of full membership accession negotiations of Turkey with the EU. Its aim is to explain the contributions of Turkey to the
EU and to inform the EU public on the reforms realised by Turkey in the EU accession process. ABÝG, in this respect, develops the internal and external communication strategies of Turkey.
ÖGER Group is a Europe-wide expert in trips to Turkey. In 2007, the tour operators ÖGER TOURS and Att Touristik, and the
flight operator ÖGER TÜRK TOUR carried a total of 1.25 million passengers to 13 destinations such as Turkey, Thailand, Cuba and Dominican Republic. ÖGER Group has an annual turn-over of 623 million Euros and employs a total of 3100 people mainly in Turkey and Germany.
TEMSA manufactures buses and coaches that are distr ibuted in
Europe, Middle East, Gulf countries and North Africa. The production plant is situated in Adana (Turkey), which offers a yearly capacity of 1.000 coaches, 2.000 midicoaches and 7.500 light trucks. TEMSA is regarded as the second largest independent bus and coach manufacturer in Europe. Moreover, it is part of the Sabanci Group, which is listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange and in 2006, its consolidated revenues totalled $12.1 billion.
We are grateful to all our partners for their invaluable support!
British Embassy, Ankara
European Studies Center Middle East Technical University
Turkey and Britain has strong relat ions. T hese countr ies cooperate in many f ie lds , especially in politics and security, e n e r g y a n d e nv i ro n m e n t ,
terrorism and fighting against international crime as well as increasing commerce and investment. Britain supports Turkey's membership to the EU and she provides all kinds of help to Turkey to achieve this aim in the reform processes. Her contribution to the civil society projects is an extension of this policy. In this framework, British Embassy donates approximately 750.000 £ per year to various projects in Turkey.
CES-METU was founded in 1997 at the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences (FEAS) at METU in
Ankara, Turkey. It aims to contribute to comparative research on Europe and European Integration through an interdisciplinary team of researchers. The Center has been awarded the Comparative European Research Project (CES-CER) in May 2005 within the European Commission's 6th Framework Programme.
The research is conducted along three broad core research programs of 1. Integration, Neighbour-hood and Cross-border Issues; 2. Social, Economic and Territorial Governance; 3. Comparative Studies of Europeanization and transformation. CES-METU is also a partner in various research and teaching networks such as EU-CONSENT.
All About The Project IN 5 MIN.
22
All About The Project IN 5 MIN.
23
Objectives- With the “Seminars on Europe” that will be organised as a part of the “Understanding Europe” stage, the inform university students, who will then become project team members, on the issues related to Europe such as 'European Identity, Values of Europe, Turkey-EU Relations' and to broaden their perspectives,
- To raise awareness of high school students on the Europe related issues through non-formal peer education within the framework of the “Explaining Europe” stage,
- To learn the opinions of high school students on the EU integration process of Turkey,
- To initiate the establishment of “European Clubs” as a part of student activities in high schools and to promote active involvement of the students, who are interested in 'Europe' related issues, in these clubs,
- Through European Clubs, to create impartial discussion platforms among high schools on Europe related issues,
- As a part of the “Visit to Brussels”, to merge the European Clubs with the international student networks such as OBESSU (Organising Bureau of School Student Unions),
44
Project Management- The project was carried out by 20 university students, all working on voluntary basis.
- The Project Coordination Team consisted of 5 people.
- The Understanding Europe Project was funded mainly by The British Embassy-Ankara, the European Union Communication Group (ABÝG), Öger Tour and TEMSA.
- 3000 e-mails were sent on the e-mail list of the project team during the period between 18 November 2005 and 25 June 2009.
- During the project, the project team traveled around 20,000km.
55
Needs- High school students are not interested in the issues concerning themselves and their environment due to the deficiencies of the education system,
- The low participation level of youth in civil initiatives because of the severe restrictions on civil society after the coup d'etat in 1980 in Turkey,
- The start of pre-accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU and the need for overcoming disinformation in this process,
- The insufficient participation of young people in decision making processes.
11
Goals- To raise awareness of high school students, who will hold important positions in the future, about the issues concerning themselves and the society they live in; to direct them to research, inquiry and critical thinking,
- To show high school students that schools are not the sole information source, but rather, there are other ways to access information,
- To strengthen the communication between high schools and youth NGOs.
- To increase the role of high school students in the EU integration process of Turkey.
- To introduce the concepts of 'Life-Long Learning, Active Citizenship and Participatory Democracy' to high school students.
33
Target Group- High school students between ages 15-18, studying in Ankara, Ýstanbul, Ýzmir, Antalya, Diyarbakýr, Erzurum and Samsun.
22
Outcomes- Result Book
- Website: www.aegee-ankara.org/uepgwww.understandingeuropeproject.org
- In Turkey, for the first time, a project on 'Active Citizenship' that targets high school students was realised.
- An e-mail list between the participants of the Summer Camp
- European Clubs are being established. (In Izmir Anatolian High School, Antalya Karatay High School, Izmir Karataº High School, Samsun Science High School)
- The involvement of high school students in social activities increased (For instance, 3 participants of the project attended the “Noah's Ark: Training on Active Citizenship, Intercultural Learning and Leadership” in August 2008 that took place in Greece).
- The Understanding Europe Project inspired similar projects in Turkey and in the AEGEE network.
77
Problems Encountered- Difficulties in getting permissions from Provincial Directorates of Education to enter high schools,
- The lack of official recognition of non-formal education by the Ministry of Education of Turkey and consequently, the sceptic attitude of education authorities and parents towards initiatives such as the Understanding Europe Project,
- Problems in the visa application processes before both visits to Brussels,
- Despite the second language (English) education in high schools, the failure of high school students, while putting their knowledge into practice; they stay behind their European peers, when English is the language of communication,
- The lack of support both the project team -before the Mobile Trainings- and the high school students -during their endeavours to establish European Clubs- received from some of the school administrations.
88Activities- Seminars on Europe I; April- May 2006, Ankara, METU, 60 Participants
- Seminars on Europe II; 16-22-23 December 2006, Ankara, METU, 100 Participants
- Training For Trainers (T4T); 4-7 February 2007, Ankara, Gölbaþý, 23 Participants
- Mobile Trainings; February 2007, Mersin- Pilot Training in 'Tarsus Toros Private High School', 15 Participants March - June 2007, Ankara, Ýstanbul, Ýzmir, Diyarbakýr, Erzurum, Samsun, Antalya, Approximately 1500 students, 22 High School
- Summer Camp; 20-24 June 2007, Ankara, 43 Participants
- Visit to Brussels; 15-19 July 2007, Brussels, 15 Participants
- Reception; 20 March 2008, Ankara, British Embassy
- Closing Ceremony; 14 May 2008, Brussels, European Parliament
66
Suggesstions- Official recognition of non-formal education,
- Reforms in the education and university entrance exam system; provision of self-development opportunities for students and promotion of extracurricular activities,
- Evaluation of the second language education system in Turkey and improving its efficiency,
- Preparation of a comprehensive youth policy in Turkey with the participation of youth NGOs under the leadership of the government,
- To increase the mobility of students and young people in Turkey; as in her European counterparts, implementation of reduced tariffs for people aged under 26, and expending the validity of the student pass cards from province-based to national-wise,
- With the support of the NGOs in Turkey, engaging in diplomatic attempts for facilitation of visa procedures that Turkish citizens are subject to,
- Providing civil servants further information regarding the EU process.
99
All About The Project IN 5 MIN.
22
All About The Project IN 5 MIN.
23
Objectives- With the “Seminars on Europe” that will be organised as a part of the “Understanding Europe” stage, the inform university students, who will then become project team members, on the issues related to Europe such as 'European Identity, Values of Europe, Turkey-EU Relations' and to broaden their perspectives,
- To raise awareness of high school students on the Europe related issues through non-formal peer education within the framework of the “Explaining Europe” stage,
- To learn the opinions of high school students on the EU integration process of Turkey,
- To initiate the establishment of “European Clubs” as a part of student activities in high schools and to promote active involvement of the students, who are interested in 'Europe' related issues, in these clubs,
- Through European Clubs, to create impartial discussion platforms among high schools on Europe related issues,
- As a part of the “Visit to Brussels”, to merge the European Clubs with the international student networks such as OBESSU (Organising Bureau of School Student Unions),
44
Project Management- The project was carried out by 20 university students, all working on voluntary basis.
- The Project Coordination Team consisted of 5 people.
- The Understanding Europe Project was funded mainly by The British Embassy-Ankara, the European Union Communication Group (ABÝG), Öger Tour and TEMSA.
- 3000 e-mails were sent on the e-mail list of the project team during the period between 18 November 2005 and 25 June 2009.
- During the project, the project team traveled around 20,000km.
55
Needs- High school students are not interested in the issues concerning themselves and their environment due to the deficiencies of the education system,
- The low participation level of youth in civil initiatives because of the severe restrictions on civil society after the coup d'etat in 1980 in Turkey,
- The start of pre-accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU and the need for overcoming disinformation in this process,
- The insufficient participation of young people in decision making processes.
11
Goals- To raise awareness of high school students, who will hold important positions in the future, about the issues concerning themselves and the society they live in; to direct them to research, inquiry and critical thinking,
- To show high school students that schools are not the sole information source, but rather, there are other ways to access information,
- To strengthen the communication between high schools and youth NGOs.
- To increase the role of high school students in the EU integration process of Turkey.
- To introduce the concepts of 'Life-Long Learning, Active Citizenship and Participatory Democracy' to high school students.
33
Target Group- High school students between ages 15-18, studying in Ankara, Ýstanbul, Ýzmir, Antalya, Diyarbakýr, Erzurum and Samsun.
22
Outcomes- Result Book
- Website: www.aegee-ankara.org/uepgwww.understandingeuropeproject.org
- In Turkey, for the first time, a project on 'Active Citizenship' that targets high school students was realised.
- An e-mail list between the participants of the Summer Camp
- European Clubs are being established. (In Izmir Anatolian High School, Antalya Karatay High School, Izmir Karataº High School, Samsun Science High School)
- The involvement of high school students in social activities increased (For instance, 3 participants of the project attended the “Noah's Ark: Training on Active Citizenship, Intercultural Learning and Leadership” in August 2008 that took place in Greece).
- The Understanding Europe Project inspired similar projects in Turkey and in the AEGEE network.
77
Problems Encountered- Difficulties in getting permissions from Provincial Directorates of Education to enter high schools,
- The lack of official recognition of non-formal education by the Ministry of Education of Turkey and consequently, the sceptic attitude of education authorities and parents towards initiatives such as the Understanding Europe Project,
- Problems in the visa application processes before both visits to Brussels,
- Despite the second language (English) education in high schools, the failure of high school students, while putting their knowledge into practice; they stay behind their European peers, when English is the language of communication,
- The lack of support both the project team -before the Mobile Trainings- and the high school students -during their endeavours to establish European Clubs- received from some of the school administrations.
88Activities- Seminars on Europe I; April- May 2006, Ankara, METU, 60 Participants
- Seminars on Europe II; 16-22-23 December 2006, Ankara, METU, 100 Participants
- Training For Trainers (T4T); 4-7 February 2007, Ankara, Gölbaþý, 23 Participants
- Mobile Trainings; February 2007, Mersin- Pilot Training in 'Tarsus Toros Private High School', 15 Participants March - June 2007, Ankara, Ýstanbul, Ýzmir, Diyarbakýr, Erzurum, Samsun, Antalya, Approximately 1500 students, 22 High School
- Summer Camp; 20-24 June 2007, Ankara, 43 Participants
- Visit to Brussels; 15-19 July 2007, Brussels, 15 Participants
- Reception; 20 March 2008, Ankara, British Embassy
- Closing Ceremony; 14 May 2008, Brussels, European Parliament
66
Suggesstions- Official recognition of non-formal education,
- Reforms in the education and university entrance exam system; provision of self-development opportunities for students and promotion of extracurricular activities,
- Evaluation of the second language education system in Turkey and improving its efficiency,
- Preparation of a comprehensive youth policy in Turkey with the participation of youth NGOs under the leadership of the government,
- To increase the mobility of students and young people in Turkey; as in her European counterparts, implementation of reduced tariffs for people aged under 26, and expending the validity of the student pass cards from province-based to national-wise,
- With the support of the NGOs in Turkey, engaging in diplomatic attempts for facilitation of visa procedures that Turkish citizens are subject to,
- Providing civil servants further information regarding the EU process.
99
Chapter 1: Understanding Europe
Seminars On Europe
25
Seminars on Europe
The “Seminars on Europe” are aimed at providing the project with a thematic infrastructure. In this respect, the Seminars on Europe, which were organised in two series, took place between April-May 2006 and in December 2006 in Middle East Technical University (METU), with the participation of academics, experts and journalists. These two events were supported by the METU Center for European Studies and by the Turkey-Europe Team of the European Commission Delegation to Turkey.
More than 100 university students from all universities in Ankara participated in the Seminars on Europe.
Seminars On Europe I
3 April 2006 22 April 2006 30 April 2006 13 May 2006
Subject:
Political History of Europe
Speaker:
Dr. Kývanç ULUSOY (METU Center for European Studies)
Subject:
European Institutions
Speakers:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevilay KAHRAMAN(METU Department of International Relations)
Özge Zihnioðlu(TURKAB - EU Turkey Coop. Assoc.)
Subject:
Europe of Values, European Identity and the Role of Turkey
Speaker:
Dr. Erdem DENK(Ankara University Department of International Relations)
Subject:
Non-governmental Organizations and Europe
Speaker:
Lawyer Salih EFE(Ankara Bar Association)
During “Seminars on Europe”, valuable academics and experts met with hundreds of participants.
2005
Seminars On Europe I
26
Seminars On Europe II
27
It was obvious that the road was challenging; to explain Europe, first, we had to better understand it. Long days and nights, discussions, exhaustion, happiness and after all our first verse came out; “Seminars on Europe.” 'Political History of Europe, European Institutions, European Identity, Non-Governmental Organizations and Europe…' All these became real with the endless support of Dr. Kývanç Ulusoy, Assos. Prof. Dr. Sevilay Kahraman, Özge Zihnioðlu, Dr. Erdem Denk, and Lawyer Salih Efe.
It was time to take off, to tell about what we believe, what we learned..
Life crushed on my face and woke me up from this dream. I had to quit due to unexpected reasons. Now, I'm listening to this song with tranquility of commending the project to the right hands.
Özge TaðýzadeProject Manager (2005-2006)
A song that entered our lifes
Sometimes a melody comes to you from far away. You can't remember the song; but it seems familiar, somehow it takes you somewhere you don't know. You follow the melody. Pretending as if you have never heard it would be a bootless effort. That song has already entered your life,
it exists and will exist.
In a spring evening, I heard that melody. It did not have a name yet; its music and lyrics would belong to us. In that spring evening, the only thing wandering in my head was the proem and it was enough to take my breath away.
“Europe”... So far so close… This is what we have learned. Sometimes we had nothing less, sometimes we had a lot to do. What did we have in common, what were the things we should do; we didn't have to think about these. This is what we have learned…
We had to grow up to reconsider Europe and give it new meanings; to say 'Human Rights, Democracy, Freedom, Tolerence'… To evaluate these values away from physical and mental borders and to internalise them... We grew up, and in order not to make younger generations wait until they grow up, we hit the road.
Focused participants during the seminar
Seminars On Europe II
16 December 2006 22 December 2006 23 December 2006
1st SessionTopic:
European Identitiy
Speakers:
Assist. Prof. Dr. Aykan ERDEMÝR (METU Dep. of Sociology)
Prof. Dr. Yasin CEYLAN(METU Dep. of Philosophy)
Assos. Prof. Dr. Aykut ÇELEBÝ (Ankara University Dep. of Public Administration)
2nd SessionTopic:
Europe of Values
Speaker:
Assist. Prof. Dr. Dimitris TSAROUHAS (METU Dep. of International Relations)
3rd SessionTopic:
History of Turkey - EU Relations
Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Haluk GÜNUÐUR (Baþkent University Faculty of Law)
1st SessionTopic:
European Institutions
Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Can BAYDAROL (Delegation of European Commission to Turkey, Member of the “Turkey - Europe” Team)
1st SessionTopic:
Turkey As A Star At The European Galaxy
Speaker:
Dr. Bahadýr KALEAÐASI (Representative of Turkish Industry& Business Association to the EU and BUSINESSEUROPE)
2nd SessionTopic:
Future of Turkey - EU Relations
Speakers:
Prof. Dr. Atilla ERALP (METU Dep. of International Relations)
Ahmet SEVER (President, European Union Communication Group - ABÝG)
3rd SessionTopic:
EU and Education
Speaker:
Selçuk PEHLÝVANOÐLU (Director General, Turkish Education Association - TED)
2005 2006
Seminars On Europe I
26
Seminars On Europe II
27
It was obvious that the road was challenging; to explain Europe, first, we had to better understand it. Long days and nights, discussions, exhaustion, happiness and after all our first verse came out; “Seminars on Europe.” 'Political History of Europe, European Institutions, European Identity, Non-Governmental Organizations and Europe…' All these became real with the endless support of Dr. Kývanç Ulusoy, Assos. Prof. Dr. Sevilay Kahraman, Özge Zihnioðlu, Dr. Erdem Denk, and Lawyer Salih Efe.
It was time to take off, to tell about what we believe, what we learned..
Life crushed on my face and woke me up from this dream. I had to quit due to unexpected reasons. Now, I'm listening to this song with tranquility of commending the project to the right hands.
Özge TaðýzadeProject Manager (2005-2006)
A song that entered our lifes
Sometimes a melody comes to you from far away. You can't remember the song; but it seems familiar, somehow it takes you somewhere you don't know. You follow the melody. Pretending as if you have never heard it would be a bootless effort. That song has already entered your life,
it exists and will exist.
In a spring evening, I heard that melody. It did not have a name yet; its music and lyrics would belong to us. In that spring evening, the only thing wandering in my head was the proem and it was enough to take my breath away.
“Europe”... So far so close… This is what we have learned. Sometimes we had nothing less, sometimes we had a lot to do. What did we have in common, what were the things we should do; we didn't have to think about these. This is what we have learned…
We had to grow up to reconsider Europe and give it new meanings; to say 'Human Rights, Democracy, Freedom, Tolerence'… To evaluate these values away from physical and mental borders and to internalise them... We grew up, and in order not to make younger generations wait until they grow up, we hit the road.
Focused participants during the seminar
Seminars On Europe II
16 December 2006 22 December 2006 23 December 2006
1st SessionTopic:
European Identitiy
Speakers:
Assist. Prof. Dr. Aykan ERDEMÝR (METU Dep. of Sociology)
Prof. Dr. Yasin CEYLAN(METU Dep. of Philosophy)
Assos. Prof. Dr. Aykut ÇELEBÝ (Ankara University Dep. of Public Administration)
2nd SessionTopic:
Europe of Values
Speaker:
Assist. Prof. Dr. Dimitris TSAROUHAS (METU Dep. of International Relations)
3rd SessionTopic:
History of Turkey - EU Relations
Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Haluk GÜNUÐUR (Baþkent University Faculty of Law)
1st SessionTopic:
European Institutions
Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Can BAYDAROL (Delegation of European Commission to Turkey, Member of the “Turkey - Europe” Team)
1st SessionTopic:
Turkey As A Star At The European Galaxy
Speaker:
Dr. Bahadýr KALEAÐASI (Representative of Turkish Industry& Business Association to the EU and BUSINESSEUROPE)
2nd SessionTopic:
Future of Turkey - EU Relations
Speakers:
Prof. Dr. Atilla ERALP (METU Dep. of International Relations)
Ahmet SEVER (President, European Union Communication Group - ABÝG)
3rd SessionTopic:
EU and Education
Speaker:
Selçuk PEHLÝVANOÐLU (Director General, Turkish Education Association - TED)
2005 2006
28
honoured us with their contribution. During the sessions, there were interactive debates on the agenda.
The Seminars on Europe II, under the first stage of the two-staged Understanding Europe Project, had an intense content and strengthened our steps towards the continuation of our project. Furthermore, it stimulated our self-confidence, team dynamics and motivation; hence, it carried the project to a more professional level. Now, we were going to continue our way with the Training for Trainers, in order to get acquainted with the necessary background for improving our communication with high school students in seven cities of Turkey, and then, with the Mobile Trainings, during which we were going to tell them how to reach and interpret information instead of learning by rote, as well as to form their own opinions, and to be tolerant towards different ideas…
Ayþe Banu BaðrýaçýkPublic Relations Responsible
Without A Break...
We began 16 December 2006 with a nice bustle. Combining our experiences from the Seminar on Europe I and sense of responsibility we gained through reaching a larger crowd of people, the Seminars on Europe II should be the proof of taking one step further; and we
absolutely made it.
In the second seminar series, consisting of seven sessions, we brought many valuable academics, specialists, journalists and hundreds of young people together on 16 and 22 December 2006 in the Middle East Technical University (METU), Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, and on the 23 December 2006 at the METU Culture and Convention Center. Who else was there?
On 16 December, three sessions took place on the topics of 'European Identity, Europe of Values and the History of Turkey- EU Relations.' Assist. Prof. Dr. Aykan Erdemir, Prof. Dr. Yasin Ceylan, Assos. Prof. Dr. Aykut Çelebi, Assist. Prof. Dr. Dimitris Tsarouhas and Prof. Dr. Haluk Günuður introduced us new horizons about the main topic of our project, 'Europe', by sharing their ideas on the political agenda as well as their knowledge about history.
Similarly, on 22 December 2006, Can BAYDAROL, informed us about 'European Institutions', whilst enlightening on various topics including different arguments in the field of International Relations and the ideological roots of the EU.
On 23 December 2006, we successfully finalised our second seminar series. The day consisted of three sessions. Dr. Bahadýr KALEAÐASI, who is also one of the patrons of AEGEE-Ankara, our academic advisor Prof. Dr. Atila ERALP as well as Ahmet SEVER and Selçuk PEHLÝVANOÐLU
Seminars On Europe II
29
Seminars On Europe II2006 2006
AEGEE Is A Necessary Organisation!
It has been created because of young Europeans' desire to contribute to peace, t o l e ra n c e a n d m u t u a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g a c r o s s borders. In that sense, it is a commendable initiative that grows a little bit more every year and encompasses European students from almost every country in Europe.
But AEGEE is also crucial. At the beginning of the 21st century, phenomena such as intolerance, intra-cultural and inter-religious suspicion are making a sad comeback in Europe and beyond. The projects and activities that local AEGEE branches engage in provide an alternative for Europe's youth, helping Europeans understand the cultural diversity of our continent that lies at the heart of our strength, that enriches our life and that shows us how difference is to be celebrated and cherished.
It is a great personal pleasure to have met the AEGEE-Ankara members and contributed to their act iv i t ies under the framework of the Understanding Europe Project. Comprising a large number of our students here at METU and beyond, AEGEE-Ankara has been very successful over a number of years in attracting publicity in the local
and national press through the successful organization of various projects. Particularly memorable was the Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue Project under the auspices of the European Union's “Civil Society Dialogue Programme.” It was a project showing Europe at its best: open to difference, ready to create new bridges, engage with 'the other' and learn from each other. Now, the Understanding Europe Project is moving along the same path.
I have participated in AEGEE-Ankara events over 2006 and 2007, one being the Seminars on Europe II, organised under the Understanding Europe Project, on 16th December 2006 as a speaker. On both occasions, I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the organisation's staff and their willingness to make a difference. I know of very few NGOs operating so successfully.
May I, therefore, take this opportunity to congratulate our AEGEE-Ankara members and the project team, but also AEGEE members throughout Turkey and across Europe. Your contribution to a better Europe is crucial, and I hope that you will continue to promote the principles upon which a peaceful and tolerant Europe relies to prosper in future years, and to the benefit of future generations.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Dimitris TsarouhasDepartment of International RelationsMETU, Ankara
Seminars reached more than 100 participant who attended nearly all sesions
Mr. Tsarouhas, while giving his speech
2006 2006
28
honoured us with their contribution. During the sessions, there were interactive debates on the agenda.
The Seminars on Europe II, under the first stage of the two-staged Understanding Europe Project, had an intense content and strengthened our steps towards the continuation of our project. Furthermore, it stimulated our self-confidence, team dynamics and motivation; hence, it carried the project to a more professional level. Now, we were going to continue our way with the Training for Trainers, in order to get acquainted with the necessary background for improving our communication with high school students in seven cities of Turkey, and then, with the Mobile Trainings, during which we were going to tell them how to reach and interpret information instead of learning by rote, as well as to form their own opinions, and to be tolerant towards different ideas…
Ayþe Banu BaðrýaçýkPublic Relations Responsible
Without A Break...
We began 16 December 2006 with a nice bustle. Combining our experiences from the Seminar on Europe I and sense of responsibility we gained through reaching a larger crowd of people, the Seminars on Europe II should be the proof of taking one step further; and we
absolutely made it.
In the second seminar series, consisting of seven sessions, we brought many valuable academics, specialists, journalists and hundreds of young people together on 16 and 22 December 2006 in the Middle East Technical University (METU), Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, and on the 23 December 2006 at the METU Culture and Convention Center. Who else was there?
On 16 December, three sessions took place on the topics of 'European Identity, Europe of Values and the History of Turkey- EU Relations.' Assist. Prof. Dr. Aykan Erdemir, Prof. Dr. Yasin Ceylan, Assos. Prof. Dr. Aykut Çelebi, Assist. Prof. Dr. Dimitris Tsarouhas and Prof. Dr. Haluk Günuður introduced us new horizons about the main topic of our project, 'Europe', by sharing their ideas on the political agenda as well as their knowledge about history.
Similarly, on 22 December 2006, Can BAYDAROL, informed us about 'European Institutions', whilst enlightening on various topics including different arguments in the field of International Relations and the ideological roots of the EU.
On 23 December 2006, we successfully finalised our second seminar series. The day consisted of three sessions. Dr. Bahadýr KALEAÐASI, who is also one of the patrons of AEGEE-Ankara, our academic advisor Prof. Dr. Atila ERALP as well as Ahmet SEVER and Selçuk PEHLÝVANOÐLU
Seminars On Europe II
29
Seminars On Europe II2006 2006
AEGEE Is A Necessary Organisation!
It has been created because of young Europeans' desire to contribute to peace, t o l e ra n c e a n d m u t u a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g a c r o s s borders. In that sense, it is a commendable initiative that grows a little bit more every year and encompasses European students from almost every country in Europe.
But AEGEE is also crucial. At the beginning of the 21st century, phenomena such as intolerance, intra-cultural and inter-religious suspicion are making a sad comeback in Europe and beyond. The projects and activities that local AEGEE branches engage in provide an alternative for Europe's youth, helping Europeans understand the cultural diversity of our continent that lies at the heart of our strength, that enriches our life and that shows us how difference is to be celebrated and cherished.
It is a great personal pleasure to have met the AEGEE-Ankara members and contributed to their act iv i t ies under the framework of the Understanding Europe Project. Comprising a large number of our students here at METU and beyond, AEGEE-Ankara has been very successful over a number of years in attracting publicity in the local
and national press through the successful organization of various projects. Particularly memorable was the Turkish-Greek Civic Dialogue Project under the auspices of the European Union's “Civil Society Dialogue Programme.” It was a project showing Europe at its best: open to difference, ready to create new bridges, engage with 'the other' and learn from each other. Now, the Understanding Europe Project is moving along the same path.
I have participated in AEGEE-Ankara events over 2006 and 2007, one being the Seminars on Europe II, organised under the Understanding Europe Project, on 16th December 2006 as a speaker. On both occasions, I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the organisation's staff and their willingness to make a difference. I know of very few NGOs operating so successfully.
May I, therefore, take this opportunity to congratulate our AEGEE-Ankara members and the project team, but also AEGEE members throughout Turkey and across Europe. Your contribution to a better Europe is crucial, and I hope that you will continue to promote the principles upon which a peaceful and tolerant Europe relies to prosper in future years, and to the benefit of future generations.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Dimitris TsarouhasDepartment of International RelationsMETU, Ankara
Seminars reached more than 100 participant who attended nearly all sesions
Mr. Tsarouhas, while giving his speech
2006 2006
Training For Trainers (T4T)
30
Training For Trainers (T4T)
31
Training for Trainers
The “Training for Trainers (T4T)” aims providing the project members with the communication infrastructure they need to share the knowledge acquainted through Seminars on Europe and other thematic studies.
Within the course of this event, between 4-7 February 2007, at the premises of the Youth and Sports Directorate in Gölbaþý, Ankara, an interactive training, which included session on 'Presentation Techniques, Workshop Design and Crisis Management', was held.
As a result, the project team members developed their competences to become trainers.
PROGRAMME
4 February 2007 5 February 2007 6 February 2007 7 February 2007
Ice Braking Games
What is Non-Formal Education?
Learning Styles
Experiental Learning Cycle
Designing a Training Programme
Programme Flow
Time Management
Team-work
Presentation Techniques
Workshops & Presentations
Evaluation of T4T
The Profile of a Trainer
Evaluation Techniques
Youth Psychology
Communication Techniques
The T4T provided project members a unique opportunityto gain more knowledge and experience.
Trainers: Burcu Becermen, Dijan Albayrak, Ozan Çakmak.Ayla Sýrýklý, Evren Sener Ünal,
2007 2007
Training for Trainers
Following to the Seminars on Europe organised in March-May 2006 and 16-22-23 December 2006 on the topics of “European Identity, Europe of Values, Turkey-European Union Relations and European Institutions”, the content of the Mobile Trainings was
almost clear in our minds. Hence, we constructed a strong infrastructure for the first stage of our project, “Understanding Europe”. However, we were not still feeling comfortable enough to meet high school students. Eventually, this was a group of university students and we were a part of this team with our student identity. In other words, we did not know how to be a trainer instead of an ordinary student. Therefore, in order to overcome this challenge, the Training for Trainers was a crucial step for us. Logistic preparations and trainer selection were done very carefully and the second step of our project, Training for Trainers (T4T) was realised between 4-7 February 2007 with the participation of 23 project members and 4 trainers at the premises of Youth and Sports Directorate in Gölbaþý, Ankara.
The main aim of this training can be summarised as providing the project team with the necessary tools, skills and background for being effective trainers in the next step of the project, the Mobile Trainings. Accordingly, in order to guide and train us as trainers, three AEGEE-Ankara alumni, who also have experience in youth work; Burcu Becermen, Ozan Çakmak and Dijan Albayrak in addition to Sener Ünal, a professional from the Community Volunteers Foundation, put a lot of efforts. We are very grateful to them. Moreover, Psychologist Ayla Sýrýklý contributed to the last day of our training, and by shedding light on the psychology and lives of high school students, she helped us better understand them. It is important to note that the tension management techniques she taught were beneficial during the Mobile Trainings.
Looking at the first two days content-wise; we participated in interactive workshops on “Project Cycle Management, Training Planning, Time Management, Trainer Profile, Presentation Techniques.” In the last two days, we, as project members, prepared short trainings on the topics of “European Institutions, Europe and Youth, Turkey-European Union Relations, History of European Union” and hence, implemented what we have learned. The group work we have done in this respect contributed a lot to our team dynamics.
When theory meets practice
Training For Trainers (T4T)
30
Training For Trainers (T4T)
31
Training for Trainers
The “Training for Trainers (T4T)” aims providing the project members with the communication infrastructure they need to share the knowledge acquainted through Seminars on Europe and other thematic studies.
Within the course of this event, between 4-7 February 2007, at the premises of the Youth and Sports Directorate in Gölbaþý, Ankara, an interactive training, which included session on 'Presentation Techniques, Workshop Design and Crisis Management', was held.
As a result, the project team members developed their competences to become trainers.
PROGRAMME
4 February 2007 5 February 2007 6 February 2007 7 February 2007
Ice Braking Games
What is Non-Formal Education?
Learning Styles
Experiental Learning Cycle
Designing a Training Programme
Programme Flow
Time Management
Team-work
Presentation Techniques
Workshops & Presentations
Evaluation of T4T
The Profile of a Trainer
Evaluation Techniques
Youth Psychology
Communication Techniques
The T4T provided project members a unique opportunityto gain more knowledge and experience.
Trainers: Burcu Becermen, Dijan Albayrak, Ozan Çakmak.Ayla Sýrýklý, Evren Sener Ünal,
2007 2007
Training for Trainers
Following to the Seminars on Europe organised in March-May 2006 and 16-22-23 December 2006 on the topics of “European Identity, Europe of Values, Turkey-European Union Relations and European Institutions”, the content of the Mobile Trainings was
almost clear in our minds. Hence, we constructed a strong infrastructure for the first stage of our project, “Understanding Europe”. However, we were not still feeling comfortable enough to meet high school students. Eventually, this was a group of university students and we were a part of this team with our student identity. In other words, we did not know how to be a trainer instead of an ordinary student. Therefore, in order to overcome this challenge, the Training for Trainers was a crucial step for us. Logistic preparations and trainer selection were done very carefully and the second step of our project, Training for Trainers (T4T) was realised between 4-7 February 2007 with the participation of 23 project members and 4 trainers at the premises of Youth and Sports Directorate in Gölbaþý, Ankara.
The main aim of this training can be summarised as providing the project team with the necessary tools, skills and background for being effective trainers in the next step of the project, the Mobile Trainings. Accordingly, in order to guide and train us as trainers, three AEGEE-Ankara alumni, who also have experience in youth work; Burcu Becermen, Ozan Çakmak and Dijan Albayrak in addition to Sener Ünal, a professional from the Community Volunteers Foundation, put a lot of efforts. We are very grateful to them. Moreover, Psychologist Ayla Sýrýklý contributed to the last day of our training, and by shedding light on the psychology and lives of high school students, she helped us better understand them. It is important to note that the tension management techniques she taught were beneficial during the Mobile Trainings.
Looking at the first two days content-wise; we participated in interactive workshops on “Project Cycle Management, Training Planning, Time Management, Trainer Profile, Presentation Techniques.” In the last two days, we, as project members, prepared short trainings on the topics of “European Institutions, Europe and Youth, Turkey-European Union Relations, History of European Union” and hence, implemented what we have learned. The group work we have done in this respect contributed a lot to our team dynamics.
When theory meets practice
Training For Trainers (T4T)
32 33
As a result, the T4T did not only give us a theoretic background; but also, through some exercises, it showed us how we, as a group, can succeed in a short period of time, by using the scarce resources we have. During the games or simulations, our trust to each other strengthened and we experienced that when we act in unity, we can easily reach all our aims.
As a conclusion, besides enlarging our perspective, the most important short-term result of this training was the enormous increase in the level of self-confidence of team members as well as trust within the project team. Also, the training gave birth to a new slogan among us; “We are a great group!” in addition to bringing out the trainer potential inside us and raising our self-awareness. On the other hand, the long term results came onto surface during the Mobile Trainings. We told about our T4T experiences even during the Mobile Trainings in seven cities of Turkey and benefited from what we learned, especially the ones related to
Crisis Management and Presentation Techniques.
In this respect, starting from our trainers, I would like to thank to everyone, Ms. Ayla Sýrýklý, the Youth and Sports Directorate Premises Administration in Gölbaþý, and finally, to the project team members, who made the training unforgettable with their participation.
What did T4T give us?
We learned to be constructive in human relations and to point ourselves.Even though we have different experiences and level of knowledge, we realised that we can achieve common aims by speaking the same language.We saw that being a trainer is difficult; but it is possible to succeed once we dedicate some efforts. We supported Life-Long Learning and through Mobile Trainings, we conveyed these to new generations.
Zeynep KarasuSecretary General
Eðitimde, farklý öðrenme tarzlarý göz önüne alýnmýþtýr.
Different Learning Styles were taken into consideration during the training
Tuðba KESKÝN, Member of Project Team
2007
Go up, there is a meeting of the Unders-tanding Europe Project, you can attend it. I do not remember who said that; however, it was a beautiful coincidence for me. How enjoyable and lively my first meeting was. After that day, I became a member of the UEPG as well and our project grew everyday. While new thoughts flashed in our minds with the “Seminars on Europe” we organised, our self-confidence enhanced by the Training for Trainers. The “Bonjour” calls that woke us up everyday, the frozen lake, our simulations, the cottage house, the pink room and the four days we spent, all of them made us a better team.
Understanding Europe... By The Lake
“Understanding Europe”, they said. We, the “Under-standing Europe Project Group” of AEGEE-Ankara, are organising a project t a r g e t i n g h i g h s c h o o l students and we need to have a training for the project team, said Gülece on the phone to our experienced master trainer Dijan Al-bayrak from AEGEE-Ankara. The project team was willing to establish a better understanding of Europe among high school students through non-formal peer education. Spending four sunny days by the lake all covered in snow at the premises of Youth and Sports Directorate in Gölbaþý, Ankara with 23 truly amazing AEGEE-Ankara members was the idea, how could we ever resist?
Along with Dijan, we teamed up with AEGEE-Ankara members Ozan Çakmak, Burcu Becermen and our special guest trainer Sener Ünal from the TOG – Community Volunteers Foundation and started working. We discussed about the potential needs of project team members during their
practice with high school students and accordingly we designed a tailor-made “Half Portion Training for Trainers Programme”. We did not target to come up with 23 project team members leaving the lake as fully-fledged trainers; however, we wanted to focus on the potential needs required during the practice with high school students and we wanted to provide a safe platform, where they could confidently practice and test some sort of simulations before they go to the field. The Half Portion Training for Trainers programme was based on the experiential learning cycle and we covered various programme elements including Program Flow, Programming, Communication, Presentation Techniques, Time Management, Active Listening,
Feedback, Who Is A Trainer? We started with team-building activities on the first day; giving the floor to the project team members on the 3rd day. The project team members worked in teams, shared some topics related to Europe and presented their skills and creativity on the 3rd day at the sessions they ran themselves.
Young, beautiful and creative project team members left us with unforgettable simulations on Civil Society and Europe, Values of Europe, European Institutions, EU-Turkey Relations. The simulation day came to an end with various energisers, games, presentations and discussion panels run by the project team members including a Project Team was full of enthutiasm from the very beginning till end
“Sunset” at Gölbaþý... Europe has the same dictionary meaning
Training For Trainers (T4T) 2007
Training For Trainers (T4T)
32 33
As a result, the T4T did not only give us a theoretic background; but also, through some exercises, it showed us how we, as a group, can succeed in a short period of time, by using the scarce resources we have. During the games or simulations, our trust to each other strengthened and we experienced that when we act in unity, we can easily reach all our aims.
As a conclusion, besides enlarging our perspective, the most important short-term result of this training was the enormous increase in the level of self-confidence of team members as well as trust within the project team. Also, the training gave birth to a new slogan among us; “We are a great group!” in addition to bringing out the trainer potential inside us and raising our self-awareness. On the other hand, the long term results came onto surface during the Mobile Trainings. We told about our T4T experiences even during the Mobile Trainings in seven cities of Turkey and benefited from what we learned, especially the ones related to
Crisis Management and Presentation Techniques.
In this respect, starting from our trainers, I would like to thank to everyone, Ms. Ayla Sýrýklý, the Youth and Sports Directorate Premises Administration in Gölbaþý, and finally, to the project team members, who made the training unforgettable with their participation.
What did T4T give us?
We learned to be constructive in human relations and to point ourselves.Even though we have different experiences and level of knowledge, we realised that we can achieve common aims by speaking the same language.We saw that being a trainer is difficult; but it is possible to succeed once we dedicate some efforts. We supported Life-Long Learning and through Mobile Trainings, we conveyed these to new generations.
Zeynep KarasuSecretary General
Eðitimde, farklý öðrenme tarzlarý göz önüne alýnmýþtýr.
Different Learning Styles were taken into consideration during the training
Tuðba KESKÝN, Member of Project Team
2007
Go up, there is a meeting of the Unders-tanding Europe Project, you can attend it. I do not remember who said that; however, it was a beautiful coincidence for me. How enjoyable and lively my first meeting was. After that day, I became a member of the UEPG as well and our project grew everyday. While new thoughts flashed in our minds with the “Seminars on Europe” we organised, our self-confidence enhanced by the Training for Trainers. The “Bonjour” calls that woke us up everyday, the frozen lake, our simulations, the cottage house, the pink room and the four days we spent, all of them made us a better team.
Understanding Europe... By The Lake
“Understanding Europe”, they said. We, the “Under-standing Europe Project Group” of AEGEE-Ankara, are organising a project t a r g e t i n g h i g h s c h o o l students and we need to have a training for the project team, said Gülece on the phone to our experienced master trainer Dijan Al-bayrak from AEGEE-Ankara. The project team was willing to establish a better understanding of Europe among high school students through non-formal peer education. Spending four sunny days by the lake all covered in snow at the premises of Youth and Sports Directorate in Gölbaþý, Ankara with 23 truly amazing AEGEE-Ankara members was the idea, how could we ever resist?
Along with Dijan, we teamed up with AEGEE-Ankara members Ozan Çakmak, Burcu Becermen and our special guest trainer Sener Ünal from the TOG – Community Volunteers Foundation and started working. We discussed about the potential needs of project team members during their
practice with high school students and accordingly we designed a tailor-made “Half Portion Training for Trainers Programme”. We did not target to come up with 23 project team members leaving the lake as fully-fledged trainers; however, we wanted to focus on the potential needs required during the practice with high school students and we wanted to provide a safe platform, where they could confidently practice and test some sort of simulations before they go to the field. The Half Portion Training for Trainers programme was based on the experiential learning cycle and we covered various programme elements including Program Flow, Programming, Communication, Presentation Techniques, Time Management, Active Listening,
Feedback, Who Is A Trainer? We started with team-building activities on the first day; giving the floor to the project team members on the 3rd day. The project team members worked in teams, shared some topics related to Europe and presented their skills and creativity on the 3rd day at the sessions they ran themselves.
Young, beautiful and creative project team members left us with unforgettable simulations on Civil Society and Europe, Values of Europe, European Institutions, EU-Turkey Relations. The simulation day came to an end with various energisers, games, presentations and discussion panels run by the project team members including a Project Team was full of enthutiasm from the very beginning till end
“Sunset” at Gölbaþý... Europe has the same dictionary meaning
Training For Trainers (T4T) 2007
34
very funny TV show on Europe and Youth as well as a role playing, which made an analogy between EU-Turkey relations and the love story of villager lad and upper class girl. The creative techniques and methods they used in their presentations and sessions have been a clear indication of their success and enthusiasm in project management. Group sessions were followed by the feedback by the trainers, allowing everyone to learn from one another.
As we finished the fourth day of the training, we were happy to see very well integrated and supportive project team members. This team was 'Charismatic By Default' as put correctly by one of the project team members during the training. Even though the main objective of the training course was to enhance presentation and communication skills and capacities of project team members towards high school students, we went beyond this objective and additionally we witnessed a great team spirit with supportive and friendly team members coming up as a result of the training. All by the lake…
In the training course, we received not only the help of youth trainers; but also of Ayla Sýrýklý, a psychologist, so as to receive expert information about the psychology of high school students.
All of us once again understood the importance of tailor-made peer education for any project team being before they roll up their sleeves for new initiatives. We all laughed, had fun and learnt. Just as the colourful craft paper made flowers we used at the evaluation session were blossoming one by one, the project team members all blossomed in different colours as well for their next adventures.
23 colourful flowers blossoming by the lake were now more than ready to spread their beauty and scent to seven corners of Anatolia. After the training course, the project team members visited in groups different provinces to run sessions with high school students and they posted their experiences and photos on the project blog. It was such a great pleasure for the trainers of the Half Portion Training for Trainers also to see them in action in Ýstanbul Zografion High School…
Burcu BecermenOn the behalf of the Trainers Team
During the training,
project team made very
creative presentations.
While learning, they also had fun.
Training For Trainers (T4T) 2007
Chapter 2: Telling About Europe
34
very funny TV show on Europe and Youth as well as a role playing, which made an analogy between EU-Turkey relations and the love story of villager lad and upper class girl. The creative techniques and methods they used in their presentations and sessions have been a clear indication of their success and enthusiasm in project management. Group sessions were followed by the feedback by the trainers, allowing everyone to learn from one another.
As we finished the fourth day of the training, we were happy to see very well integrated and supportive project team members. This team was 'Charismatic By Default' as put correctly by one of the project team members during the training. Even though the main objective of the training course was to enhance presentation and communication skills and capacities of project team members towards high school students, we went beyond this objective and additionally we witnessed a great team spirit with supportive and friendly team members coming up as a result of the training. All by the lake…
In the training course, we received not only the help of youth trainers; but also of Ayla Sýrýklý, a psychologist, so as to receive expert information about the psychology of high school students.
All of us once again understood the importance of tailor-made peer education for any project team being before they roll up their sleeves for new initiatives. We all laughed, had fun and learnt. Just as the colourful craft paper made flowers we used at the evaluation session were blossoming one by one, the project team members all blossomed in different colours as well for their next adventures.
23 colourful flowers blossoming by the lake were now more than ready to spread their beauty and scent to seven corners of Anatolia. After the training course, the project team members visited in groups different provinces to run sessions with high school students and they posted their experiences and photos on the project blog. It was such a great pleasure for the trainers of the Half Portion Training for Trainers also to see them in action in Ýstanbul Zografion High School…
Burcu BecermenOn the behalf of the Trainers Team
During the training,
project team made very
creative presentations.
While learning, they also had fun.
Training For Trainers (T4T) 2007
Chapter 2: Telling About Europe
Mobile Trainings
36
2007 Mobile Trainings
37
2007
school year.
1 In Turkey, there exist different types of high schools. Four of them are: General High Schools, Anatolian High Schools, Private High Schools and Vocational High Schools. Among those, language of instruction in General High Schools is Turkish, whereas Anatolian High Schools and Private High Schools (also, called College or Foreign Language High School) give special attention to foreign language teaching. Science High Schools are focused on Natural Sciences education, whilst Vocational High Schools, as their name suggests, prepare students for employment in various occupations, or for higher education.
Mobile Trainings, March - June 2007
Within the course of the Mobile Trainings, a total of 22 high schools including General High Schools, Anatolian High Schools, Private High Schools and
1Vocational High Schools that have different socio-cultural backgrounds and education systems, and located in Ankara, Ýstanbul, Ýzmir, Antalya, Diyarbakýr, Erzurum and Samsun were visited. The cities were chosen in consideration that each province represents a geographical region in Turkey. In the visited schools, the project team members delivered 2-2,5 hour-long workshops on “Europe and Youth: Problems, Solutions and Opportunities” aiming to inform the students about topics such as “Youth, Civil Society and Active Citizenship” in addition to raising their awareness on Europe related issues. Moreover, a pilot training was held in Mersin Tarsus Toros Private High School in February 2007.
The Mobile Trainings were based on interactive nonformal education methods, in which the main actors were students. At the end of the workshops, the participating students were given a question-naire, measuring their opinions and knowledge on Europe related issues as well as the success of the workshops. The questionnaire was taken from the one prepared by the Turkish Social Scientists Association in the framework of the “Turkish Youth Is Speaking; The Opinions of the Youth on Turkey's EU Accession Process and Her Membership Project.” The results are published in this result book.
Under the Mobile Trainings, it was also targeted to initiate establishment of “European Clubs” in high schools, where students interested in Europe related issues can take part, organise events, experience participatory democracy and learn how to become active citizens. In this respect, students from Ýzmir Anatolian High School, Ýzmir Karataþ High School, Antalya Karatay High School and Samsun Science High School, who also participated in the Summer Camp of the Understanding Europe Project, began engaging in such activities during the 2007-2008
Sample Training Content:- Introduction & Ice-Breaking Games (10 min)
- “Who are we?”: Introduction of AEGEE, AEGEE-Ankara and the Understanding Europe Project (15 min)
- “Tell Me About (Your) Europe”: What is Europe? By showing maps of Europe in different stages of history, discussing “Which one is Europe?” (20 min)
- “Who am I?”: With the help of the 'Onion Game', emphasising the variability of identity from time to time, place to place, person to person. (20 min)
- “Untangle the Tangle”: An energiser, whose conclusion draws attention to the collective solutions of problems. (10 min)
- “Let's Talk About Youth”: What are the problems of youth in Turkey? How can we solve these? Discussion. (30 min)
- “What is Civil Society?”: Explanation of the concept 'Active Citizenship.' (20 min)
- “What Are The Opportunities We Have?” Introduction of the Life- Long Learning Programme, the American Field Service (AFS), and international and local youth NGOs. (10 min)
- Evaluation (15 min)
MOBILE TRAININGS CALENDAR
Mersin:16 February 2007 Mersin Tarsus Toros Private High School
Ankara: 01 March 2007 METU Development Foundation Private High School1 June 2007 TED Ankara College Foundation High School12 June 2007 Ayrancý High School
Ýzmir: 3 April 2007 Konak Karataº High School4 April 2007 Ýzmir Anadolu High School4 April 2007 Balçova Commerce and Anatolian Commerce Vocational High School
Erzurum: 12 April 2007 Erzurum Anatolian High School13 April 2007 Erzurum High School13 April 2007 Ýstiklal College Private High School
Diyarbakýr: 12 April 2007 Nevzat Ayaz Anatolian High School12 April 2007 Ziya Gökalp High School13 April 2007 Diyarbakýr Anatolian High School13 April 2007 Ortadoðu Private High School
Antalya: 19 April 2007 Karatay High School20 April 2007 Yusuf Ziya Öner Science High School20 April 2007 Antalya Private High School
Samsun: 26 April 2007 Ondokuz Mayýs High School27 April 2007 Samsun Anatolian High School27 April 2007 Samsun Science High School
Ýstanbul:30 April 2007 Ýstanbul Zografion High School01 May 2007 Kadýköy Anatolian High School01 May 2007 Üsküdar High School
Pilot Training in Mersin
The pilot training in Mersin Tarsus Toros Private High School took place on 16 February 2007, when our excitement and curiosity reached the peak… We were just back from the Training for Trainers (T4T) and we were planning how to proceed with the Mobile Trainings.
Whilst we were discussing which methods to use for better explaining the concepts such as “European Identity and Active Citizenship”, we got a chance to realise a pilot training. The interest of Ali Özveren, owner of the Toros Institutions, Hüseyin Erçin, the principal of Tarsus Toros Private High School and English teacher Müzehher Önal in our project encouraged us even more.
As I was in Mersin on those days, I delivered the training. I began the workshop, in which approximately 15 students participated, with an ice-breaking game and continued with “What is Europe? Identities, Problems of Youth in Turkey etc.” Then, when I was back in Ankara, I shared my experiences with my team-mates, and hence, contributed in the finalisation of the training content preparations. Among the participants, Tuncay Kocaman, Kevser Kaya and Güngör Boro published an article about AEGEE-Europe and our training on the school newspaper, whereas Gamze Avcý and Nida Sönmez attended the Understanding Europe Project Summer Camp.
Burcu ÖnalSummer Camp Incoming Responsible
Mobile Trainings
36
2007 Mobile Trainings
37
2007
school year.
1 In Turkey, there exist different types of high schools. Four of them are: General High Schools, Anatolian High Schools, Private High Schools and Vocational High Schools. Among those, language of instruction in General High Schools is Turkish, whereas Anatolian High Schools and Private High Schools (also, called College or Foreign Language High School) give special attention to foreign language teaching. Science High Schools are focused on Natural Sciences education, whilst Vocational High Schools, as their name suggests, prepare students for employment in various occupations, or for higher education.
Mobile Trainings, March - June 2007
Within the course of the Mobile Trainings, a total of 22 high schools including General High Schools, Anatolian High Schools, Private High Schools and
1Vocational High Schools that have different socio-cultural backgrounds and education systems, and located in Ankara, Ýstanbul, Ýzmir, Antalya, Diyarbakýr, Erzurum and Samsun were visited. The cities were chosen in consideration that each province represents a geographical region in Turkey. In the visited schools, the project team members delivered 2-2,5 hour-long workshops on “Europe and Youth: Problems, Solutions and Opportunities” aiming to inform the students about topics such as “Youth, Civil Society and Active Citizenship” in addition to raising their awareness on Europe related issues. Moreover, a pilot training was held in Mersin Tarsus Toros Private High School in February 2007.
The Mobile Trainings were based on interactive nonformal education methods, in which the main actors were students. At the end of the workshops, the participating students were given a question-naire, measuring their opinions and knowledge on Europe related issues as well as the success of the workshops. The questionnaire was taken from the one prepared by the Turkish Social Scientists Association in the framework of the “Turkish Youth Is Speaking; The Opinions of the Youth on Turkey's EU Accession Process and Her Membership Project.” The results are published in this result book.
Under the Mobile Trainings, it was also targeted to initiate establishment of “European Clubs” in high schools, where students interested in Europe related issues can take part, organise events, experience participatory democracy and learn how to become active citizens. In this respect, students from Ýzmir Anatolian High School, Ýzmir Karataþ High School, Antalya Karatay High School and Samsun Science High School, who also participated in the Summer Camp of the Understanding Europe Project, began engaging in such activities during the 2007-2008
Sample Training Content:- Introduction & Ice-Breaking Games (10 min)
- “Who are we?”: Introduction of AEGEE, AEGEE-Ankara and the Understanding Europe Project (15 min)
- “Tell Me About (Your) Europe”: What is Europe? By showing maps of Europe in different stages of history, discussing “Which one is Europe?” (20 min)
- “Who am I?”: With the help of the 'Onion Game', emphasising the variability of identity from time to time, place to place, person to person. (20 min)
- “Untangle the Tangle”: An energiser, whose conclusion draws attention to the collective solutions of problems. (10 min)
- “Let's Talk About Youth”: What are the problems of youth in Turkey? How can we solve these? Discussion. (30 min)
- “What is Civil Society?”: Explanation of the concept 'Active Citizenship.' (20 min)
- “What Are The Opportunities We Have?” Introduction of the Life- Long Learning Programme, the American Field Service (AFS), and international and local youth NGOs. (10 min)
- Evaluation (15 min)
MOBILE TRAININGS CALENDAR
Mersin:16 February 2007 Mersin Tarsus Toros Private High School
Ankara: 01 March 2007 METU Development Foundation Private High School1 June 2007 TED Ankara College Foundation High School12 June 2007 Ayrancý High School
Ýzmir: 3 April 2007 Konak Karataº High School4 April 2007 Ýzmir Anadolu High School4 April 2007 Balçova Commerce and Anatolian Commerce Vocational High School
Erzurum: 12 April 2007 Erzurum Anatolian High School13 April 2007 Erzurum High School13 April 2007 Ýstiklal College Private High School
Diyarbakýr: 12 April 2007 Nevzat Ayaz Anatolian High School12 April 2007 Ziya Gökalp High School13 April 2007 Diyarbakýr Anatolian High School13 April 2007 Ortadoðu Private High School
Antalya: 19 April 2007 Karatay High School20 April 2007 Yusuf Ziya Öner Science High School20 April 2007 Antalya Private High School
Samsun: 26 April 2007 Ondokuz Mayýs High School27 April 2007 Samsun Anatolian High School27 April 2007 Samsun Science High School
Ýstanbul:30 April 2007 Ýstanbul Zografion High School01 May 2007 Kadýköy Anatolian High School01 May 2007 Üsküdar High School
Pilot Training in Mersin
The pilot training in Mersin Tarsus Toros Private High School took place on 16 February 2007, when our excitement and curiosity reached the peak… We were just back from the Training for Trainers (T4T) and we were planning how to proceed with the Mobile Trainings.
Whilst we were discussing which methods to use for better explaining the concepts such as “European Identity and Active Citizenship”, we got a chance to realise a pilot training. The interest of Ali Özveren, owner of the Toros Institutions, Hüseyin Erçin, the principal of Tarsus Toros Private High School and English teacher Müzehher Önal in our project encouraged us even more.
As I was in Mersin on those days, I delivered the training. I began the workshop, in which approximately 15 students participated, with an ice-breaking game and continued with “What is Europe? Identities, Problems of Youth in Turkey etc.” Then, when I was back in Ankara, I shared my experiences with my team-mates, and hence, contributed in the finalisation of the training content preparations. Among the participants, Tuncay Kocaman, Kevser Kaya and Güngör Boro published an article about AEGEE-Europe and our training on the school newspaper, whereas Gamze Avcý and Nida Sönmez attended the Understanding Europe Project Summer Camp.
Burcu ÖnalSummer Camp Incoming Responsible
38 39
And I am in my city, at my home, where I was born, grew up and that I left. In my words, the city with warm winds and sea odour... The f i r s t s t e p o f t h e M o b i l e Trainings… The excitement, anxiety and bustle of being the first... Did we take the folders? Are
questionnaires ready? Maps? Let's check it again! Did we take the post-its?
Finally, all the questions were answered and we were ready to tell about Europe, to listen to their Europe. We were there to make them talk. We started our conversation with their Europe and met new definitions of Europe that we have not thought nor known before. Different maps of Europe confused our minds. Where were the borders of Europe? Was Turkey included in it? Or was there no borders at all? As all students, we also thought, fell into confusion, learned once again and reshaped our 'Europe's.
What was Europe? Why were we repeating it so many times? Where was it? At where, in which of our thoughts? At that point, with the Onion Ring game, we turned to ourselves, stopped around our identity and asked ourselves; “Who I am?” According to the results of the game, we were all young, students and from Ýzmir and we had problems as we had solutions... A common identity, common problems and common solutions… There existed not only problems; but also opportunities for youth such as AFS, Erasmus, and the Youth Programme in addition to AEGEE, of which they will hopefully be a member once they become university students.
Indeed, all we wanted was to make them think more and question. All of our efforts were for raising awareness, increasing the number of question marks. Their shy looks when we first met and their sincerity during our departure, their wish to be together for one more hour and their endeavour to keep in touch with us in the future revealed that we reached at least some of them. It was a pleasure to see the success of the project we have believed, tried and worked on. All of those students, their interest, attention and participation took all our tiredness
away and with a cup of tea we drank at Pasaport during the sunset converted our exhaustion into an excitement of reaching new students with this project. Every project team member shared such kind of feelings and experiences at his/her return to Ankara and each time, our emotions were nourished with what we listened to. As a result, we decided to come together with those high school students once again in the Summer Camp.
I gained more than I put in this project, made friends and had beneficial experiences. Now, I remember my very first attendance to the Understanding Europe Project meeting. In one of my sentences, I said “your project.” They answered “Why not it also becomes your project?” They were right; for more than one year, the Understanding Europe is my project too and I belong to the team. Our project is coming to its end, thus, we are sad; however, there are new ones waiting for us…
With love…
Tuðba KESKÝNProject Team Member
Mobile Trainings : Ýzmir 2007 Mobile Trainings : Diyarbakýr 2007
again.” they said, possibly to the people that gave them some chance to speak out on such topics and that care about them for the first time in their lives.
The next day, our first school was Ziya Gökalp High School. It was an old, a kind of demolished place. Some teachers stared at us in the eye as if we were committing some sort of fault. Whose was the fault in this matter? Was it the mentality that rises up students, who are scared to seek even a little freedom of speech? Or was it the teacher that keeps coming up with problems, claiming that the students will understand none of the training content? Teaching was indeed a major profession; but was it for everyone?
Ziya Gökalp High School was a general high school; but the knowledge, motivation and interest of its students were definitely enough. The only missing thing was probably the opportunities doubtlessly. Opportunities that their peers in different cities already enjoy... We left the place with a bit of a sour feeling; but we were pleased to having touched them, their lives.
We started our mobile training adventure in Diyarbakýr with all our curiosity, anxiety and fears. We were travelling to train in a city that we have never been before, never known a great deal about its culture. How were the students in Diyarbakýr going to w e l c o m e u s , a n d m o r e importantly, how much help
could we offer them to enlighten the way in front of them? These questions remained as we discussed. We tried to foresee the problems we could face and create solutions for them. And then, we hit the road…
It was a peculiar feeling. We had been working for this very moment for two years and we had taken every risk and travelled city-by-city, one right after the other. Full of such thoughts, we arrived in Nevzat Ayaz Anatolian High School. Gülece, Zeynep, Barbaros and me; four different people, working, putting forth a lot of effort, getting excited for the same goal. We stared at each others' faces, wished good luck and commenced the training… Hanging up the posters, arranging the desks and preparing the classroom as well as ourselves for the big meeting. How beautiful the faces of students were, how careful they were, while watching us…
At first, students seemed anxious; but warmed up to us easily. For one thing, they had high, thick walls surrounding, and possibly, alienating them from anything as well as any “stranger.” How easy it was to tear down those walls, in fact, just by expressing your feelings, your sincerity.
Our second stop was Diyarbakýr Anatolian High School. In the problems – solutions section of the training, they all complained about being isolated only because they were from Diyarbakýr… This was really interesting as we were all youngsters of the same country, and breathing the same air. We chatted, discussed about the matters, the opportunities they could chase as much as we could. The sparkling eyes we saw simply took all our exhaustion away. “Come
38 39
And I am in my city, at my home, where I was born, grew up and that I left. In my words, the city with warm winds and sea odour... The f i r s t s t e p o f t h e M o b i l e Trainings… The excitement, anxiety and bustle of being the first... Did we take the folders? Are
questionnaires ready? Maps? Let's check it again! Did we take the post-its?
Finally, all the questions were answered and we were ready to tell about Europe, to listen to their Europe. We were there to make them talk. We started our conversation with their Europe and met new definitions of Europe that we have not thought nor known before. Different maps of Europe confused our minds. Where were the borders of Europe? Was Turkey included in it? Or was there no borders at all? As all students, we also thought, fell into confusion, learned once again and reshaped our 'Europe's.
What was Europe? Why were we repeating it so many times? Where was it? At where, in which of our thoughts? At that point, with the Onion Ring game, we turned to ourselves, stopped around our identity and asked ourselves; “Who I am?” According to the results of the game, we were all young, students and from Ýzmir and we had problems as we had solutions... A common identity, common problems and common solutions… There existed not only problems; but also opportunities for youth such as AFS, Erasmus, and the Youth Programme in addition to AEGEE, of which they will hopefully be a member once they become university students.
Indeed, all we wanted was to make them think more and question. All of our efforts were for raising awareness, increasing the number of question marks. Their shy looks when we first met and their sincerity during our departure, their wish to be together for one more hour and their endeavour to keep in touch with us in the future revealed that we reached at least some of them. It was a pleasure to see the success of the project we have believed, tried and worked on. All of those students, their interest, attention and participation took all our tiredness
away and with a cup of tea we drank at Pasaport during the sunset converted our exhaustion into an excitement of reaching new students with this project. Every project team member shared such kind of feelings and experiences at his/her return to Ankara and each time, our emotions were nourished with what we listened to. As a result, we decided to come together with those high school students once again in the Summer Camp.
I gained more than I put in this project, made friends and had beneficial experiences. Now, I remember my very first attendance to the Understanding Europe Project meeting. In one of my sentences, I said “your project.” They answered “Why not it also becomes your project?” They were right; for more than one year, the Understanding Europe is my project too and I belong to the team. Our project is coming to its end, thus, we are sad; however, there are new ones waiting for us…
With love…
Tuðba KESKÝNProject Team Member
Mobile Trainings : Ýzmir 2007 Mobile Trainings : Diyarbakýr 2007
again.” they said, possibly to the people that gave them some chance to speak out on such topics and that care about them for the first time in their lives.
The next day, our first school was Ziya Gökalp High School. It was an old, a kind of demolished place. Some teachers stared at us in the eye as if we were committing some sort of fault. Whose was the fault in this matter? Was it the mentality that rises up students, who are scared to seek even a little freedom of speech? Or was it the teacher that keeps coming up with problems, claiming that the students will understand none of the training content? Teaching was indeed a major profession; but was it for everyone?
Ziya Gökalp High School was a general high school; but the knowledge, motivation and interest of its students were definitely enough. The only missing thing was probably the opportunities doubtlessly. Opportunities that their peers in different cities already enjoy... We left the place with a bit of a sour feeling; but we were pleased to having touched them, their lives.
We started our mobile training adventure in Diyarbakýr with all our curiosity, anxiety and fears. We were travelling to train in a city that we have never been before, never known a great deal about its culture. How were the students in Diyarbakýr going to w e l c o m e u s , a n d m o r e importantly, how much help
could we offer them to enlighten the way in front of them? These questions remained as we discussed. We tried to foresee the problems we could face and create solutions for them. And then, we hit the road…
It was a peculiar feeling. We had been working for this very moment for two years and we had taken every risk and travelled city-by-city, one right after the other. Full of such thoughts, we arrived in Nevzat Ayaz Anatolian High School. Gülece, Zeynep, Barbaros and me; four different people, working, putting forth a lot of effort, getting excited for the same goal. We stared at each others' faces, wished good luck and commenced the training… Hanging up the posters, arranging the desks and preparing the classroom as well as ourselves for the big meeting. How beautiful the faces of students were, how careful they were, while watching us…
At first, students seemed anxious; but warmed up to us easily. For one thing, they had high, thick walls surrounding, and possibly, alienating them from anything as well as any “stranger.” How easy it was to tear down those walls, in fact, just by expressing your feelings, your sincerity.
Our second stop was Diyarbakýr Anatolian High School. In the problems – solutions section of the training, they all complained about being isolated only because they were from Diyarbakýr… This was really interesting as we were all youngsters of the same country, and breathing the same air. We chatted, discussed about the matters, the opportunities they could chase as much as we could. The sparkling eyes we saw simply took all our exhaustion away. “Come
Mobile Trainings : Diyarbakýr
40
2007
41
2007
The next stop was Ortadoðu Private High School. Their families seemed to have higher income. They were brought up in better conditions; maybe they were not familiar with the problems their peers in the other parts of the city were facing. Towards the end of our training, reporters from Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) visited our classroom to shoot the scenery.
We returned Ankara carrying a pleasant smile and the satisfaction of a fulfilled effort on our faces. Many thanks to Ramazan Çakmak, Celil Altýntas, AEGEE – Diyarbakýr, the Diyarbakýr Provincial Directorate of Education and the school administrations that gave us the chance to realise this project, as well as to student participated in the trainings, and teachers, who supported us and who did not. Thanks to anyone involved in and contributed to this project even though they were not with us.
For the Understanding Europe Project, this was not an end, of course. Indeed, it is a great beginning…
Burcu ÖnalSummer Camp Incoming Responsible
On 12 April 2007, we arrived in Erzurum and there, we realised trainings under the framework of the Understanding Europe Project in Erzurum High School, Erzurum Anatolian High School as well as Ýstiklal Private High School.
In our two-hour long training, besides having discussions on 'Europe' related subjects, we tried to raise awareness of students about the necessity of tolerance towards different cultures and values in addition to the essence of being critical to one's own values within the education system. Then, at the end of the part about identities and values, we told them about the opportunities that they have in front of them during their educational life. Unfortunately, beforehand they were not aware of the youth organisations and the events they can actively work or attend to. On the other hand, from the moment of our arrival in Erzurum until our departure, we were amazed by the hospitality of the President of AEGEE-Erzurum, Sait Emeç, and the sincere attitude of the students and teachers in the schools we visited.
In spite of the recent increasing trend of the militaristic ideology and events all around Turkey and the world, the students were open to new ideas. Their interest in Europe as well as their happiness after the training proved us that we succeeded.
At the end of two days, with the confidence of what the participants can do for themselves and for Erzurum in the future, we came back to our home. We hope that using what they have learned during the trainings, they will route their lives in a completely different direction from now on as well as guide their successors.
Moreover, we also learned from them and Erzurum. The delicious food of Erzurum was a part of our learning…
Buðra AhlatcýProject Team Member
Buðra (trainer), while observing team work
Mobile Trainings : Erzurum
Mobile Trainings : Diyarbakýr
40
2007
41
2007
The next stop was Ortadoðu Private High School. Their families seemed to have higher income. They were brought up in better conditions; maybe they were not familiar with the problems their peers in the other parts of the city were facing. Towards the end of our training, reporters from Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) visited our classroom to shoot the scenery.
We returned Ankara carrying a pleasant smile and the satisfaction of a fulfilled effort on our faces. Many thanks to Ramazan Çakmak, Celil Altýntas, AEGEE – Diyarbakýr, the Diyarbakýr Provincial Directorate of Education and the school administrations that gave us the chance to realise this project, as well as to student participated in the trainings, and teachers, who supported us and who did not. Thanks to anyone involved in and contributed to this project even though they were not with us.
For the Understanding Europe Project, this was not an end, of course. Indeed, it is a great beginning…
Burcu ÖnalSummer Camp Incoming Responsible
On 12 April 2007, we arrived in Erzurum and there, we realised trainings under the framework of the Understanding Europe Project in Erzurum High School, Erzurum Anatolian High School as well as Ýstiklal Private High School.
In our two-hour long training, besides having discussions on 'Europe' related subjects, we tried to raise awareness of students about the necessity of tolerance towards different cultures and values in addition to the essence of being critical to one's own values within the education system. Then, at the end of the part about identities and values, we told them about the opportunities that they have in front of them during their educational life. Unfortunately, beforehand they were not aware of the youth organisations and the events they can actively work or attend to. On the other hand, from the moment of our arrival in Erzurum until our departure, we were amazed by the hospitality of the President of AEGEE-Erzurum, Sait Emeç, and the sincere attitude of the students and teachers in the schools we visited.
In spite of the recent increasing trend of the militaristic ideology and events all around Turkey and the world, the students were open to new ideas. Their interest in Europe as well as their happiness after the training proved us that we succeeded.
At the end of two days, with the confidence of what the participants can do for themselves and for Erzurum in the future, we came back to our home. We hope that using what they have learned during the trainings, they will route their lives in a completely different direction from now on as well as guide their successors.
Moreover, we also learned from them and Erzurum. The delicious food of Erzurum was a part of our learning…
Buðra AhlatcýProject Team Member
Buðra (trainer), while observing team work
Mobile Trainings : Erzurum
42
2007
43
2007
In the third school, Antalya Private High School, the Assistant Principal Mrs. Nurdan Mete assisted us. To make an evaluation, we should split these students into two categories; one group not being interested in anything, and the other being more enthusiastic and participative during the training. Furthermore, the second group was more sensitive towards the social and political problems arising in their environment as well as being more open to learn new things.
In general, all students from Antalya were relatively more tolerant to changes and dissimilarities compared to the students living in the Eastern cities. The Understanding Europe Project was just a start to give high school students a chance to raise their voice and to help them become more sensitive and conscious individuals. I believe that increasing the number of such projects will be very useful for the youth, thus, for the future of Turkey.
Cansu AlbayrakTreasurer
A l t h o u g h w e w e r e experienced from other mobile trainings, we didn't know what we will face, when we landed in Antalya Airport on 18 April 2007 at night for the fourth mobile training of our project.
Next day our first training was in Karatay High School, where 39 students were waiting for us, Semih and me. Thanks to the interest of the students in the subject, despite the greater number of students than we expected, the training was efficient. Comparing the profile of students in Erzurum and Antalya, the ones in the latter were more open-minded regarding the issues related to “Europe and the European Union”, and were more respectful towards different identities and cultures, maybe due to the great number of tourists in that region. The students of Karatay High School showed their interest by asking questions even after the training. Hearing from the Deputy Principal Mr. Erim Öncel that recently many projects were carried out and the school administration was supporting the students' involvement in such projects was promising.
The second school in Antalya was Yusuf Ziya Öner Science High School. The Principal Mr. Ahmet Demir helped us a lot with everything including our transportation to the school. The students of Science High School were relatively disinterested in the subjects compared to the students from other schools. Most of the students were evaluating everything in the framework of Natural Sciences like Maths and Physics. In this school, the level of self-confidence of students was drawing attention. On the other hand, when they began to talk about social issues such as the problems regarding their environment and their lives, unfortunately, they were not showing the same level of self-esteem. In those situations, their rhetoric of “We are privileged students.” was leaving its place to “But, what we can do? What we can change?”
Mobile Trainings : Antalya Mobile Trainings : Samsun
Indeed, We Grew Up…
During the beginning of spring, my experience of the Black Sea region, which was limited only to Amasra, enlarged with another unforgettable one by the addition of Samsun to my Understanding Europe Project
map via the trainings in 19 Mayýs High School, Samsun Anatolian High School and Samsun Science High School.
Indeed, we grew up… I understood it after preparing the content of the Mobile Trainings, during our enjoyable trip to Samsun in the evening of 25 April 2007, in front of the door of 19 Mayýs High School and while arranging the class for the training; just in front of 25 students; whilst thinking that “We are doing a great job with this project.” during giving examples from ourselves, from life in front of the blackboard, in the U-shaped class, and feeling the respect of the students, even though some of them were happy for only postponing an exam…
As a person being in the Understanding Europe Project Group from the very beginning, I only got a clear vision of what we were actually doing and trying to reach once I was with the students and smelling the odour of class which I missed. Then, I found myself associating those moments with my own high school years, as well as the choices I have made…
Would my life be different, if some university students have entered the class of 9-D in 2001, and have endeavoured to make us speak, have asked our problems and their possible solutions, have told about different times and places in the world, as well as a student somewhere in Europe and what s/he was doing, about our potential of deciding, doing something and being active? I might have chosen Turkish- Maths track instead of Maths- Science track; I might have taken stronger steps for my future. Maybe I would not have been affected, and would have
continued to study under my desk for my next exam.
Doubtlessly, the Understanding Europe Project had different meanings for the students of three high schools. Some were interested, some were not, some asked questions, some did not speak at all, some laughed, some disliked us; but I am sure that we left them with some question marks in their minds. They all changed with the training content, which was completely new for them.
Neither these three schools nor the students were similar. They were different in their families, habits, perspectives, life styles even in their laughters. While sticking the colourful post-its, on which they wrote what Europe meant to them, we told them to be tolerant towards different opinions in addition to respecting their own thoughts.
Actually, our relations with each other as the Samsun team before and after the training were also a part of the things that we were trying to learn and
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In the third school, Antalya Private High School, the Assistant Principal Mrs. Nurdan Mete assisted us. To make an evaluation, we should split these students into two categories; one group not being interested in anything, and the other being more enthusiastic and participative during the training. Furthermore, the second group was more sensitive towards the social and political problems arising in their environment as well as being more open to learn new things.
In general, all students from Antalya were relatively more tolerant to changes and dissimilarities compared to the students living in the Eastern cities. The Understanding Europe Project was just a start to give high school students a chance to raise their voice and to help them become more sensitive and conscious individuals. I believe that increasing the number of such projects will be very useful for the youth, thus, for the future of Turkey.
Cansu AlbayrakTreasurer
A l t h o u g h w e w e r e experienced from other mobile trainings, we didn't know what we will face, when we landed in Antalya Airport on 18 April 2007 at night for the fourth mobile training of our project.
Next day our first training was in Karatay High School, where 39 students were waiting for us, Semih and me. Thanks to the interest of the students in the subject, despite the greater number of students than we expected, the training was efficient. Comparing the profile of students in Erzurum and Antalya, the ones in the latter were more open-minded regarding the issues related to “Europe and the European Union”, and were more respectful towards different identities and cultures, maybe due to the great number of tourists in that region. The students of Karatay High School showed their interest by asking questions even after the training. Hearing from the Deputy Principal Mr. Erim Öncel that recently many projects were carried out and the school administration was supporting the students' involvement in such projects was promising.
The second school in Antalya was Yusuf Ziya Öner Science High School. The Principal Mr. Ahmet Demir helped us a lot with everything including our transportation to the school. The students of Science High School were relatively disinterested in the subjects compared to the students from other schools. Most of the students were evaluating everything in the framework of Natural Sciences like Maths and Physics. In this school, the level of self-confidence of students was drawing attention. On the other hand, when they began to talk about social issues such as the problems regarding their environment and their lives, unfortunately, they were not showing the same level of self-esteem. In those situations, their rhetoric of “We are privileged students.” was leaving its place to “But, what we can do? What we can change?”
Mobile Trainings : Antalya Mobile Trainings : Samsun
Indeed, We Grew Up…
During the beginning of spring, my experience of the Black Sea region, which was limited only to Amasra, enlarged with another unforgettable one by the addition of Samsun to my Understanding Europe Project
map via the trainings in 19 Mayýs High School, Samsun Anatolian High School and Samsun Science High School.
Indeed, we grew up… I understood it after preparing the content of the Mobile Trainings, during our enjoyable trip to Samsun in the evening of 25 April 2007, in front of the door of 19 Mayýs High School and while arranging the class for the training; just in front of 25 students; whilst thinking that “We are doing a great job with this project.” during giving examples from ourselves, from life in front of the blackboard, in the U-shaped class, and feeling the respect of the students, even though some of them were happy for only postponing an exam…
As a person being in the Understanding Europe Project Group from the very beginning, I only got a clear vision of what we were actually doing and trying to reach once I was with the students and smelling the odour of class which I missed. Then, I found myself associating those moments with my own high school years, as well as the choices I have made…
Would my life be different, if some university students have entered the class of 9-D in 2001, and have endeavoured to make us speak, have asked our problems and their possible solutions, have told about different times and places in the world, as well as a student somewhere in Europe and what s/he was doing, about our potential of deciding, doing something and being active? I might have chosen Turkish- Maths track instead of Maths- Science track; I might have taken stronger steps for my future. Maybe I would not have been affected, and would have
continued to study under my desk for my next exam.
Doubtlessly, the Understanding Europe Project had different meanings for the students of three high schools. Some were interested, some were not, some asked questions, some did not speak at all, some laughed, some disliked us; but I am sure that we left them with some question marks in their minds. They all changed with the training content, which was completely new for them.
Neither these three schools nor the students were similar. They were different in their families, habits, perspectives, life styles even in their laughters. While sticking the colourful post-its, on which they wrote what Europe meant to them, we told them to be tolerant towards different opinions in addition to respecting their own thoughts.
Actually, our relations with each other as the Samsun team before and after the training were also a part of the things that we were trying to learn and
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2007Mobile Trainings : Samsun Mobile Trainings : Ýstanbul
teach.
Samsun was a step of our two year-long efforts… Whilst asking the students to tell about their Europe, I also drew my own borders for Europe. As I said before, being aware of the fact that we were learning and clarifying our own opinions besides struggling to teach was a sign of our growth…
So, was it the end?
No, because it is just starting. With the students from other provinces, the ones in Samsun will shape this beginning, while they are growing up…
If we have boosted their curiosity for further research and inquiry anyhow, this should be our beginning and the end…
Finally, I want thank everybody, teachers, students and especially, Ziya Sürmeli, the Principal of 19 Mayýs High School, for everything.
Hope to meet again someday…
Bahar ÖzcanExternal Relations Responsible
brilliance on the faces of students took our stress away.
In my opinion, visiting the Zogrofion Greek High School in the framework of the Understanding Europe Project was important. It is one of the few minority schools in Turkey and the student profile in this school was different than the others. These students questioned Europe more, were more active and were thinking out of the box. Doubtlessly, both the youngsters in this school and the ones in the other two contributed to my perspective. I am glad to be a member of this project…
Buðra AhlatcýProject Team Member
On the way back from AGORA, the General Assemble of AEGEE, on 30 April 2007, being tired of long distances as well as sleepless nights led me to have some concerns regarding the mobile trainings in Istanbul. However, combining my knowledge with the
experiences I gained as a member of AEGEE during the last 7 months and the skills I acquainted via the T4T, showed me that there was nothing worry. In addition, being with Gülece, Barboros, Fatma and Uður made the mobile trainings in Istanbul more amusing and unforgettable. On the other hand, our trainings coincided with the May 1 demonstrations. Even though we had to walk to schools since all the roads were banned to vehicles, it was another experience for us. Moreover, in Üsküdar High School, Kadýköy Anatolian High School and Zografion Greek High School, the schools we visited, the gladness and
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2007Mobile Trainings : Samsun Mobile Trainings : Ýstanbul
teach.
Samsun was a step of our two year-long efforts… Whilst asking the students to tell about their Europe, I also drew my own borders for Europe. As I said before, being aware of the fact that we were learning and clarifying our own opinions besides struggling to teach was a sign of our growth…
So, was it the end?
No, because it is just starting. With the students from other provinces, the ones in Samsun will shape this beginning, while they are growing up…
If we have boosted their curiosity for further research and inquiry anyhow, this should be our beginning and the end…
Finally, I want thank everybody, teachers, students and especially, Ziya Sürmeli, the Principal of 19 Mayýs High School, for everything.
Hope to meet again someday…
Bahar ÖzcanExternal Relations Responsible
brilliance on the faces of students took our stress away.
In my opinion, visiting the Zogrofion Greek High School in the framework of the Understanding Europe Project was important. It is one of the few minority schools in Turkey and the student profile in this school was different than the others. These students questioned Europe more, were more active and were thinking out of the box. Doubtlessly, both the youngsters in this school and the ones in the other two contributed to my perspective. I am glad to be a member of this project…
Buðra AhlatcýProject Team Member
On the way back from AGORA, the General Assemble of AEGEE, on 30 April 2007, being tired of long distances as well as sleepless nights led me to have some concerns regarding the mobile trainings in Istanbul. However, combining my knowledge with the
experiences I gained as a member of AEGEE during the last 7 months and the skills I acquainted via the T4T, showed me that there was nothing worry. In addition, being with Gülece, Barboros, Fatma and Uður made the mobile trainings in Istanbul more amusing and unforgettable. On the other hand, our trainings coincided with the May 1 demonstrations. Even though we had to walk to schools since all the roads were banned to vehicles, it was another experience for us. Moreover, in Üsküdar High School, Kadýköy Anatolian High School and Zografion Greek High School, the schools we visited, the gladness and
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2007Mobile Trainings : Ankara Mobile Trainings : Ankara
“Understanding and Explaining Europe…” These words do not only constitute the name of the project, but also explain our purpose in the best way. Project members, who had tried to u n d e r s t a n d ' Eu ro p e ' by organising Seminars on Europe, were preparing to take the
project one step forward. Ankara has been hosting the project since the beginning and it was planned to realise the first trainings in this city. Training plans and content preparations that took days and nights… Finally, it was the time for the first pilot implementation.
The first destination of the project members was Middle East Technical University (METU) Development Foundation Private High School. The training began with a little excitement, a little scare, and ended up with the happiness of starting the most important part of the project successfully. Mistakes and missing parts were recognised during this pilot training, and in order to correct them, long meetings were held once more. In this respect, the first implementation reached its aim; while helping us overcome our timidity, it also deepened the training content. Then, project team members travelled Turkey from one end to the other. Ýzmir, Erzurum, Diyarbakýr, Antalya, Samsun and Ýstanbul were visited and trainings were done in different high schools, all accomplished with success.
And it was again Ankara… Our intention was to visit as many high schools as possible, and reach many students in this city by using the advantage of living in Ankara. However, the problems related to permissions from the Local Education Authorities led us to visit less schools than planned and unfortunately, these visits took place at the very last week of the semester.
In Ankara, after the pilot training in METU Foundation Private High School, our second stop was TED Ankara College Foundation High School. Our colleagues Gülece Þenel, Ahmet Eren Öztürk, Gözde
Öztürk and Ý. Barbaros Çörekoðlu completed their training on 1 June 2007 with the participation of more than 50 students. As in this case, all through the Understanding Europe Project, some of us had the chance to realise trainings in the high schools we graduated from. Doubtlessly, this was a pleasure for those; to be trainers and be able to contribute to their previous schools, where they got ready for their current lives.
The third and the last school we went was Ayrancý High School. Together with Ayþe Banu, although we were experienced from our previous trainings in different cities, we were still feeling excited for meeting different students and facing different reactions. As we all remember from our high school days, the classes were almost empty in the last week of the semester. However, we were lucky that the students of one class were present due to an exam. We proceeded with games, discussions and information sharing in our class of 16 students, and two hours passed at a glance. During our departure, we were very happy and also,
hoping to have left some question marks in their minds and lead them to discuss these among each other…
Ankara, the city, where the Mobile Trainings began, was also our last stop. The project left behind happy and proud project members and more than 1500 high school students, who were trained by them…
Hande BozkurtSummer Camp Logistics Responsible
A usual follow-up meeting which took place after every single training
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2007Mobile Trainings : Ankara Mobile Trainings : Ankara
“Understanding and Explaining Europe…” These words do not only constitute the name of the project, but also explain our purpose in the best way. Project members, who had tried to u n d e r s t a n d ' Eu ro p e ' by organising Seminars on Europe, were preparing to take the
project one step forward. Ankara has been hosting the project since the beginning and it was planned to realise the first trainings in this city. Training plans and content preparations that took days and nights… Finally, it was the time for the first pilot implementation.
The first destination of the project members was Middle East Technical University (METU) Development Foundation Private High School. The training began with a little excitement, a little scare, and ended up with the happiness of starting the most important part of the project successfully. Mistakes and missing parts were recognised during this pilot training, and in order to correct them, long meetings were held once more. In this respect, the first implementation reached its aim; while helping us overcome our timidity, it also deepened the training content. Then, project team members travelled Turkey from one end to the other. Ýzmir, Erzurum, Diyarbakýr, Antalya, Samsun and Ýstanbul were visited and trainings were done in different high schools, all accomplished with success.
And it was again Ankara… Our intention was to visit as many high schools as possible, and reach many students in this city by using the advantage of living in Ankara. However, the problems related to permissions from the Local Education Authorities led us to visit less schools than planned and unfortunately, these visits took place at the very last week of the semester.
In Ankara, after the pilot training in METU Foundation Private High School, our second stop was TED Ankara College Foundation High School. Our colleagues Gülece Þenel, Ahmet Eren Öztürk, Gözde
Öztürk and Ý. Barbaros Çörekoðlu completed their training on 1 June 2007 with the participation of more than 50 students. As in this case, all through the Understanding Europe Project, some of us had the chance to realise trainings in the high schools we graduated from. Doubtlessly, this was a pleasure for those; to be trainers and be able to contribute to their previous schools, where they got ready for their current lives.
The third and the last school we went was Ayrancý High School. Together with Ayþe Banu, although we were experienced from our previous trainings in different cities, we were still feeling excited for meeting different students and facing different reactions. As we all remember from our high school days, the classes were almost empty in the last week of the semester. However, we were lucky that the students of one class were present due to an exam. We proceeded with games, discussions and information sharing in our class of 16 students, and two hours passed at a glance. During our departure, we were very happy and also,
hoping to have left some question marks in their minds and lead them to discuss these among each other…
Ankara, the city, where the Mobile Trainings began, was also our last stop. The project left behind happy and proud project members and more than 1500 high school students, who were trained by them…
Hande BozkurtSummer Camp Logistics Responsible
A usual follow-up meeting which took place after every single training
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49
Trainers and the Cities They Visited
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2007 2007Mobile Trainings Mobile Trainings
49
Trainers and the Cities They Visited
50 51
Survey Results Survey Results
MOBILE TRAININGS SURVEY RESULTS
In the framework of the Mobile Trainings, in order to measure the trainings' effectiveness as well as to learn the opinions of high school students on Europe related issues, a survey was conducted.
The survey includes a total of 20 open and closed ended questions. The number of valid survey is 851. To analyse the survey, 44 variables were defined and the SPSS program was used.
Especially in the open-ended questions as well as some others, the missing answer ratio reached 25%; however, due to the size of the sample, this was not recorded as an error.
Although there were not any questions measuring the level of knowledge, some questions challenged the students. Moreover, it is obvious that the students were bored as there were too many open-ended questions. Besides this, it is worth to note that surveys were not conducted in every school and in every city. Diyarbakýr is ranked at the first place with 214 surveys, whereas Erzurum and Ýzmir follow it with 146 surveys. The least number of surveys belong to Ankara.
It is obvious that the survey reached its aim.
We would like to thank Burçin Evrenkaya, Graduate of METU, Department of Statistics, for the analysis.
Age
The minimum age of the participants completing the survey is 13 and the maximum age is 19. The mean age is 15.
40.7% of the students have a family of 4 members, including themselves. On the other hand, the families of 10-13 members constitute 2% of the overall distribution.
81,1% of the students live with 5 or less people in their house.
What is the dictionary definition of “Europe”?
33% of students responded to this question correctly by choosing “Sunset” as the answer. 16% of them chose the “Other” category. Some of the interesting answers for this category are;• It is a peaceful place within itself; but hostile
towards the remaining of the world.• Uncertainty • Utopia• 'So called' civilisation• Equality, Freedom and Human Rights • Developed Country• The place where is the future• Justice• Tear drops- Sorrow• Imperialism• Union of Christians• Star• Not fulfilling its meaning
Europe is very advanced in science and technology
Youth in Europe is in moral degeneration
50 51
Survey Results Survey Results
MOBILE TRAININGS SURVEY RESULTS
In the framework of the Mobile Trainings, in order to measure the trainings' effectiveness as well as to learn the opinions of high school students on Europe related issues, a survey was conducted.
The survey includes a total of 20 open and closed ended questions. The number of valid survey is 851. To analyse the survey, 44 variables were defined and the SPSS program was used.
Especially in the open-ended questions as well as some others, the missing answer ratio reached 25%; however, due to the size of the sample, this was not recorded as an error.
Although there were not any questions measuring the level of knowledge, some questions challenged the students. Moreover, it is obvious that the students were bored as there were too many open-ended questions. Besides this, it is worth to note that surveys were not conducted in every school and in every city. Diyarbakýr is ranked at the first place with 214 surveys, whereas Erzurum and Ýzmir follow it with 146 surveys. The least number of surveys belong to Ankara.
It is obvious that the survey reached its aim.
We would like to thank Burçin Evrenkaya, Graduate of METU, Department of Statistics, for the analysis.
Age
The minimum age of the participants completing the survey is 13 and the maximum age is 19. The mean age is 15.
40.7% of the students have a family of 4 members, including themselves. On the other hand, the families of 10-13 members constitute 2% of the overall distribution.
81,1% of the students live with 5 or less people in their house.
What is the dictionary definition of “Europe”?
33% of students responded to this question correctly by choosing “Sunset” as the answer. 16% of them chose the “Other” category. Some of the interesting answers for this category are;• It is a peaceful place within itself; but hostile
towards the remaining of the world.• Uncertainty • Utopia• 'So called' civilisation• Equality, Freedom and Human Rights • Developed Country• The place where is the future• Justice• Tear drops- Sorrow• Imperialism• Union of Christians• Star• Not fulfilling its meaning
Europe is very advanced in science and technology
Youth in Europe is in moral degeneration
52 53
Survey Results Survey Results
In Europe, institutions are more trust-worthy
Europe is more developed in the practise of human rights and democracy
In Europe, urban areas are well-organised
In Europe, family relations are weaker
Europeans are more civilised
The EU has 12 member states
The European Parliament is in Paris
The USA is a EU member
Culturally, Turkey is a(n)...
The official currency of the EU is dollar
If Turkey joins the EU, it will replace is its flag with the EU flag
Turkey became a full member of the EU on October 3, 2005
Can Turkey culturally adapt itself to Europe?
The EU has one parliament and each country is represented in the European Parliament in
propotion with their population
Among the opportunities mentioned during the training, which one(s) did you hear before?
Which of the opportunities would you like to benefit?
52 53
Survey Results Survey Results
In Europe, institutions are more trust-worthy
Europe is more developed in the practise of human rights and democracy
In Europe, urban areas are well-organised
In Europe, family relations are weaker
Europeans are more civilised
The EU has 12 member states
The European Parliament is in Paris
The USA is a EU member
Culturally, Turkey is a(n)...
The official currency of the EU is dollar
If Turkey joins the EU, it will replace is its flag with the EU flag
Turkey became a full member of the EU on October 3, 2005
Can Turkey culturally adapt itself to Europe?
The EU has one parliament and each country is represented in the European Parliament in
propotion with their population
Among the opportunities mentioned during the training, which one(s) did you hear before?
Which of the opportunities would you like to benefit?
54 55
Survey ResultsSurvey Results
What is “Europe”?
1. Development2. Education3. Civilisation, modernity, innovation4. Freedom5. Technology6. European Union7. Football8. Degeneration in family and human relations,
corruption of cultural values9. Tourism10. The European Continent11. Power12. Imperialism13. Human Rights14. Science15. The opportunist community playing tricks on Turkey
Problems of Turkish youngsters
1. The failures in the education system- lack of proper technologic infrastructure and social and sportive facilities at schools- the private teaching institutions- teachers
2. University Entrance Exam3. Environmental problems and Global warming4. Family pressure5. Exams- the difficulty of the courses6. Making politics over religion- Customs- Terrorism- Lack
of security7. Human Rights Violations- Lack of youth policies8. Limited opportunities for extracurricular activities at
schools9. Economical and political problems (Ex: Unemployment,
government policies)10. Emotional relations with the opposite sex11. Violence12. Concerns regarding future
Results of the Onion Game;How the participants define themselves?Components of the Youth Identity in Turkey
1. Human-being2. Student3. Young4. Turkish5. Muslim6. Gender
1. Student2. Young3. Turkish4. Gender5. Human-being6. Muslim
1. Student2. Young3. Gender4. Turkish
1. 2. 3.
54 55
Survey ResultsSurvey Results
What is “Europe”?
1. Development2. Education3. Civilisation, modernity, innovation4. Freedom5. Technology6. European Union7. Football8. Degeneration in family and human relations,
corruption of cultural values9. Tourism10. The European Continent11. Power12. Imperialism13. Human Rights14. Science15. The opportunist community playing tricks on Turkey
Problems of Turkish youngsters
1. The failures in the education system- lack of proper technologic infrastructure and social and sportive facilities at schools- the private teaching institutions- teachers
2. University Entrance Exam3. Environmental problems and Global warming4. Family pressure5. Exams- the difficulty of the courses6. Making politics over religion- Customs- Terrorism- Lack
of security7. Human Rights Violations- Lack of youth policies8. Limited opportunities for extracurricular activities at
schools9. Economical and political problems (Ex: Unemployment,
government policies)10. Emotional relations with the opposite sex11. Violence12. Concerns regarding future
Results of the Onion Game;How the participants define themselves?Components of the Youth Identity in Turkey
1. Human-being2. Student3. Young4. Turkish5. Muslim6. Gender
1. Student2. Young3. Turkish4. Gender5. Human-being6. Muslim
1. Student2. Young3. Gender4. Turkish
1. 2. 3.
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2007Summer Camp Summer Camp
Summer Camp
After the completion of the Mobile Training between 20 - 24 June 2007 on the premises of the Middle East Technical University (METU), a five-day long Summer Camp was organised. A total of 43 high school students from the visited provinces participated in the camp. The Summer Cap included lectures on “European Institutions, EU-Turkey Relations, Active Citizenship and Project Development”, workshops on “Leadership, Lobbying and Arts” and also, simulations. Consequently, whilst the participants learned more about subjects such as 'Europe, Civil Society and Active Citizenship', they gained experience through simulations and interactive workshops. On the fourth day, the participants simulated project development on the topics “Intercultural Dialogue, Women Rights, Environment, Human Rights, Peace and Stability” in groups. Moreover, they presented their projects to other groups and to the
project team. In the last session of the Camp, a general evaluation of the project was made, and a discussion on what future projects within this field should pay attention, and the needs these projects should address took place.
At the end of the camp, each participant chose him/herself a mentor among the project team members. Mentors endeavoured to direct their mentees regarding their future engagements in youth work.
The Summer Camp organised in the framework of the Understanding Europe Project is the first comprehensive Active Citizenship training in Turkey and in Europe that targets training high school students and was carried out only by voluntary university students.
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2007Summer Camp Summer Camp
Summer Camp
After the completion of the Mobile Training between 20 - 24 June 2007 on the premises of the Middle East Technical University (METU), a five-day long Summer Camp was organised. A total of 43 high school students from the visited provinces participated in the camp. The Summer Cap included lectures on “European Institutions, EU-Turkey Relations, Active Citizenship and Project Development”, workshops on “Leadership, Lobbying and Arts” and also, simulations. Consequently, whilst the participants learned more about subjects such as 'Europe, Civil Society and Active Citizenship', they gained experience through simulations and interactive workshops. On the fourth day, the participants simulated project development on the topics “Intercultural Dialogue, Women Rights, Environment, Human Rights, Peace and Stability” in groups. Moreover, they presented their projects to other groups and to the
project team. In the last session of the Camp, a general evaluation of the project was made, and a discussion on what future projects within this field should pay attention, and the needs these projects should address took place.
At the end of the camp, each participant chose him/herself a mentor among the project team members. Mentors endeavoured to direct their mentees regarding their future engagements in youth work.
The Summer Camp organised in the framework of the Understanding Europe Project is the first comprehensive Active Citizenship training in Turkey and in Europe that targets training high school students and was carried out only by voluntary university students.
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2007Summer Camp Summer Camp
History, Memory and Identity
“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft may win by fearing to attempt.”W. Shakespeare
There are times when we look in the past and remember good times filled with joy and grace.
“Understanding Europe Project; Tell Me About Your Europe Summer Camp” doubtlessly became one of such moments. The idea of organising a summer camp as a part our project came out as an expression of our hopes after the Mobile Trainings and we dedicated ourselves to train the next generation of active citizens of Europe and of Turkey as a part of Europe.
It is well-known that history forms our memories; whilst our memories shape our identities. At this point, the Understanding Europe Project Summer Camp is an historical remark by being the first Active Citizenship training targeting high school students in Turkey. 43 high school students from various cities, belonging to different geographical and social backgrounds gathered in Ankara. The Summer Camp, as a part of the Understanding Europe Project, aimed to introduce civil society awareness, increase the sensitivity of youth towards daily life struggles and lead them to question, research and criticise all knowledge they are taught.
The gathering took place between 20 and 24 June 2007 to discuss and learn about “Europe, Active Citizenship, European Union, Leadership, Values of Europe and Civil Society” by the means of non-formal peer education. Since our aspiration was to train active citizens, we did not only want them to be active in their daily life; but also in arts. The Summer Camp introduced Acting, Rhythm, Musical and Dance workshops to its participants, probably for the first time in their lives. In the final quarter of the camp, high school students got acquainted with Project Development and
developed their projects in answer to hot topics of the society and the globe. In the evening of this tiring simulation day, a party was thrown and we rejoiced outdoors with music and food.
The preparations of the Summer Camp, of course, was full of disappointment, exhaustion and nonetheless, with joy. Applications were collected from high schools all around Turkey by mail and internet, evaluated, nominated and filed. After the selection process, logistic needs were specified and required permissions were granted. In the bright morning of 20th June 2007, we were welcoming our participants with our homemade sandwiches and warm hugs. After lunch, they started to know each other with ice-breaking games and chatters on grassland, under the shade of a tree.
Throughout the camp, participants put forth all their effort and interest in the debate topics, lectures and free time to learn more and more. Even during nights at the dormitories, they asked for more information about politics, economics and life; whilst questioning their up-to-date know-how knowledge acquired through school, their families and peers. On the last day of the camp, we have chosen 7 students, each representing a region of Turkey among their brilliant colleagues, for the lobbying activities in Brussels.
Under the hot summer sun of Ankara, we walked from one end of the Middle East Technical University (METU) to another, sometimes crawled and sometimes grumbled; but throughout the camp, we were all happy to be there. However, in the
Communication Group (ABIG) for supporting us throughout the project.
Finally, my new friends…
May you always know that I will stand by you till the end and assist you whenever you need.
From this point and on we, the project team of Understanding Europe Project, hand on our hopes, our beliefs and our task of understanding and explaining Europe to you. It is now your turn to establish European Clubs at your schools back at your home cities, adjoin them to international student organisations such as OBESSU and stand for the interests, needs and problems of your coevals nationwide, as well as representing and projecting your aims at European level. I trust you all from the heart…
May your heart lighten your path…There is always hope…
Yours Sincerely,
Barbaros ÇörekoðluSummer Camp Case Manager
end, laughter and joy left their places to sorrow, grief and tears. The time for departure brought us closer even more than before, making the participants believe more in project and we, the organisers, remain hopeful and proud of what we have done.
We, as the project team, were their trainers, friends and counsellors during and after the camp. At the end of 5 days, we became as 'one.' We learned to live together, laugh together, love together and to believe together. I would like to thank all of my friends for their valuable effort in planning and organisation as well as their help in managing the summer camp. I also want to thank AEGEE-Ankara for creating such an opportunity for us, the organisers and participants, for discovering our lives. My very special thanks are to the British Embassy, Ankara and the European Union
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2007Summer Camp Summer Camp
History, Memory and Identity
“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft may win by fearing to attempt.”W. Shakespeare
There are times when we look in the past and remember good times filled with joy and grace.
“Understanding Europe Project; Tell Me About Your Europe Summer Camp” doubtlessly became one of such moments. The idea of organising a summer camp as a part our project came out as an expression of our hopes after the Mobile Trainings and we dedicated ourselves to train the next generation of active citizens of Europe and of Turkey as a part of Europe.
It is well-known that history forms our memories; whilst our memories shape our identities. At this point, the Understanding Europe Project Summer Camp is an historical remark by being the first Active Citizenship training targeting high school students in Turkey. 43 high school students from various cities, belonging to different geographical and social backgrounds gathered in Ankara. The Summer Camp, as a part of the Understanding Europe Project, aimed to introduce civil society awareness, increase the sensitivity of youth towards daily life struggles and lead them to question, research and criticise all knowledge they are taught.
The gathering took place between 20 and 24 June 2007 to discuss and learn about “Europe, Active Citizenship, European Union, Leadership, Values of Europe and Civil Society” by the means of non-formal peer education. Since our aspiration was to train active citizens, we did not only want them to be active in their daily life; but also in arts. The Summer Camp introduced Acting, Rhythm, Musical and Dance workshops to its participants, probably for the first time in their lives. In the final quarter of the camp, high school students got acquainted with Project Development and
developed their projects in answer to hot topics of the society and the globe. In the evening of this tiring simulation day, a party was thrown and we rejoiced outdoors with music and food.
The preparations of the Summer Camp, of course, was full of disappointment, exhaustion and nonetheless, with joy. Applications were collected from high schools all around Turkey by mail and internet, evaluated, nominated and filed. After the selection process, logistic needs were specified and required permissions were granted. In the bright morning of 20th June 2007, we were welcoming our participants with our homemade sandwiches and warm hugs. After lunch, they started to know each other with ice-breaking games and chatters on grassland, under the shade of a tree.
Throughout the camp, participants put forth all their effort and interest in the debate topics, lectures and free time to learn more and more. Even during nights at the dormitories, they asked for more information about politics, economics and life; whilst questioning their up-to-date know-how knowledge acquired through school, their families and peers. On the last day of the camp, we have chosen 7 students, each representing a region of Turkey among their brilliant colleagues, for the lobbying activities in Brussels.
Under the hot summer sun of Ankara, we walked from one end of the Middle East Technical University (METU) to another, sometimes crawled and sometimes grumbled; but throughout the camp, we were all happy to be there. However, in the
Communication Group (ABIG) for supporting us throughout the project.
Finally, my new friends…
May you always know that I will stand by you till the end and assist you whenever you need.
From this point and on we, the project team of Understanding Europe Project, hand on our hopes, our beliefs and our task of understanding and explaining Europe to you. It is now your turn to establish European Clubs at your schools back at your home cities, adjoin them to international student organisations such as OBESSU and stand for the interests, needs and problems of your coevals nationwide, as well as representing and projecting your aims at European level. I trust you all from the heart…
May your heart lighten your path…There is always hope…
Yours Sincerely,
Barbaros ÇörekoðluSummer Camp Case Manager
end, laughter and joy left their places to sorrow, grief and tears. The time for departure brought us closer even more than before, making the participants believe more in project and we, the organisers, remain hopeful and proud of what we have done.
We, as the project team, were their trainers, friends and counsellors during and after the camp. At the end of 5 days, we became as 'one.' We learned to live together, laugh together, love together and to believe together. I would like to thank all of my friends for their valuable effort in planning and organisation as well as their help in managing the summer camp. I also want to thank AEGEE-Ankara for creating such an opportunity for us, the organisers and participants, for discovering our lives. My very special thanks are to the British Embassy, Ankara and the European Union
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2007
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2007Summer Camp Summer Camp
Understanding Europe
It would create problems even to be a lecturer rather than a participant, during a seminar on the “European Institutions and the History of the EU” on 21st June 2007. Honestly, I also thought that it would not be a preferable situation for high school students to come for listening to the EU related issues in a conference hall, instead of enjoying the sun and the summer in the METU campus.
It might be the miracle of the energisers that they made under the guidance of AEGEE-Ankara people; but at the very first moment, I recognised from the shining eyes of approximately 50 participants, who were elected very carefully for the Understanding Europe Project Summer Camp, that my assumptions were totally wrong. It was as if all colours and varieties of Turkey were represented by the high school students from every region and as if these colours came to visit the METU campus.
It was very difficult not to get excited in front of the enthusiastic and passionate high school students, with whom we met for understanding and explaining Europe. Their interest and curiosity was involving you in their desire as well as learning pace from the very first moment of the lecture. The
willingness of a student from Diyarbakýr to comprehend the European Parliament's operation or the question of one from Antalya to find out how to benefit from exchange programmes or the eagerness of another to discover the EU foreign policy were all indicators of the EU's place in the agenda of prospective university students.
The participants could easily make you feel their desire to involve the EU in their plans for future. This was the most attractive part of our interactive debate. Therefore, they were continuously asking the same question: “When we will become an EU member?” It seems that the new generation has already internalised the question, for which we have
been searching for an answer for more than three centuries. .
I hope the youngsters that impressed me with their ability to communicate with each other without prejudices can soon enjoy the priority of being citizens of an EU member Turkey.
M. Murat YurtbilirEU Public Information OfficerEU Information Center
murmurs such as “I can't sing!” or “I have a really terrible voice!” They were saying so; but through their wide open eyes, one could feel their enthusiasm for trying something new.
Each of them had a little solo in the song. It was really interesting; they embraced it so much that even though the time for the workshop was over, they wanted to go on practicing outside. We went on, and even added a little dance for our number.
In the evening, whilst doing the last practice before we presented our number to other groups, there was a lovely expression on their faces: they were grasped in pre-stage panic; but still trying to do a faultless dance.
We went on stage, and as always, a lot of mistakes were made; however, they surprised me much with their learning pace and their eagerness to learn. They made me realize once again that when music and good people come together, time passes in a pleasant fashion. Thanks to the Understanding Europe Project Group (AAPG).
PS: By the way, I overcame my high school student phobia.
Kývanç TosLeader of the Musical Workshop
I had no idea of what I was going to face, when I left home with my guitar. I was going to deliver a workshop on musical theater to high school students; but it was as if I was heading for the unknown. After all, what I pictured about high school students was a group of youngsters, who
denied all other norms; but the norm of being a high school student. Not much time had passed since my high school years; however, yes, I was afraid of them.
My group of 11 participants was like a little high school class: those who were interested were in the front with their eyes wide open; few were half asleep at the back rows; but all were listening to me. I began with explaining what musical theater is, and then, I demonstrated some examples with my guitar. The interested ones asked some questions, while the others went on with being bored. Everything was normal up to this time.
When I distributed the lyrics for “Lüküs Hayat” ('Luxurious Life', a famous Turkish musical) and said “Yes, now we are going to learn this song”, all eyes opened wider. There were some minor
60
2007
61
2007Summer Camp Summer Camp
Understanding Europe
It would create problems even to be a lecturer rather than a participant, during a seminar on the “European Institutions and the History of the EU” on 21st June 2007. Honestly, I also thought that it would not be a preferable situation for high school students to come for listening to the EU related issues in a conference hall, instead of enjoying the sun and the summer in the METU campus.
It might be the miracle of the energisers that they made under the guidance of AEGEE-Ankara people; but at the very first moment, I recognised from the shining eyes of approximately 50 participants, who were elected very carefully for the Understanding Europe Project Summer Camp, that my assumptions were totally wrong. It was as if all colours and varieties of Turkey were represented by the high school students from every region and as if these colours came to visit the METU campus.
It was very difficult not to get excited in front of the enthusiastic and passionate high school students, with whom we met for understanding and explaining Europe. Their interest and curiosity was involving you in their desire as well as learning pace from the very first moment of the lecture. The
willingness of a student from Diyarbakýr to comprehend the European Parliament's operation or the question of one from Antalya to find out how to benefit from exchange programmes or the eagerness of another to discover the EU foreign policy were all indicators of the EU's place in the agenda of prospective university students.
The participants could easily make you feel their desire to involve the EU in their plans for future. This was the most attractive part of our interactive debate. Therefore, they were continuously asking the same question: “When we will become an EU member?” It seems that the new generation has already internalised the question, for which we have
been searching for an answer for more than three centuries. .
I hope the youngsters that impressed me with their ability to communicate with each other without prejudices can soon enjoy the priority of being citizens of an EU member Turkey.
M. Murat YurtbilirEU Public Information OfficerEU Information Center
murmurs such as “I can't sing!” or “I have a really terrible voice!” They were saying so; but through their wide open eyes, one could feel their enthusiasm for trying something new.
Each of them had a little solo in the song. It was really interesting; they embraced it so much that even though the time for the workshop was over, they wanted to go on practicing outside. We went on, and even added a little dance for our number.
In the evening, whilst doing the last practice before we presented our number to other groups, there was a lovely expression on their faces: they were grasped in pre-stage panic; but still trying to do a faultless dance.
We went on stage, and as always, a lot of mistakes were made; however, they surprised me much with their learning pace and their eagerness to learn. They made me realize once again that when music and good people come together, time passes in a pleasant fashion. Thanks to the Understanding Europe Project Group (AAPG).
PS: By the way, I overcame my high school student phobia.
Kývanç TosLeader of the Musical Workshop
I had no idea of what I was going to face, when I left home with my guitar. I was going to deliver a workshop on musical theater to high school students; but it was as if I was heading for the unknown. After all, what I pictured about high school students was a group of youngsters, who
denied all other norms; but the norm of being a high school student. Not much time had passed since my high school years; however, yes, I was afraid of them.
My group of 11 participants was like a little high school class: those who were interested were in the front with their eyes wide open; few were half asleep at the back rows; but all were listening to me. I began with explaining what musical theater is, and then, I demonstrated some examples with my guitar. The interested ones asked some questions, while the others went on with being bored. Everything was normal up to this time.
When I distributed the lyrics for “Lüküs Hayat” ('Luxurious Life', a famous Turkish musical) and said “Yes, now we are going to learn this song”, all eyes opened wider. There were some minor
62
2007
63
2007What Did They Say? What Did They Say?
When I was a student at
high school, two people
came and told us about
Europe. I was impressed by
what they said and wanted
to learn more. Thus, I participated in the
Summer Camp. It was the
most wonderful and happiest 5 days of my
life…
Dilara Kalonya, 16, Ýzmir
This symbolises a gun
barrel, which makes me
think about my achieve-
ments and whether I hit
my target or not, after I
finish a task. You hit the
bulls eye.
Fatih Diken, 15, Samsun
I learned freedom of expression and thus, I feel really lucky!Þeyma Bayram, 16, Diyarbakýr
I thought it would be that great; but
living it feels different. I got equipped
with a lot of things and now, I have
the power to do everything. Sense of
responsibility, confidence,
awareness, active citizenship… I
am ready to implement all of these. I
thank to all trainers both for their
sessions and their effort. I love you
all very much.
Gökçe Þimþek, 17, Ýzmir
When I was coming here, m
y sole aim
was personal development. Luckily, I
learned so much. It has been the experince
of my life
. Our traning was re
ally
great and beneficial. I believe that
what I learned here will b
e helpful all
through my life. In
addition to the
lectures, I was acquired with
team-work, gained self-confidence, and
improved my communication skills. I
am really grateful that su
ch an
organisation has been prepared for us.
Gözde Þentürk, 15, Samsun
The camp was wonderful from many aspects; the
attitude of our trainers, the sessions, the friendly
atmosphere as well as the logistics were
all great. Every open-minded youngster should
participate in such trainings.
Ömer Habib Doðan, 17, Erzurum
The camp improved my knowledge. I learned more
about Europe and other subjects. I made new friends. I
will not forget my friends nor
our trainers. These five days
here were the most beautiful
days of my life. I hope that we
will be together very soon. I
will miss everyone.Deniz Sarper Demirci, 16, Ankara
62
2007
63
2007What Did They Say? What Did They Say?
When I was a student at
high school, two people
came and told us about
Europe. I was impressed by
what they said and wanted
to learn more. Thus, I participated in the
Summer Camp. It was the
most wonderful and happiest 5 days of my
life…
Dilara Kalonya, 16, Ýzmir
This symbolises a gun
barrel, which makes me
think about my achieve-
ments and whether I hit
my target or not, after I
finish a task. You hit the
bulls eye.
Fatih Diken, 15, Samsun
I learned freedom of expression and thus, I feel really lucky!Þeyma Bayram, 16, Diyarbakýr
I thought it would be that great; but
living it feels different. I got equipped
with a lot of things and now, I have
the power to do everything. Sense of
responsibility, confidence,
awareness, active citizenship… I
am ready to implement all of these. I
thank to all trainers both for their
sessions and their effort. I love you
all very much.
Gökçe Þimþek, 17, Ýzmir
When I was coming here, m
y sole aim
was personal development. Luckily, I
learned so much. It has been the experince
of my life
. Our traning was re
ally
great and beneficial. I believe that
what I learned here will b
e helpful all
through my life. In
addition to the
lectures, I was acquired with
team-work, gained self-confidence, and
improved my communication skills. I
am really grateful that su
ch an
organisation has been prepared for us.
Gözde Þentürk, 15, Samsun
The camp was wonderful from many aspects; the
attitude of our trainers, the sessions, the friendly
atmosphere as well as the logistics were
all great. Every open-minded youngster should
participate in such trainings.
Ömer Habib Doðan, 17, Erzurum
The camp improved my knowledge. I learned more
about Europe and other subjects. I made new friends. I
will not forget my friends nor
our trainers. These five days
here were the most beautiful
days of my life. I hope that we
will be together very soon. I
will miss everyone.Deniz Sarper Demirci, 16, Ankara
Visit To Brussels
64
2007 Visit To Brussels
65
2007
Visit to Brussels : 15-19 July 2007
A total of 15 people, eight project team members and seven high school students (each representing a geographical region), visited Brussels between 15-19 July 2007.
The main goals of this visit were to meet representatives of the EU institutions and also international student organisations such as OBESSU (Organising Bureau of European School Students Union), to share the project outcome with them and to contribute to the establishment of Europe Clubs and their merging with the international student networks. In addition to the head office of OBESSU, the European Youth Forum- the umbrella organisation for the international and national youth NGOs in Europe- and also, AEGEE-Europe were visited.
Representatives of these organisations explained their fields of action and activities, and the project team informed them about the Understanding Europe Project. Furthermore, as a result of the meetings at the European Parliament, the European Commission, NATO Headquarters, TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association) Representation in Brussels, and Permanent Representation of Turkey to the EU, the project achieved an international reputation. The visit to Brussels was of prominence not only because the project became more visible both on national and international levels, but also because it provided opportunities for future cooperation.
Programme:
15 July 2007:AEGEE-Europe Head Office
16 July 2007: European CommissionEuropean Parliament
17 July 2007:European Youth ForumOBESSU (Organising Bureau of European School Students Union) Head OfficeTÜSÝAD Representation in Brussels
18 July 2007:NATO HeadquartersPermanent Representation of Turkey to the EU
If you are a young person in the Republic of Turkey, then, it means that there is no comprehensive youth policy or related article in the constitution except the article 58, so called “Protection of Youth”. Although the youth-related state institutions related provide some services and support for youth activities, it is clear that actual needs are beyond those. In addition to this, the statements of the politicians about youth are very poor. They only say “The youth is our future”; but that is all… At this point, I would like to testify my regrets to all related people and institutions for not doing a good job in the youth field.
Appreciation
I hear you asking “Ok, is there any positive thing?” Absolutely, there are positive things! The increasing power of civil society in Turkey can be counted among those promising news. Also, there is a dramatic change in the attitudes of state towards the civil society movements. At least, we can see the light at the end of the dark tunnel and the time required to reach that side strongly depends on our effort and sincerity.
Civil society is the most suitable platform for young people to do something about the matters concerning them, despite this hopeless atmosphere. There is a group of people, who are already working in the youth field in Turkey. I am very proud of introducing you this group that
Project Must Go on!
Whenever I think about this project, I find my old Queen CD which is my favourite one, and start listening to the 1st track of the album: Show must go on! I will tell you why; but before that I would like you to know who I am and why I am writing this article.
If you think that I am writing these words only because I witnessed all stages of the project from very beginning and even sometimes took part in it, then, it means you are wrong. Actually, I am writing this article as a young person living in Turkey, where the youth makes 35% of the overall population. Take this article as testifying my regrets for the things that haven't been done up to now; also as an appreciation letter for the things done in the framework of this project, and last but not least, take it as a wish for the future.
Regrets
When do you think “the silent majority”, which represents 35% of the population and has great obstacles on its way to touch social matters of Turkey could say “I am a part of this society, I am a politicised subject and I can affect this society.”? It is very difficult to answer this question. Why? Let's have a look at the reasons:
Visit To Brussels
64
2007 Visit To Brussels
65
2007
Visit to Brussels : 15-19 July 2007
A total of 15 people, eight project team members and seven high school students (each representing a geographical region), visited Brussels between 15-19 July 2007.
The main goals of this visit were to meet representatives of the EU institutions and also international student organisations such as OBESSU (Organising Bureau of European School Students Union), to share the project outcome with them and to contribute to the establishment of Europe Clubs and their merging with the international student networks. In addition to the head office of OBESSU, the European Youth Forum- the umbrella organisation for the international and national youth NGOs in Europe- and also, AEGEE-Europe were visited.
Representatives of these organisations explained their fields of action and activities, and the project team informed them about the Understanding Europe Project. Furthermore, as a result of the meetings at the European Parliament, the European Commission, NATO Headquarters, TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association) Representation in Brussels, and Permanent Representation of Turkey to the EU, the project achieved an international reputation. The visit to Brussels was of prominence not only because the project became more visible both on national and international levels, but also because it provided opportunities for future cooperation.
Programme:
15 July 2007:AEGEE-Europe Head Office
16 July 2007: European CommissionEuropean Parliament
17 July 2007:European Youth ForumOBESSU (Organising Bureau of European School Students Union) Head OfficeTÜSÝAD Representation in Brussels
18 July 2007:NATO HeadquartersPermanent Representation of Turkey to the EU
If you are a young person in the Republic of Turkey, then, it means that there is no comprehensive youth policy or related article in the constitution except the article 58, so called “Protection of Youth”. Although the youth-related state institutions related provide some services and support for youth activities, it is clear that actual needs are beyond those. In addition to this, the statements of the politicians about youth are very poor. They only say “The youth is our future”; but that is all… At this point, I would like to testify my regrets to all related people and institutions for not doing a good job in the youth field.
Appreciation
I hear you asking “Ok, is there any positive thing?” Absolutely, there are positive things! The increasing power of civil society in Turkey can be counted among those promising news. Also, there is a dramatic change in the attitudes of state towards the civil society movements. At least, we can see the light at the end of the dark tunnel and the time required to reach that side strongly depends on our effort and sincerity.
Civil society is the most suitable platform for young people to do something about the matters concerning them, despite this hopeless atmosphere. There is a group of people, who are already working in the youth field in Turkey. I am very proud of introducing you this group that
Project Must Go on!
Whenever I think about this project, I find my old Queen CD which is my favourite one, and start listening to the 1st track of the album: Show must go on! I will tell you why; but before that I would like you to know who I am and why I am writing this article.
If you think that I am writing these words only because I witnessed all stages of the project from very beginning and even sometimes took part in it, then, it means you are wrong. Actually, I am writing this article as a young person living in Turkey, where the youth makes 35% of the overall population. Take this article as testifying my regrets for the things that haven't been done up to now; also as an appreciation letter for the things done in the framework of this project, and last but not least, take it as a wish for the future.
Regrets
When do you think “the silent majority”, which represents 35% of the population and has great obstacles on its way to touch social matters of Turkey could say “I am a part of this society, I am a politicised subject and I can affect this society.”? It is very difficult to answer this question. Why? Let's have a look at the reasons:
66 67
2007 Visit To Brussels 2007
comes among the new generation. Instead of only complaining, they chose to start working on the problems concerning them. I am talking about a group, which dares to reach the information and tools required on the way to solve the problems. I am talking about a group, which is very well organized. I am talking about a group, which does not like empty words; but concrete results. I would like to state my appreciation to those, who belongs to that group for their effort. I am really thankful to them; because they work for other young people and try to convert them into “active citizens.”
Wishes
After identifying the illness (lack of youth policies) of the -if you call it so- young Turkey, and offering civic society movements as a cure for this illness, I would like to come to the main point of this article. In the end, I am a young person, and unlike politicians, young people like to get straight to the point.
14 years ago, AEGEE-Ankara, in other words, Ankara European Youth Forum Association was founded by the brothers and sisters of the aforementioned group's members. With its European perspective, AEGEE-Ankara brought a new vision to the youth field in Turkey. Celebrating the success of its past activities, AEGEE-Ankara is also proud of being the first international youth NGO that is active in Turkey. It owes its fame to concrete projects and solution offers. As being one of the most active branches of the network, AEGEE-Ankara believes that Turkish youth must have an active role in creation of the Europe of values. For that reason, it is of crucial importance for young people, who wants to contribute to this vision.
The Understanding Europe Project, the last project of this organisation, which consists of only young people, achieved a great success. They discovered the thing we exactly needed: to activate young people! The Understanding Europe Project mainly served this purpose. The group successfully implemented the idea of sharing the corner-stones of the “Europe of values” such as democracy,
universality of human rights, equality, rule of law, active citizenship with high school students from all over Turkey. From Diyarbakýr to Erzurum, Samsun to Antalya, they reached more than 1500 students in 22 different high schools. Project team organised a summer camp based on the same subject; but with an intensive programme. 43 students took part in it and 7 among them had a chance to visit Brussels as well as the European Institutions. Briefly: lives of most of these students changed irreversibly in a positive way! You can see it from their eyes; you can feel it from their words.
This book you hold in your hands is about this project and its outcome. This book in your hands is about what a group of motivated young people can do. This book is about the lives that were changed. Nothing will be the same again for anyone involved in this project…
This project and its success should act as a unique example for the others. I strongly believe that it must be continued, and all institutions must give full support to it. Nothing to say so much apart from what the project has proved; things can change and the youth is very promising, when we give them a chance. My wish is very similar to the one in the song: “Project must go on!”
Arif Cem GündoganAEGEE-EuropeFormer Public Relations Director (2007-2008)
Visit To Brussels
way street. Indeed, we, the NATO staff, have also learnt a lot from them in addition to being deeply impressed and motivated by their enthusiasm, dynamism and determination shown during the interactive debates as well as during the whole visit.
I am pleased to see that the NATO programme has positively contributed to the overall trip organised by the Understanding Europe Project to Brussels and I look forward for further cooperation. In the meantime, I would like to convey our best wishes of success to AEGEE-Ankara for their forthcoming missions and endeavours. I also would like to commend the work done so far by AEGEE-Ankara, and on the behalf of Ms. Gülece Þenel, the manager
of the Understanding Europe Project , I congratulate the project team for their commitment, dedication and enthusiasm in raising public awareness among the Turkish youth.
With my best wishes and greetings to AEGEE-Ankara,
Yeter Yaman-NaucodieInformation Officer for TurkeyNATO Public Diplomacy Division
NATO Visit
As Information Officer for Tu r k e y a t N AT O P u b l i c Diplomacy Division, I had the great pleasure to host a group of students from AEGEE-Ankara (European Students' Forum) Understanding Europe Project on 18 July 2007.
In this framework, I have organised a special information programme on NATO issues in order to promote a better understanding of NATO policies and its contribution to peace and security in the world. The programme especially focused on NATO's activities towards the youth, but not only those organised in cooperation with YATAs (Youth Atlantic Treaty Association). Indeed, reaching out to the successor generation for promoting peace, dialogue and friendship within youth in the Euro-Atlantic area, stands among the priorities of our Division and up to now, we have been able to build a solid network in NATO and partner c o u n t r i e s w i t h m a ny y o u t h associations. As an extension of this approach, we also warmly welcomed the establishment of the Turkish YATA (YATA-TURK) in 2005 and we have provided full support to their successful educational projects so far. I strongly believe that AEGEE-Ankara and YATATURK, which share similar goals, can engage in a fruitful cooperation that will maximise their efforts and benefits.
From the feedback that we have received afterwards, it seems that the Understanding Europe Project members have very much enjoyed their visit to the NATO and we are delighted about this outcome. I would like to thank all my colleagues, who greatly contributed to this programme; but I should stress that it was a two
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2007 Visit To Brussels 2007
comes among the new generation. Instead of only complaining, they chose to start working on the problems concerning them. I am talking about a group, which dares to reach the information and tools required on the way to solve the problems. I am talking about a group, which is very well organized. I am talking about a group, which does not like empty words; but concrete results. I would like to state my appreciation to those, who belongs to that group for their effort. I am really thankful to them; because they work for other young people and try to convert them into “active citizens.”
Wishes
After identifying the illness (lack of youth policies) of the -if you call it so- young Turkey, and offering civic society movements as a cure for this illness, I would like to come to the main point of this article. In the end, I am a young person, and unlike politicians, young people like to get straight to the point.
14 years ago, AEGEE-Ankara, in other words, Ankara European Youth Forum Association was founded by the brothers and sisters of the aforementioned group's members. With its European perspective, AEGEE-Ankara brought a new vision to the youth field in Turkey. Celebrating the success of its past activities, AEGEE-Ankara is also proud of being the first international youth NGO that is active in Turkey. It owes its fame to concrete projects and solution offers. As being one of the most active branches of the network, AEGEE-Ankara believes that Turkish youth must have an active role in creation of the Europe of values. For that reason, it is of crucial importance for young people, who wants to contribute to this vision.
The Understanding Europe Project, the last project of this organisation, which consists of only young people, achieved a great success. They discovered the thing we exactly needed: to activate young people! The Understanding Europe Project mainly served this purpose. The group successfully implemented the idea of sharing the corner-stones of the “Europe of values” such as democracy,
universality of human rights, equality, rule of law, active citizenship with high school students from all over Turkey. From Diyarbakýr to Erzurum, Samsun to Antalya, they reached more than 1500 students in 22 different high schools. Project team organised a summer camp based on the same subject; but with an intensive programme. 43 students took part in it and 7 among them had a chance to visit Brussels as well as the European Institutions. Briefly: lives of most of these students changed irreversibly in a positive way! You can see it from their eyes; you can feel it from their words.
This book you hold in your hands is about this project and its outcome. This book in your hands is about what a group of motivated young people can do. This book is about the lives that were changed. Nothing will be the same again for anyone involved in this project…
This project and its success should act as a unique example for the others. I strongly believe that it must be continued, and all institutions must give full support to it. Nothing to say so much apart from what the project has proved; things can change and the youth is very promising, when we give them a chance. My wish is very similar to the one in the song: “Project must go on!”
Arif Cem GündoganAEGEE-EuropeFormer Public Relations Director (2007-2008)
Visit To Brussels
way street. Indeed, we, the NATO staff, have also learnt a lot from them in addition to being deeply impressed and motivated by their enthusiasm, dynamism and determination shown during the interactive debates as well as during the whole visit.
I am pleased to see that the NATO programme has positively contributed to the overall trip organised by the Understanding Europe Project to Brussels and I look forward for further cooperation. In the meantime, I would like to convey our best wishes of success to AEGEE-Ankara for their forthcoming missions and endeavours. I also would like to commend the work done so far by AEGEE-Ankara, and on the behalf of Ms. Gülece Þenel, the manager
of the Understanding Europe Project , I congratulate the project team for their commitment, dedication and enthusiasm in raising public awareness among the Turkish youth.
With my best wishes and greetings to AEGEE-Ankara,
Yeter Yaman-NaucodieInformation Officer for TurkeyNATO Public Diplomacy Division
NATO Visit
As Information Officer for Tu r k e y a t N AT O P u b l i c Diplomacy Division, I had the great pleasure to host a group of students from AEGEE-Ankara (European Students' Forum) Understanding Europe Project on 18 July 2007.
In this framework, I have organised a special information programme on NATO issues in order to promote a better understanding of NATO policies and its contribution to peace and security in the world. The programme especially focused on NATO's activities towards the youth, but not only those organised in cooperation with YATAs (Youth Atlantic Treaty Association). Indeed, reaching out to the successor generation for promoting peace, dialogue and friendship within youth in the Euro-Atlantic area, stands among the priorities of our Division and up to now, we have been able to build a solid network in NATO and partner c o u n t r i e s w i t h m a ny y o u t h associations. As an extension of this approach, we also warmly welcomed the establishment of the Turkish YATA (YATA-TURK) in 2005 and we have provided full support to their successful educational projects so far. I strongly believe that AEGEE-Ankara and YATATURK, which share similar goals, can engage in a fruitful cooperation that will maximise their efforts and benefits.
From the feedback that we have received afterwards, it seems that the Understanding Europe Project members have very much enjoyed their visit to the NATO and we are delighted about this outcome. I would like to thank all my colleagues, who greatly contributed to this programme; but I should stress that it was a two
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maintenance and attention are needed for better living conditions and environment. Moreover, now, I am aware that I can fight against such problems myself by being an active citizen.
With Love...
While joining the Understanding Europe Project Summer Camp organised by AEGEE-Ankara, I was not expecting to acquire so much knowledge and information. They taught us not to hinder; but stand up for our rights as a citizen. As an upshot of the camp, we now know how to act and participate as active citizens. We will rise up against all odds and deficiencies and will prove the youth's rightful stand and say.
During the camp and our visit to Brussels, we had the opportunity to make new friends in a multicultural environment with people from various cities and cultures, we shared our ideas.
Ayþenur KeleþErzurumErzurum Anatolian High School
From Their Perspective...
Deniz YücesoyAnkaraDr. Rýdvan- Binnaz Ege Anatolian High School
With the visit to Brussels as a part of this project, I realised how late I have been to such activities even in these early ages; but a start was essential for a better future... I experienced how easy it was to reach the unreachable and unexplainable concept of Europe. Only a little bit of effort and determination were enough to do so.
Project team helped us learn how to create the Europe of our dreams, the only thing we should do now is to work for it. We may have missed some opportunities by being careless; but we have to realise our responsibilities and act accordingly to accomplish our undertakings in order to create chances for our colleagues to benefit in the future.
With your guiding, I have learned so many things. There are many things in life that worth fighting for and it is easier to achieve those with the ones whom you love.
Everything starts with desire and a bit of luck... I cannot express how grateful I am to the project team. I am glad you wanted; I am glad you worked and thanks for succeeding!
Many thanks for everything...I love you all…
I would like to thank everyone, since Europe is no longer merely a dream for me, it became real and I experienced it. Previously, I have seen different regions of my countr y. Turkey is a prosperous country; however, lacks order and discipline. E u r o p e t a u g h t m e t h a t
Hence, my frame of reference has changed. Previously, I had the western-eastern classification in my mind; but I realised that there is no such thing.
Regarding my plans, I used to have a single objective in life and that was to succeed in the university entrance exam and become a student at the Department of Computer Engineering in METU. However, now I want to establish a student club at my school, where I can actively work to overcome problems.
Finally, I would like to thank our sincere and friendly trainers, who have worked for this project to take place.
Burak ArazÝstanbulKadýköy Anatolian High School
This outreaching story all began in Ankara during the Summer Camp. We discussed and questioned; we learnt and enhanced our self-confidence. I even argued that the sheet was not pink; but blue, only because I wanted to perceive it so, knowing it is pink indeed. While I was worried that the entertaining and informative camp was ending, I learnt that there was more to add to the story. We didn't even know that there was a visit to Brussels, until I was chosen as the representative of my region. After receiving my friend's congratulations, I called my parents to express my excitement. Then, on 15th July, I found myself in Brussels with the company of 6 of my colleagues from the other regions of Turkey and 8 trainers; our elder brothers and sisters. We had formal 4 days, but we enjoyed as well. At my 16, it was a privilege for me to visit the European Parliament, the European Commission and the NATO Headquarters. We attended seminars, dressed just like businessmen and politicians. We learned about the procedures at the Permanent Delegation of Turkey to the EU and what TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association) is as well as how they operate. We observed youth organizations such as OBESSU, the European Youth Forum and AEGEE-Europe, analysed their necessities for the society and took lessons.
When I returned home, I realised that the story was still continuing. Maybe I may not be at the METU campus once again or may not go to Brussels for the same reason; but I will participate in other projects and with my colleagues, we will establish a student club at our high school to inform other students and make them benefit as well. Every end is a new beginning…
Ekin ÖzbeyAntalyaKaratay High School
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2007Visit To BrusselsVisit To Brussels
maintenance and attention are needed for better living conditions and environment. Moreover, now, I am aware that I can fight against such problems myself by being an active citizen.
With Love...
While joining the Understanding Europe Project Summer Camp organised by AEGEE-Ankara, I was not expecting to acquire so much knowledge and information. They taught us not to hinder; but stand up for our rights as a citizen. As an upshot of the camp, we now know how to act and participate as active citizens. We will rise up against all odds and deficiencies and will prove the youth's rightful stand and say.
During the camp and our visit to Brussels, we had the opportunity to make new friends in a multicultural environment with people from various cities and cultures, we shared our ideas.
Ayþenur KeleþErzurumErzurum Anatolian High School
From Their Perspective...
Deniz YücesoyAnkaraDr. Rýdvan- Binnaz Ege Anatolian High School
With the visit to Brussels as a part of this project, I realised how late I have been to such activities even in these early ages; but a start was essential for a better future... I experienced how easy it was to reach the unreachable and unexplainable concept of Europe. Only a little bit of effort and determination were enough to do so.
Project team helped us learn how to create the Europe of our dreams, the only thing we should do now is to work for it. We may have missed some opportunities by being careless; but we have to realise our responsibilities and act accordingly to accomplish our undertakings in order to create chances for our colleagues to benefit in the future.
With your guiding, I have learned so many things. There are many things in life that worth fighting for and it is easier to achieve those with the ones whom you love.
Everything starts with desire and a bit of luck... I cannot express how grateful I am to the project team. I am glad you wanted; I am glad you worked and thanks for succeeding!
Many thanks for everything...I love you all…
I would like to thank everyone, since Europe is no longer merely a dream for me, it became real and I experienced it. Previously, I have seen different regions of my countr y. Turkey is a prosperous country; however, lacks order and discipline. E u r o p e t a u g h t m e t h a t
Hence, my frame of reference has changed. Previously, I had the western-eastern classification in my mind; but I realised that there is no such thing.
Regarding my plans, I used to have a single objective in life and that was to succeed in the university entrance exam and become a student at the Department of Computer Engineering in METU. However, now I want to establish a student club at my school, where I can actively work to overcome problems.
Finally, I would like to thank our sincere and friendly trainers, who have worked for this project to take place.
Burak ArazÝstanbulKadýköy Anatolian High School
This outreaching story all began in Ankara during the Summer Camp. We discussed and questioned; we learnt and enhanced our self-confidence. I even argued that the sheet was not pink; but blue, only because I wanted to perceive it so, knowing it is pink indeed. While I was worried that the entertaining and informative camp was ending, I learnt that there was more to add to the story. We didn't even know that there was a visit to Brussels, until I was chosen as the representative of my region. After receiving my friend's congratulations, I called my parents to express my excitement. Then, on 15th July, I found myself in Brussels with the company of 6 of my colleagues from the other regions of Turkey and 8 trainers; our elder brothers and sisters. We had formal 4 days, but we enjoyed as well. At my 16, it was a privilege for me to visit the European Parliament, the European Commission and the NATO Headquarters. We attended seminars, dressed just like businessmen and politicians. We learned about the procedures at the Permanent Delegation of Turkey to the EU and what TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association) is as well as how they operate. We observed youth organizations such as OBESSU, the European Youth Forum and AEGEE-Europe, analysed their necessities for the society and took lessons.
When I returned home, I realised that the story was still continuing. Maybe I may not be at the METU campus once again or may not go to Brussels for the same reason; but I will participate in other projects and with my colleagues, we will establish a student club at our high school to inform other students and make them benefit as well. Every end is a new beginning…
Ekin ÖzbeyAntalyaKaratay High School
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not give a place to the word “impossible” in your lives. Of course, there will be struggles; life is not roses and pink for anyone. There were also difficult times all through this project; but in the end, the project has achieved a great success; because our trainers never gave up. Believe yourselves... Every problem has a solution...
Greetings to everyone from Ýzmir,
Firstly, I should mention that the Understanding Europe Project enhanced my personal development and that it was a milestone in my life, it gave me a new vision. When trainers from the Understanding Europe Project Group first came to our school, I was not aware of organisations and programmes such as AEGEE, OBESSU, Erasmus and Life Long Learning Programme. Thus, my friends and I benefited a lot from what the trainers told, and we learned new things, which actually carry great importance for youth. Then, I participated in the Summer Camp.
Ferhat RodopluÝzmir Ýzmir Anatolian High School
As it did to other students, this project changed my life since the mobile trainings. With this project, I learnt that everyone is equal and has same rights. “Europe, the European Union, the European Institutions, Europe of Values et cetera” were the concepts that I have heard for the first time in my life. I used to have no interest in such issues and topics; but now, I read articles and follow the news concerning Europe. Besides, I made many friends and broadened my goals. I am more optimistic about future, which was an unpredictable outcome of joining this project.
I thought the project ended with the Mobile trainings. When I heard of the Summer Camp, I got excited. I spent 5 days with 43 people from different regions. It was enjoyable. There is one thing that I know for sure, I am really lucky to participate in this camp and wish other people could have enrolled in it as well. Once again, I have learnt: “There is nothing impossible!” If one believes in himself or herself, there is nothing unachievable and there is always success in it.
The names our trainers have chosen for Brussels were announced and I heard mine. We went to the European Commission, the E u r o p e a n P a r l i a m e n t , OBESSU, AEGEE-Europe, European Youth Forum, and NATO Headquarters as well as to the Grand Palace for shopping, eating and chatting. T h e s e w e r e a n o t h e r unforgettable 4 days.
The project may have come to an end for AEGEE-Ankara; but it is just starting for us. We have acquired all that we needed and now, it is our turn to explain Europe.
Having said all these, there is nothing impossible once we believe ourselves. Please do
The camp was really helpful, entertaining and informative. Trainers tried their best to introduce the essential knowledge about civil society during the camp. In my opinion, the main aim of the camp was to train us as “active citizens” and it helped us become active citizens, people, who can respond and act against the fallacies and inaccuracies. Another thing that I cannot forget is the phrase: “Do not become a part of the problem; but the solution!”
Visit to the institutions and organisations in Brussels after the camp was a thrilling, eye-opening experience. We visited AEGEE-Europe Head office, the European Youth Forum, OBESSU, the European Commission, the European Parliament, NATO Headquarters, TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association) and Permanent Delegation of Turkey to the European Union. My participation helped me formulate my own vision of Europe that is away from all biases and stereotypes. The reason was simple. People in Turkey do not happen to know “Europe” other than their hearings from somewhere or someone else, which is in many cases subjective and prejudiced. This deficiency does not allow people to shape their own Europe. This can only be corrected by living in Europe and experiencing it. Now, I think that the Europe, which was told us all through the project and I shaped myself, is better and more correct than my previous understanding of it.
This project helped me better understand Europe and like it more. Now, it is time to explain Europe and share my understandings. For that, I will establish a European Club at my school, and that will hopefully spread across other schools in my hometown, Samsun. Our aspiration will be to motivate youth to have a say in Europe and in Turkey as a part of it.
I will carry the project further. Thanks to my trainers, without whom it would be impossible to achieve all these.
Berkay KanSamsun Samsun Science High School
While people are looking for something, the God provide them something in order to enlighten their way. I met such a thing; the Understanding Europe Project.
I learned that if you believe that there is a problem in the society, you can solve it starting from yourself. Instead of being a part of the problem, be a part of the solution…
Fatýma Zehra BayramDiyarbakýrZiya Gökalp High School
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2007
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2007Visit To BrusselsVisit To Brussels
not give a place to the word “impossible” in your lives. Of course, there will be struggles; life is not roses and pink for anyone. There were also difficult times all through this project; but in the end, the project has achieved a great success; because our trainers never gave up. Believe yourselves... Every problem has a solution...
Greetings to everyone from Ýzmir,
Firstly, I should mention that the Understanding Europe Project enhanced my personal development and that it was a milestone in my life, it gave me a new vision. When trainers from the Understanding Europe Project Group first came to our school, I was not aware of organisations and programmes such as AEGEE, OBESSU, Erasmus and Life Long Learning Programme. Thus, my friends and I benefited a lot from what the trainers told, and we learned new things, which actually carry great importance for youth. Then, I participated in the Summer Camp.
Ferhat RodopluÝzmir Ýzmir Anatolian High School
As it did to other students, this project changed my life since the mobile trainings. With this project, I learnt that everyone is equal and has same rights. “Europe, the European Union, the European Institutions, Europe of Values et cetera” were the concepts that I have heard for the first time in my life. I used to have no interest in such issues and topics; but now, I read articles and follow the news concerning Europe. Besides, I made many friends and broadened my goals. I am more optimistic about future, which was an unpredictable outcome of joining this project.
I thought the project ended with the Mobile trainings. When I heard of the Summer Camp, I got excited. I spent 5 days with 43 people from different regions. It was enjoyable. There is one thing that I know for sure, I am really lucky to participate in this camp and wish other people could have enrolled in it as well. Once again, I have learnt: “There is nothing impossible!” If one believes in himself or herself, there is nothing unachievable and there is always success in it.
The names our trainers have chosen for Brussels were announced and I heard mine. We went to the European Commission, the E u r o p e a n P a r l i a m e n t , OBESSU, AEGEE-Europe, European Youth Forum, and NATO Headquarters as well as to the Grand Palace for shopping, eating and chatting. T h e s e w e r e a n o t h e r unforgettable 4 days.
The project may have come to an end for AEGEE-Ankara; but it is just starting for us. We have acquired all that we needed and now, it is our turn to explain Europe.
Having said all these, there is nothing impossible once we believe ourselves. Please do
The camp was really helpful, entertaining and informative. Trainers tried their best to introduce the essential knowledge about civil society during the camp. In my opinion, the main aim of the camp was to train us as “active citizens” and it helped us become active citizens, people, who can respond and act against the fallacies and inaccuracies. Another thing that I cannot forget is the phrase: “Do not become a part of the problem; but the solution!”
Visit to the institutions and organisations in Brussels after the camp was a thrilling, eye-opening experience. We visited AEGEE-Europe Head office, the European Youth Forum, OBESSU, the European Commission, the European Parliament, NATO Headquarters, TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association) and Permanent Delegation of Turkey to the European Union. My participation helped me formulate my own vision of Europe that is away from all biases and stereotypes. The reason was simple. People in Turkey do not happen to know “Europe” other than their hearings from somewhere or someone else, which is in many cases subjective and prejudiced. This deficiency does not allow people to shape their own Europe. This can only be corrected by living in Europe and experiencing it. Now, I think that the Europe, which was told us all through the project and I shaped myself, is better and more correct than my previous understanding of it.
This project helped me better understand Europe and like it more. Now, it is time to explain Europe and share my understandings. For that, I will establish a European Club at my school, and that will hopefully spread across other schools in my hometown, Samsun. Our aspiration will be to motivate youth to have a say in Europe and in Turkey as a part of it.
I will carry the project further. Thanks to my trainers, without whom it would be impossible to achieve all these.
Berkay KanSamsun Samsun Science High School
While people are looking for something, the God provide them something in order to enlighten their way. I met such a thing; the Understanding Europe Project.
I learned that if you believe that there is a problem in the society, you can solve it starting from yourself. Instead of being a part of the problem, be a part of the solution…
Fatýma Zehra BayramDiyarbakýrZiya Gökalp High School
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Chapter 3: Closing Ceremonies
CLOSING CEREMONIES
20 March 2008, British Embassy, Ankara 14 May 2008, European Parliament, Brussels
The implementation phase of the Understanding Europe Project ended following the 'Visit to Brussels.' During the period between July 2007 and March 2008, the project outcome was collected, the result book preparations began and high school students were supported with their endeavours to establish European Clubs in their high schools. Then, to announce the project results to stakeholders both in Turkey and in Europe, two closure events; one being national and the other, international, were organised. The first was the Reception, hosted by Mr. Giles Portman, the Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy, on March 20, 2008 on the premises of the British Embassy-Ankara (Chestnut Kiosk) with the participation of representatives of the government, other NGOs, the media as well as other embassies.
On the other hand, the Closing Ceremony, organised under the auspices of Member of Parliament (MEP) Mr. Vural Öger on the premises of the European Parliament, gave voice to the success of the Understanding Europe Project on international platforms.
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2008Closing Ceremonies
Chapter 3: Closing Ceremonies
CLOSING CEREMONIES
20 March 2008, British Embassy, Ankara 14 May 2008, European Parliament, Brussels
The implementation phase of the Understanding Europe Project ended following the 'Visit to Brussels.' During the period between July 2007 and March 2008, the project outcome was collected, the result book preparations began and high school students were supported with their endeavours to establish European Clubs in their high schools. Then, to announce the project results to stakeholders both in Turkey and in Europe, two closure events; one being national and the other, international, were organised. The first was the Reception, hosted by Mr. Giles Portman, the Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy, on March 20, 2008 on the premises of the British Embassy-Ankara (Chestnut Kiosk) with the participation of representatives of the government, other NGOs, the media as well as other embassies.
On the other hand, the Closing Ceremony, organised under the auspices of Member of Parliament (MEP) Mr. Vural Öger on the premises of the European Parliament, gave voice to the success of the Understanding Europe Project on international platforms.
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Two Minute Summary of Three Years
Among academics, there is a well-known saying; “If you fail to summarise your PhD dissertation within 5 minutes, it means you did not fully comprehend your work.” It was the evening of March 20th, 2008 Tuesday, during the Reception on the premises of the British Embassy-
Ankara, when I realised that this phrase is indeed true as I was talking about the Understanding Europe Project… All of a sudden, I found myself in the middle of the hall, struggling to pick up the right words and to get a hold of my thoughts, all at the same time.
It is not easy for one to explain something - on which you have worked a great deal, spent more time as compared to your studies or your family, and about which you know every single detail – to others, who do not have the faintest idea about all of these, still making sure you will attract attention and summarise your point briefly. It was not easy for me either…
The reception hall was full with the representatives of the Turkish Ministry of Interior, various NGOs, the Turkish Parliament, several universities and the media; and as I was delivering my speech, I recalled the effort of a wonderful group of people, Zeynep, Ayþe Banu, Bahar, Selcan and I joined as a result of entering the wrong meeting room in November 2005, put forth to implement the project idea, our happiness, sorrows, our ability to motivate each other, stand up and carry on… Therefore, the deep breath I took at the end of my speech was a respectful salutation to the 'past' and in the meantime, a hopeful beginning for the future, which is an extension of the appreciation we received from everyone that knew, heard about our project…
Thanks to everyone, who organised that nice evening, especially to Mr. Giles Portman, Mrs. Özlem Altuð and Ms. Aslý Toppare…
By the way, since my speech lasted only for 2 minutes, I guess I have passed the “knowing what you are doing” exam of the academics…
Gülece ÞenelProject Manager
Gülece, while giving her speech
Understanding Europe Project
In Turkey's efforts for a better future, the EU membership process rises as a precious light and it strengthens this vision.
Doubtlessly, in the EU accession negotiations process and Turkey's future membership, one of the important driving forces is her young and educated
population. Today, youth and youth policies determine the future orientation and destination of a country. As a shining star, Turkey should invest on youth in order to become one of the information based, competitive economies.
With its international network and information management, AEGEE is realising successful projects that serve as an example to its members, young people, many projects as well as several institutions. It works on projects, which compete with the ones having big budgets. The promising members of AEGEE-Ankara impress with their projects.
Through the Understanding Europe Project, like its European counterparts, AEGEE-Ankara achieved a prominent success, while fulfilling an important gap in reducing the lack of information about Europe, breaking stereotypes and forming the right communication channels in Turkey.
As an insider following the EU process from the European Institutions, I observe that the greatest challenges Turkey faces are information management and communication activities within and outside the country. Considering this, the achievements of young AEGEE-Ankara members, who work on voluntary basis with an endless motivation, nourish our excitement.
I hope that in the coming days, the prominence of political communication in determining the future
of states will be better understood by a greater number of people. Moreover, we will hear Understanding Europe like projects, which are supported and in interest of all sectors in Turkey.
Kader SevinçAdvisor of Member of European Parliament (MEP)
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2008Closing Ceremonies: Ankara Closing Ceremonies: Brussels
Two Minute Summary of Three Years
Among academics, there is a well-known saying; “If you fail to summarise your PhD dissertation within 5 minutes, it means you did not fully comprehend your work.” It was the evening of March 20th, 2008 Tuesday, during the Reception on the premises of the British Embassy-
Ankara, when I realised that this phrase is indeed true as I was talking about the Understanding Europe Project… All of a sudden, I found myself in the middle of the hall, struggling to pick up the right words and to get a hold of my thoughts, all at the same time.
It is not easy for one to explain something - on which you have worked a great deal, spent more time as compared to your studies or your family, and about which you know every single detail – to others, who do not have the faintest idea about all of these, still making sure you will attract attention and summarise your point briefly. It was not easy for me either…
The reception hall was full with the representatives of the Turkish Ministry of Interior, various NGOs, the Turkish Parliament, several universities and the media; and as I was delivering my speech, I recalled the effort of a wonderful group of people, Zeynep, Ayþe Banu, Bahar, Selcan and I joined as a result of entering the wrong meeting room in November 2005, put forth to implement the project idea, our happiness, sorrows, our ability to motivate each other, stand up and carry on… Therefore, the deep breath I took at the end of my speech was a respectful salutation to the 'past' and in the meantime, a hopeful beginning for the future, which is an extension of the appreciation we received from everyone that knew, heard about our project…
Thanks to everyone, who organised that nice evening, especially to Mr. Giles Portman, Mrs. Özlem Altuð and Ms. Aslý Toppare…
By the way, since my speech lasted only for 2 minutes, I guess I have passed the “knowing what you are doing” exam of the academics…
Gülece ÞenelProject Manager
Gülece, while giving her speech
Understanding Europe Project
In Turkey's efforts for a better future, the EU membership process rises as a precious light and it strengthens this vision.
Doubtlessly, in the EU accession negotiations process and Turkey's future membership, one of the important driving forces is her young and educated
population. Today, youth and youth policies determine the future orientation and destination of a country. As a shining star, Turkey should invest on youth in order to become one of the information based, competitive economies.
With its international network and information management, AEGEE is realising successful projects that serve as an example to its members, young people, many projects as well as several institutions. It works on projects, which compete with the ones having big budgets. The promising members of AEGEE-Ankara impress with their projects.
Through the Understanding Europe Project, like its European counterparts, AEGEE-Ankara achieved a prominent success, while fulfilling an important gap in reducing the lack of information about Europe, breaking stereotypes and forming the right communication channels in Turkey.
As an insider following the EU process from the European Institutions, I observe that the greatest challenges Turkey faces are information management and communication activities within and outside the country. Considering this, the achievements of young AEGEE-Ankara members, who work on voluntary basis with an endless motivation, nourish our excitement.
I hope that in the coming days, the prominence of political communication in determining the future
of states will be better understood by a greater number of people. Moreover, we will hear Understanding Europe like projects, which are supported and in interest of all sectors in Turkey.
Kader SevinçAdvisor of Member of European Parliament (MEP)
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Hayýrlý Olsun!
I vividly remember the brief; but intense meeting I had with the “Understanding Europe Project” representatives in July 2007 at the European Parliament. Their enthusiasm and vision only confirmed my already very positive impression of the project. As one of those who suggested at that time to hold
the Closing Ceremony of the project on the premises of the European Parliament, I am very satisfied and feel honoured that the European Parliament is indeed « the place » for that event.
The Turkish name of the project is “Avrupa'yý Anla(t)mak.” As a matter of fact, the project consisted of two pillars: Understanding Europe and Explaining Europe. In Turkish, the difference between “Understanding (Anlamak)” and “Explaining (Anlatmak)” is one single letter. This is, of course, a characteristic linguistic feature; but in the context of the project of AEGEE-Ankara, this single letter adds a particularly symbolic value. Understanding and explaining are very closely interwoven concepts, and I like to think of the « t » in Turkish as a subtle bridge between them…
Different activities within the framework of the project had everything to do with active citizenship, searching for and sharing common values, as well as building bridges between various sets of identities and cultures. These were an u n f o r g e t t a b l e a n d enriching experience for the participants and have already yielded lasting r e s u l t s s u c h a s t h e establishment of
“European Clubs” in many Turkish high schools.
Consequently, hosting this Closing Ceremony in the European Parliament – itself a fervent supporter of the very ideas that the project stands for, even more and celebrating the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue – could not be more appropriate.
Thanks to the initiators, organisers, many enthusiastic people behind the scenes and all participants of the project, the abbreviation « EU » acquired an extra meaning that of Explaining and Understanding. Hayýrlý olsun!
André De MunterActing Head of the European Parliament Brussels Information Office1 May 2008
ready to be brave enough at the very first step. The story of our closing ceremony started just like this.
Coincidences… And October 3, 2007… During a seminar I attended with A. Cem Gündoðan (PR Director of AEGEE-Europe at that time), I met MEP Mr. Vural Öger. It was not my timid and amateur sentences that drew his attention, but the reflection of my strong feelings and enthusiasm towards our project on my face and mimics. This time, while heading to Turkey, in my luggage, there were a business card, being a memory of a nice and effective meeting, new hopes, and my excitement that was growing exponentially hour by hour.
A new project volunteer joined us in the following days: Kader Sevinç. Ms. Sevinç patiently stayed in contact with Gülece and me. Sometimes she owned the project even more than us. On one hand, plans for new lives and on the other hand, obstacles and developments in the project… Briefly, it was again huge effort that brought us to Brussels once more. Here, I should also mention the role of Mr. Berkan Saðlam in shortening our trip.
In the end…
The project members, who hit the road with the motto “Tell Me About (Your) Europe!”, were ready at the European Parliament on May 14, 2008 at around 18:00. The guests came one by one, while the project team members were checking the last details, trying to hide their excitement and thinking about stopping the time (if they could). The program started with the speech of MEP Mr. Vural Öger, who has the greatest role in the realisation of this ceremony at the Parliament. Then, Gülece Þenel, our project manager, made such a speech that all of us became very emotional. She also emphasised all the activities we have done
Closing Ceremony, Brussels
Where were we?
While the project members were working to strengthen the relations that were built during their previous visit to Brussels in July 2007, the participants of the trainings w e r e f o c u s e d o n t h e
establishment processes of European Clubs in their high schools. Considering the amount of effort put in the project and its extensive scope, sharing its results and outcome with masses was, doubtlessly, our biggest wish.
How did we do?
Succeeding is hard, and the way to success is full of obstacles. One may be frightened to take the very first steps; but as Andre De Munter, who encouraged us to organise our Closing Ceremony in Brussels, says “In life, if you want water to flow, you have to overcome the problems in front of it.” This phrase is very valuable and meaningful for us. To follow the advice of this phrase, you don't need to be a hero; even an amateur can do it as long as s/he is
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2008
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2008Closing Ceremonies: Brussels Closing Ceremonies: Brussels
Hayýrlý Olsun!
I vividly remember the brief; but intense meeting I had with the “Understanding Europe Project” representatives in July 2007 at the European Parliament. Their enthusiasm and vision only confirmed my already very positive impression of the project. As one of those who suggested at that time to hold
the Closing Ceremony of the project on the premises of the European Parliament, I am very satisfied and feel honoured that the European Parliament is indeed « the place » for that event.
The Turkish name of the project is “Avrupa'yý Anla(t)mak.” As a matter of fact, the project consisted of two pillars: Understanding Europe and Explaining Europe. In Turkish, the difference between “Understanding (Anlamak)” and “Explaining (Anlatmak)” is one single letter. This is, of course, a characteristic linguistic feature; but in the context of the project of AEGEE-Ankara, this single letter adds a particularly symbolic value. Understanding and explaining are very closely interwoven concepts, and I like to think of the « t » in Turkish as a subtle bridge between them…
Different activities within the framework of the project had everything to do with active citizenship, searching for and sharing common values, as well as building bridges between various sets of identities and cultures. These were an u n f o r g e t t a b l e a n d enriching experience for the participants and have already yielded lasting r e s u l t s s u c h a s t h e establishment of
“European Clubs” in many Turkish high schools.
Consequently, hosting this Closing Ceremony in the European Parliament – itself a fervent supporter of the very ideas that the project stands for, even more and celebrating the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue – could not be more appropriate.
Thanks to the initiators, organisers, many enthusiastic people behind the scenes and all participants of the project, the abbreviation « EU » acquired an extra meaning that of Explaining and Understanding. Hayýrlý olsun!
André De MunterActing Head of the European Parliament Brussels Information Office1 May 2008
ready to be brave enough at the very first step. The story of our closing ceremony started just like this.
Coincidences… And October 3, 2007… During a seminar I attended with A. Cem Gündoðan (PR Director of AEGEE-Europe at that time), I met MEP Mr. Vural Öger. It was not my timid and amateur sentences that drew his attention, but the reflection of my strong feelings and enthusiasm towards our project on my face and mimics. This time, while heading to Turkey, in my luggage, there were a business card, being a memory of a nice and effective meeting, new hopes, and my excitement that was growing exponentially hour by hour.
A new project volunteer joined us in the following days: Kader Sevinç. Ms. Sevinç patiently stayed in contact with Gülece and me. Sometimes she owned the project even more than us. On one hand, plans for new lives and on the other hand, obstacles and developments in the project… Briefly, it was again huge effort that brought us to Brussels once more. Here, I should also mention the role of Mr. Berkan Saðlam in shortening our trip.
In the end…
The project members, who hit the road with the motto “Tell Me About (Your) Europe!”, were ready at the European Parliament on May 14, 2008 at around 18:00. The guests came one by one, while the project team members were checking the last details, trying to hide their excitement and thinking about stopping the time (if they could). The program started with the speech of MEP Mr. Vural Öger, who has the greatest role in the realisation of this ceremony at the Parliament. Then, Gülece Þenel, our project manager, made such a speech that all of us became very emotional. She also emphasised all the activities we have done
Closing Ceremony, Brussels
Where were we?
While the project members were working to strengthen the relations that were built during their previous visit to Brussels in July 2007, the participants of the trainings w e r e f o c u s e d o n t h e
establishment processes of European Clubs in their high schools. Considering the amount of effort put in the project and its extensive scope, sharing its results and outcome with masses was, doubtlessly, our biggest wish.
How did we do?
Succeeding is hard, and the way to success is full of obstacles. One may be frightened to take the very first steps; but as Andre De Munter, who encouraged us to organise our Closing Ceremony in Brussels, says “In life, if you want water to flow, you have to overcome the problems in front of it.” This phrase is very valuable and meaningful for us. To follow the advice of this phrase, you don't need to be a hero; even an amateur can do it as long as s/he is
78
2008Closing Ceremonies: Brussels
Chapter 4: New Beginnings &Afterword
since 2005, and at the end, expressed our gratitude to everyone that supported our project. The vivid movie clip, prepared by Buðra Ahlatcý, one of the team members, had a special contribution to the joy of evening.
Among the participants, there were high illustrious personalities both from European and Turkish institutions such as Andre De Munter (European Parliament), Gisela Gauggel-Robinson (European Commiss ion) , Deniz Devr im (European Parliament), Aslýhan Tekin (KAGIDER), and Ender Mersin (TÜSÝAD). Important figures from the Turkish media in Brussels such as Vakur Kaya (abhaber.com), Yusuf Cinal (Hürriyet ve Yeni Haber - Belgium), Ender Duruel (Doðan News Agency) were also with us. Moreover, the participation of
many more AEGEE members from all over Europe and interested people from Turkey not only enhanced our happiness, but also was an indicator of the success of our project.
The result
Having started with the initiative of a couple of people, the Understanding Europe Project, gained new members and supporters day-by-day, ended with the Closing Ceremony in Brussels. The presence of Ayþe Savaþ and Ahmet Arýkan Özden at the Parliament (as representatives of the high school students, being from Antalya and Samsun, respectively) was a sign of the further steps the project took to achieve its aims. Furthermore, their presence not only drew the attention of the prominent figures in Brussels, but also pointed that in the future, youth in Turkey will continue to be active in the European society.
Special thanks to:
A. Cem Gündoðan - AEGEE Europe - Public Relations Director (2007 Spring Term)Andre De Munter - Acting Head of the European Parliament Brussels Information Office Berkan Saðlam - TEMSA Europe- Dealer Development & Market Research Executive Gülece Þenel - Understanding Europe Project ManagerKader Sevinç - Advisor of MEPVural Öger - MEP
Zeynep KarasuSecretary General
While Gülece was delivering her speech during the Closing Ceremony at the European Parliament, I remembered our trainings. The trainings, in which we learned more than they wanted to teach us… The trainings, where we discussed and stated our thoughts in a respectful platform... There, I realised that in contrast to what I used to believe, I was not an active citizen at all…
Was 60 seconds actually equal to 1 minute?
I was just a high school student; but I was at the Parliament. In my opinion, this is the first step of what I am going to do in the future… I feel this; because every end shed light on new beginnings…
Ayþe Savaþ
78
2008Closing Ceremonies: Brussels
Chapter 4: New Beginnings &Afterword
since 2005, and at the end, expressed our gratitude to everyone that supported our project. The vivid movie clip, prepared by Buðra Ahlatcý, one of the team members, had a special contribution to the joy of evening.
Among the participants, there were high illustrious personalities both from European and Turkish institutions such as Andre De Munter (European Parliament), Gisela Gauggel-Robinson (European Commiss ion) , Deniz Devr im (European Parliament), Aslýhan Tekin (KAGIDER), and Ender Mersin (TÜSÝAD). Important figures from the Turkish media in Brussels such as Vakur Kaya (abhaber.com), Yusuf Cinal (Hürriyet ve Yeni Haber - Belgium), Ender Duruel (Doðan News Agency) were also with us. Moreover, the participation of
many more AEGEE members from all over Europe and interested people from Turkey not only enhanced our happiness, but also was an indicator of the success of our project.
The result
Having started with the initiative of a couple of people, the Understanding Europe Project, gained new members and supporters day-by-day, ended with the Closing Ceremony in Brussels. The presence of Ayþe Savaþ and Ahmet Arýkan Özden at the Parliament (as representatives of the high school students, being from Antalya and Samsun, respectively) was a sign of the further steps the project took to achieve its aims. Furthermore, their presence not only drew the attention of the prominent figures in Brussels, but also pointed that in the future, youth in Turkey will continue to be active in the European society.
Special thanks to:
A. Cem Gündoðan - AEGEE Europe - Public Relations Director (2007 Spring Term)Andre De Munter - Acting Head of the European Parliament Brussels Information Office Berkan Saðlam - TEMSA Europe- Dealer Development & Market Research Executive Gülece Þenel - Understanding Europe Project ManagerKader Sevinç - Advisor of MEPVural Öger - MEP
Zeynep KarasuSecretary General
While Gülece was delivering her speech during the Closing Ceremony at the European Parliament, I remembered our trainings. The trainings, in which we learned more than they wanted to teach us… The trainings, where we discussed and stated our thoughts in a respectful platform... There, I realised that in contrast to what I used to believe, I was not an active citizen at all…
Was 60 seconds actually equal to 1 minute?
I was just a high school student; but I was at the Parliament. In my opinion, this is the first step of what I am going to do in the future… I feel this; because every end shed light on new beginnings…
Ayþe Savaþ
New Beginnings
80
2008-2009 New Beginnings
81
2008-2009
Sender: Ayþe Savaþ Date: Sat, 5 April, 2008 To: understandingeurope@
Antalya Karatay High School students will organise a seminar on “Drug Use and Addiction” in cooperation with the Pharmacists Chamber. Then, other schools will be visited and students there will be trained on these subjects.
Thanks to the Understanding Europe Project Team...
Ayþe Savaþ
From: Ferhat Rodoplu Date: Mon, 7 April, 2008 To: understandingeurope@
Ýzmir Anatolian High School Activity Report
As a result of the negotiations with the school administration, Burak Kocagöncü, Buse Çeter, Ferhat Rodoply, Gökçe Þimþek and Suna Bozok, all being participants of the Understanding Europe
Project Summer Camp, founded the European Club in Ýzmir Anatolian High School.
To promote the European Club within the school and to inform other students, classes were visited and the club was introduced. Currently, our club has 38 members.
The goals and objectives of the club are defined, an annual plan is prepared and the executive board is elected. According to the annual plan, during the first-term (September 2007- February 2008), it is decided to prioritise the promotion of the club in the school and among club members, the organisation of an internal education and also, seminars in addition to the establishment of discussion platforms. In this framework, on October 19, 2007, from the Understanding Europe Project team, Barbaros Çörekoðlu, Burcu Önal and Uður Göçen gave a lecture on “Active Citizenship, Education System in Turkey, the Aims and the Administration of the European Clubs.”
On the other hand, our plans for the second term (February- June 2008) are as follows; getting into contact with the other European Clubs in Ýzmir and introducing members to each other, preparation of a presentation of our school and our club, its proper
translation into foreign languages, organisation of t r a i n i n g s o n “A c t i v e Citizenship and Europe of Values”, making a need analysis for future projects, and a final evaluation meeting.
Sincerely,
Ferhat Rodoplu, Gökçe Þimþek, Buse Çeter and Suna Bozok
and materials regarding AEGEE. We made a list of our members and completed the registration forms. Besides these, we visited each class and conducted a questionnaire. According to its results, the most prominent problems of youngsters are 'concerns for future, lack of general knowledge and deficiencies in the Turkish education system.' We believe the European Club can contribute to the solution of these problems, therefore, we aim to transfer the knowledge and experience we gained during the Summer Camp to our club members, and plan to organise meetings to ensure the continuity of the European Club after our graduation…
Sender: Gökçe Çakýr Date: Thu, 10 April, 2008 To: understandingeurope@ When I heard that I was accepted to the Summer Camp of the Understanding Europe Project, I was both happy and worried. Thinking about what I would face and participating in a training at the campus of the Middle East Technical University (METU) were making me excited.
During these five days, we discovered a lot, gained self-confidence, made good friends, developed competences and most importantly, learnt how to overcome challenges in our lives and how to continue…
For us, the Summer Camp was not only a part of a project. We believed this project, and trusted our mentors. As the participants of the Summer Camp from Ýzmir Karataþ High School, we wanted to share our experiences with other students in our schools and at the end of many struggles, we established the European Club. In the meantime, we continued to be in contact with our friends from Ýzmir and other cities, informed them about our work.
We founded a European Club in Ýzmir Karataþ High School, because we want our peers to know more, to socialise and to be able to find rational solutions to their problems and express their opinions.
After our establishment, we hang posters and promotion materials that we took from the Understanding Europe Project Group or prepared ourselves around the school. We gave some links, where students could find some information before joining our club, and distributed some photocopies
New Beginnings
80
2008-2009 New Beginnings
81
2008-2009
Sender: Ayþe Savaþ Date: Sat, 5 April, 2008 To: understandingeurope@
Antalya Karatay High School students will organise a seminar on “Drug Use and Addiction” in cooperation with the Pharmacists Chamber. Then, other schools will be visited and students there will be trained on these subjects.
Thanks to the Understanding Europe Project Team...
Ayþe Savaþ
From: Ferhat Rodoplu Date: Mon, 7 April, 2008 To: understandingeurope@
Ýzmir Anatolian High School Activity Report
As a result of the negotiations with the school administration, Burak Kocagöncü, Buse Çeter, Ferhat Rodoply, Gökçe Þimþek and Suna Bozok, all being participants of the Understanding Europe
Project Summer Camp, founded the European Club in Ýzmir Anatolian High School.
To promote the European Club within the school and to inform other students, classes were visited and the club was introduced. Currently, our club has 38 members.
The goals and objectives of the club are defined, an annual plan is prepared and the executive board is elected. According to the annual plan, during the first-term (September 2007- February 2008), it is decided to prioritise the promotion of the club in the school and among club members, the organisation of an internal education and also, seminars in addition to the establishment of discussion platforms. In this framework, on October 19, 2007, from the Understanding Europe Project team, Barbaros Çörekoðlu, Burcu Önal and Uður Göçen gave a lecture on “Active Citizenship, Education System in Turkey, the Aims and the Administration of the European Clubs.”
On the other hand, our plans for the second term (February- June 2008) are as follows; getting into contact with the other European Clubs in Ýzmir and introducing members to each other, preparation of a presentation of our school and our club, its proper
translation into foreign languages, organisation of t r a i n i n g s o n “A c t i v e Citizenship and Europe of Values”, making a need analysis for future projects, and a final evaluation meeting.
Sincerely,
Ferhat Rodoplu, Gökçe Þimþek, Buse Çeter and Suna Bozok
and materials regarding AEGEE. We made a list of our members and completed the registration forms. Besides these, we visited each class and conducted a questionnaire. According to its results, the most prominent problems of youngsters are 'concerns for future, lack of general knowledge and deficiencies in the Turkish education system.' We believe the European Club can contribute to the solution of these problems, therefore, we aim to transfer the knowledge and experience we gained during the Summer Camp to our club members, and plan to organise meetings to ensure the continuity of the European Club after our graduation…
Sender: Gökçe Çakýr Date: Thu, 10 April, 2008 To: understandingeurope@ When I heard that I was accepted to the Summer Camp of the Understanding Europe Project, I was both happy and worried. Thinking about what I would face and participating in a training at the campus of the Middle East Technical University (METU) were making me excited.
During these five days, we discovered a lot, gained self-confidence, made good friends, developed competences and most importantly, learnt how to overcome challenges in our lives and how to continue…
For us, the Summer Camp was not only a part of a project. We believed this project, and trusted our mentors. As the participants of the Summer Camp from Ýzmir Karataþ High School, we wanted to share our experiences with other students in our schools and at the end of many struggles, we established the European Club. In the meantime, we continued to be in contact with our friends from Ýzmir and other cities, informed them about our work.
We founded a European Club in Ýzmir Karataþ High School, because we want our peers to know more, to socialise and to be able to find rational solutions to their problems and express their opinions.
After our establishment, we hang posters and promotion materials that we took from the Understanding Europe Project Group or prepared ourselves around the school. We gave some links, where students could find some information before joining our club, and distributed some photocopies
82 83
2008-2009 New Beginnings 2008-2009New Beginnings
The Summer Camp in METU was a just beginning for us. Thanks to our mentors for their endless supports…
Gökçe Çakýr Ýzmir Karataþ High SchoolFounder of the European Club
Sender: Ayþe Savaþ Date: Fri, 23 May, 2008 To: understandingeurope@
Hi the Understanding Europe Project Group (UEPG)!
I don't know whether there is any recycling project in your cities, but in Antalya, we began working on this issue…
The municipality highlights the necessity of working with big companies, hence, plans to start awareness-raising and dissemination activities in the 2008-2009 school year. However, we wanted to get into action beginning from this period, and to direct the students to think about this issue, we are organising an event for the 5th June World Environment Day.
Firstly, we have a recycling orchestra; an orchestra
consisting of merely "natural" instruments to make sound such as opening and closing newspapers, shaking rice grains in plastic bottles, hitting glasses with tea spoons and blowing into glass bottles filled with water…. We will give a concert and at the end, we will throw the instruments into the relevant recycling bins in front of us. For instance, the ones using the glass bottles will leave the bottles in the glass bin. In the meantime, there will be competitions such as egg-carriage, cycling, jumping in sacks, yogurt-eating. The aim is to remind the World Environment Day and to raise awareness of students regarding on this subject.
I wanted to tell you about this event, because I think that as a country, we need to remember this day and do something both enjoyable and informative. Last but not least, we started this project in our city. If you do not have similar activities, you should also begin, so that our country can be more aware of the environment and then, progress…
As you can remember from the Summer Camp; Multiplier Effect
Thank you for your attention…
The UEPG for a healthy and clean environment!
Ayþe Savaþ
Furthermore, we are also engaged in Comenius projects. Currently, we are trying to find partner schools and come up with project ideas. Everything is okay….
I thank to the Understanding Europe Project members for widening our perspective on active citizenship and providing us opportunities to involve in such international structures as well as events…
With love,
Berkay Kan
Sender: Berkay Kan Date: Sat, 1 November, 2008 To: understandingeurope@
Following the Summer Camp and the visit to Brussels, firstly, I organised some conferences in Samsun Science High School to inform students about “Civil Society and Active Citizenship.” The target group of these were especially the 9th grade students as they are the ones, who will continue such initiatives and I firmly believe that raising their awareness is an investment for future. Moreover, I established the Model United Nations (MUN) Club in our school. This is something new for both our school and our city. Currently, I am celebrating this happy situation with my friends and teachers. I hope that the MUN Club will offer valuable opportunities to my peers and give them a chance to become more sensitive towards their societies, broaden their perspectives, and they will get to know people from different cultures, while working with them under the same organisation.
82 83
2008-2009 New Beginnings 2008-2009New Beginnings
The Summer Camp in METU was a just beginning for us. Thanks to our mentors for their endless supports…
Gökçe Çakýr Ýzmir Karataþ High SchoolFounder of the European Club
Sender: Ayþe Savaþ Date: Fri, 23 May, 2008 To: understandingeurope@
Hi the Understanding Europe Project Group (UEPG)!
I don't know whether there is any recycling project in your cities, but in Antalya, we began working on this issue…
The municipality highlights the necessity of working with big companies, hence, plans to start awareness-raising and dissemination activities in the 2008-2009 school year. However, we wanted to get into action beginning from this period, and to direct the students to think about this issue, we are organising an event for the 5th June World Environment Day.
Firstly, we have a recycling orchestra; an orchestra
consisting of merely "natural" instruments to make sound such as opening and closing newspapers, shaking rice grains in plastic bottles, hitting glasses with tea spoons and blowing into glass bottles filled with water…. We will give a concert and at the end, we will throw the instruments into the relevant recycling bins in front of us. For instance, the ones using the glass bottles will leave the bottles in the glass bin. In the meantime, there will be competitions such as egg-carriage, cycling, jumping in sacks, yogurt-eating. The aim is to remind the World Environment Day and to raise awareness of students regarding on this subject.
I wanted to tell you about this event, because I think that as a country, we need to remember this day and do something both enjoyable and informative. Last but not least, we started this project in our city. If you do not have similar activities, you should also begin, so that our country can be more aware of the environment and then, progress…
As you can remember from the Summer Camp; Multiplier Effect
Thank you for your attention…
The UEPG for a healthy and clean environment!
Ayþe Savaþ
Furthermore, we are also engaged in Comenius projects. Currently, we are trying to find partner schools and come up with project ideas. Everything is okay….
I thank to the Understanding Europe Project members for widening our perspective on active citizenship and providing us opportunities to involve in such international structures as well as events…
With love,
Berkay Kan
Sender: Berkay Kan Date: Sat, 1 November, 2008 To: understandingeurope@
Following the Summer Camp and the visit to Brussels, firstly, I organised some conferences in Samsun Science High School to inform students about “Civil Society and Active Citizenship.” The target group of these were especially the 9th grade students as they are the ones, who will continue such initiatives and I firmly believe that raising their awareness is an investment for future. Moreover, I established the Model United Nations (MUN) Club in our school. This is something new for both our school and our city. Currently, I am celebrating this happy situation with my friends and teachers. I hope that the MUN Club will offer valuable opportunities to my peers and give them a chance to become more sensitive towards their societies, broaden their perspectives, and they will get to know people from different cultures, while working with them under the same organisation.
84
2009
85
2009AfterwordAfterword
FROM SUNSET TO SUNRISE
“Autumn best suits to Ankara.” says Doðan Hýzlan, a Turkish author…
Four years ago, in the evening of November 13, 2005, while yellow-orange grape leaves were glowing with reflection of the scarlet sky, the colours of the sun that were unknown and
waiting to be explored felt over the city. Beginning at that moment, in the coming days, this exploration turned out into a road trip, which was going to last for four'four seasons', of a group of university students studying in the capital of autumn, Ankara. To a story of their journey that aims to know the colours of the sun better and to share these all around the Anatolia. To a story of their journey from sunrise to sunset… Named as Understanding Europe…
The first of the 'four seasons' was regarding the Understanding stage. Long meetings, discussions, brainstorms, decisions; briefly, an intensive effort of 'shaping.' Its first flowers bloomed in spring; the Seminars on Europe I…
A more crowded group welcomed the second of the 'four seasons' and this group planted all the trees planned in the previous year (even more) and integrated the Understanding and Explaining stages; Seminars on Europe II, Training for Trainers, Mobile Trainings (which were implemented in four corners of Turkey), Summer Camp and finally, the Visit to Brussels…
The third of the 'four seasons' was the harvest. The previously planted trees were watered and supported, so that they would lean toward the right direction. On the other hand, the happenings in the first two of the 'four seasons' were started to be archived. Then, while the spring sun was warming Ankara, outcome of
three years were announced to the stakeholders during a Reception on the premises of the British Embassy-Ankara. And the story of the sunrise, aimed at understanding and explaining the sunset, ended with a Closing Ceremony in Brussels at the European Parliament. In that spring, every tree bore fruit; now, the story was from the sunset to the sunrise…
The fourth 'four season' was dedicated to follow-up including preparations of this result book. The season ended with a nice surprise: “Euractiv Awards for Debating Europe Nationally!”
Now, after four years, again in one November evening, while the sun is colouring another city in scarlet, I remember an expression we used at the very beginning;
“The Understanding Europe Project is something colourful!”
Like the life…Like the sun…Like the sunrise and the sunset…Like Turkey and Europe…Like the young people that carried out this project and that form the target group of this project…
The exploration of all of these that lasts for four 'four seasons'…
It is obvious that in the next springs, more trees will bloom and bear fruits… How great!
Very special thanks to creators of this journey, to people, who encouraged the ones that hit the road, to the ones that indeed hit the road, to supporters of each step, especially to the project team and AEGEE-Ankara.
The results of the questionnaires made within the course of the Mobile Trainings show that not only Turkey, but also Europe needs to introduce itself. In other words, there are still steps to be taken; for a better future and more peaceful relations… I hope that the Understanding Europe will inspire these new journeys and while looking at this project, the ones who will hit the road will remember the power of believing…
Did you recognise?
The sun is setting more colourful…
13 November 200917:30Ýstanbul
Gülece ÞenelProject Manager
Special Thanks on Personal Behalf to...
My family and my friends (For your understanding, trust, love and support) The Understanding Europe Project Team (For your work and friendship) and their Families (For your support) AEGEE-Ankara (For your desire to realise this project) Burcu Becermen (For your patience, knowledge and experience transfer as well as valuable supports) Professors of Hacettepe University & Sabancý University (For your tolerance)
84
2009
85
2009AfterwordAfterword
FROM SUNSET TO SUNRISE
“Autumn best suits to Ankara.” says Doðan Hýzlan, a Turkish author…
Four years ago, in the evening of November 13, 2005, while yellow-orange grape leaves were glowing with reflection of the scarlet sky, the colours of the sun that were unknown and
waiting to be explored felt over the city. Beginning at that moment, in the coming days, this exploration turned out into a road trip, which was going to last for four'four seasons', of a group of university students studying in the capital of autumn, Ankara. To a story of their journey that aims to know the colours of the sun better and to share these all around the Anatolia. To a story of their journey from sunrise to sunset… Named as Understanding Europe…
The first of the 'four seasons' was regarding the Understanding stage. Long meetings, discussions, brainstorms, decisions; briefly, an intensive effort of 'shaping.' Its first flowers bloomed in spring; the Seminars on Europe I…
A more crowded group welcomed the second of the 'four seasons' and this group planted all the trees planned in the previous year (even more) and integrated the Understanding and Explaining stages; Seminars on Europe II, Training for Trainers, Mobile Trainings (which were implemented in four corners of Turkey), Summer Camp and finally, the Visit to Brussels…
The third of the 'four seasons' was the harvest. The previously planted trees were watered and supported, so that they would lean toward the right direction. On the other hand, the happenings in the first two of the 'four seasons' were started to be archived. Then, while the spring sun was warming Ankara, outcome of
three years were announced to the stakeholders during a Reception on the premises of the British Embassy-Ankara. And the story of the sunrise, aimed at understanding and explaining the sunset, ended with a Closing Ceremony in Brussels at the European Parliament. In that spring, every tree bore fruit; now, the story was from the sunset to the sunrise…
The fourth 'four season' was dedicated to follow-up including preparations of this result book. The season ended with a nice surprise: “Euractiv Awards for Debating Europe Nationally!”
Now, after four years, again in one November evening, while the sun is colouring another city in scarlet, I remember an expression we used at the very beginning;
“The Understanding Europe Project is something colourful!”
Like the life…Like the sun…Like the sunrise and the sunset…Like Turkey and Europe…Like the young people that carried out this project and that form the target group of this project…
The exploration of all of these that lasts for four 'four seasons'…
It is obvious that in the next springs, more trees will bloom and bear fruits… How great!
Very special thanks to creators of this journey, to people, who encouraged the ones that hit the road, to the ones that indeed hit the road, to supporters of each step, especially to the project team and AEGEE-Ankara.
The results of the questionnaires made within the course of the Mobile Trainings show that not only Turkey, but also Europe needs to introduce itself. In other words, there are still steps to be taken; for a better future and more peaceful relations… I hope that the Understanding Europe will inspire these new journeys and while looking at this project, the ones who will hit the road will remember the power of believing…
Did you recognise?
The sun is setting more colourful…
13 November 200917:30Ýstanbul
Gülece ÞenelProject Manager
Special Thanks on Personal Behalf to...
My family and my friends (For your understanding, trust, love and support) The Understanding Europe Project Team (For your work and friendship) and their Families (For your support) AEGEE-Ankara (For your desire to realise this project) Burcu Becermen (For your patience, knowledge and experience transfer as well as valuable supports) Professors of Hacettepe University & Sabancý University (For your tolerance)
86
2005-2009
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2005-2009Press MirrorPress Mirror
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2005-2009
87
2005-2009Press MirrorPress Mirror
88 89
Gratitudes
THANKS TO
Everyone included in the Understanding Europe Project (In Alphabetic Order);
Project Partners
British Embassy- AnkaraEuropean Union Communication Group (ABÝG)
METU Center for European StudiesÖGER TOUR
TEMSA
Speakers of the Seminars on Europe I & II:
Ahmet Sever, Prof. Dr. Atila Eralp, Assist. Prof. Dr. Aykan Erdemir, Assos. Prof. Dr. Aykut Çelebi, Dr. Bahadýr Kaleaðasý, Prof. Dr. Can Baydarol, Assist. Prof. Dr. Dimitris Tsahouras, Dr. Erdem Denk, Prof. Dr. Haluk Günuður, Dr. Kývanç Ulusoy, Özge Zihnioðlu, Salih Efe, Selçuk Pehlivanoðlu, Assos. Prof. Dr. Sevilay
Kahraman, Prof. Dr. Yasin Ceylan
And
METU Foreign Policy and International Relations Club (DPUÝT)Turkish Education Association (TED)
Eyüp Can Derviþoðlu, Sevinç Atabay, Yiðit Canay
Trainers of the Training for Trainers:
Ayla Sýrýklý, Burcu Becermen, Dijan Albayrak, Evren Sener Ünal, Ozan Çakmak
And
Administration of the Youth and Sports Directorate Premises in Gölbaþý
Contributors to the Mobile Trainings:
Ankara Provincial Directorate of Education, Antalya Provincial Directorate of Education, Diyarbakýr Provincial Directorate of Education, Erzurum Provincial Directorate of Education, Ýstanbul Provincial
Directorate of Education, Ýzmir Provincial Directorate of Education, Ýzmir Balçova County Directorate of Education, Ýzmir Bornova County Directorate of Education, Ýzmir Konak County Directorate of Education,
Samsun Provincial Directorate of Education
School Administrations, Teachers and Students ofAntalya Private High School, Ayrancý High School, Balçova Trade ve Anatolian Trade Vocational High
School, Diyarbakýr Anatolian High School, Erzurum Anatolian High School, Erzurum High School, Ýzmir Anatolian High School, Kadýköy Anatolian High School, Karatay High School, Konak Karataþ High School,
METU Development Foundation Private High School, Nevzat Ayaz Anatolian High School, On Dokuz
2005-2009Press Mirror
88 89
Gratitudes
THANKS TO
Everyone included in the Understanding Europe Project (In Alphabetic Order);
Project Partners
British Embassy- AnkaraEuropean Union Communication Group (ABÝG)
METU Center for European StudiesÖGER TOUR
TEMSA
Speakers of the Seminars on Europe I & II:
Ahmet Sever, Prof. Dr. Atila Eralp, Assist. Prof. Dr. Aykan Erdemir, Assos. Prof. Dr. Aykut Çelebi, Dr. Bahadýr Kaleaðasý, Prof. Dr. Can Baydarol, Assist. Prof. Dr. Dimitris Tsahouras, Dr. Erdem Denk, Prof. Dr. Haluk Günuður, Dr. Kývanç Ulusoy, Özge Zihnioðlu, Salih Efe, Selçuk Pehlivanoðlu, Assos. Prof. Dr. Sevilay
Kahraman, Prof. Dr. Yasin Ceylan
And
METU Foreign Policy and International Relations Club (DPUÝT)Turkish Education Association (TED)
Eyüp Can Derviþoðlu, Sevinç Atabay, Yiðit Canay
Trainers of the Training for Trainers:
Ayla Sýrýklý, Burcu Becermen, Dijan Albayrak, Evren Sener Ünal, Ozan Çakmak
And
Administration of the Youth and Sports Directorate Premises in Gölbaþý
Contributors to the Mobile Trainings:
Ankara Provincial Directorate of Education, Antalya Provincial Directorate of Education, Diyarbakýr Provincial Directorate of Education, Erzurum Provincial Directorate of Education, Ýstanbul Provincial
Directorate of Education, Ýzmir Provincial Directorate of Education, Ýzmir Balçova County Directorate of Education, Ýzmir Bornova County Directorate of Education, Ýzmir Konak County Directorate of Education,
Samsun Provincial Directorate of Education
School Administrations, Teachers and Students ofAntalya Private High School, Ayrancý High School, Balçova Trade ve Anatolian Trade Vocational High
School, Diyarbakýr Anatolian High School, Erzurum Anatolian High School, Erzurum High School, Ýzmir Anatolian High School, Kadýköy Anatolian High School, Karatay High School, Konak Karataþ High School,
METU Development Foundation Private High School, Nevzat Ayaz Anatolian High School, On Dokuz
2005-2009Press Mirror
90 91
Gratitudes Gratitudes
PROJECT TEAM
Ahmet Eren Öztürk, A. Cem Gündoðan, Ayþe Banu Baðrýaçýk, Arif Sýrrý Özçelik, Bahar Özcan, Buðra Ahlatcý, Burcu Ýnan, Burcu Önal, Burçin Evrenkaya, Cansu Albayrak, Devin Bahçeci, Ekin Eraydýn,
Ethemcan Turhan, Fatma Karpuz, Fatma Kaya, Fýrat Altunhan, Gökhan Baþaran, Gözde Öztürk, Gülece Þenel, Hande Bozkurt, Ýlker Yasin, Ý. Barbaros Çörekoðlu, Jorinda Berberi, M. Uður Göçen, Merve Böðürcü,
Onur Kutlukaya, Özge Taðýzade, Özgür Küçüktaþdemir, Seda Koþar, Selcan Küçük, Semih Gökceoðlu, Serhat Korkmaz, Tuðba Keskin, Yýlmaz Demir, Zeynep Karasu
Members of AEGEE-Ankara
Aras Bülbül, Ayþe Özge Özdemir, Bilgi Can Köksal, Ceren Gergeroðlu De Torres, Eda Bitlisoðlu, Egemen Metin Turan, Emrah Kurt, Emrah Yahþi, Ezgi Erkan, Gamze Keskin, Hakan Gümüþ, Mete Kurtoðlu, Yusuf
Ertaç Taþar
Board of AEGEE-Ankara 2005-2010
Patrons of AEGEE-Ankara
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Süha Sevük, Prof. Dr. Atila Eralp, Dr. Bahadýr Kaleaðasý, Assos. Prof. Dr. Cem Bozþahin, Prof. Dr. Korel Göymen
Comité Dirécteur of AEGEE-Europe 2006-2008
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CANNOT BE MENTIONED HERE
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Aslý ToppareBerkan SaðlamGiles PortmanÝsmet Köroðlu
Ýlyas ÇetinKader SevinçÖzlem Altuð
Þevki MütevellioðluVural Öger
And
Middle East Technical University (METU)
Mayýs High School, Ortadoðu Private High School, Ýstiklal Private High School, Samsun Anatolian High School, Samsun Science High School, TED Ankara College Foundation High School, Üsküdar High School,
Yusuf Ziya Öner Science High School, Ziya Gökalp High School, Zografion Greek High SchoolAnd
Abdullah Ayrancý, Ahmet Altunköprü, Ahmet Demir, Alaaddin Kurt, Ali Altun, Ali Özgüner, Ali Özveren, Armaðan Coþkun, Burhanettin Dumlu, Celil Altýntas, Derya Çakar, Erim Öncel, Fevzi Budak, Fuat Þahin,
Funda Akpamuk, Hüseyin Erçin, Ýsmail Yavuz, Kostas Eftimiyadis, Mehmet Baki Sevgili, M. Emin Topdemir, Melike Toklucu, Mustafa Çakýr, Müzehher Önal, Nermin Baytimur, Nurdan Mete, Nusret
Çakmak, Osman Nuri Ekiz, Orhan Demiral, Ramazan Çakmak, Raþit Kara, Sadýk Þimþek, Þahin Demirkol, Serap Dokumacý, Yani Demircioðlu, Yunus Yýlmaz, Ziya Sürmeli
Members of AEGEE-Erzurum & AEGEE-Diyarbakýr
Trainers of the Summer Camp:
Didem Dinçerden, Kerem Þenol, Kývanç Tos, M. Murat Yurtbilir, Serhat Yarangümelioðlu
And
Gizem KolbaþýMETU Office of Cultural Affairs
Contributors to the Visit to Brussels:
André De Munter, Arzu Þengün, Ayþegül Gülþen Smith, Barbora Maronkova, Çaðlar Fahri Çakýralp, Despina-Ino Afentouli, Diogo Pinto, Dilek Ýþter Ateþ, Elizabeth Hernandez-Bastias, Felix Schumann,
Fethiye Has, George Katsirdakis, Gergely Polner, Ýlyas Çetin, Ýsmet Köroðlu, Marina Macchi, Marta Gomez, Meltem Çakýr, Nadia Marsan, Nektarios Nicolaides, Ralf Von Ameln, Sabri Ergen, Selin Özaydýn, Steve
Sturm, Vakur Kaya, Yeter Yaman-Naudocie
And
Representatives and Administrations of
AEGEE-Europe, Belgium Embassy- Ankara, European Commission, European Parliament, European Youth Forum, Permanent Delegation of Turkey to the EU, NATO, OBESSU
Contributors to the Closing Ceremony in Brussels:
Aslýhan Tekin, Deniz Devrim, Ender Duruel, Ender Mersin, Erdem Sezer, Faruk Kaymakçý, Firdevs Sera Erzene, Gisela Gauggel- Robinson, Gül Arslan, Ýlke Toygür, Nur Cihan Öztürk, Özlem Özgencil, Sýla
Sefercioðlu, Tom Antonissen, Yusuf Cinal
And
AEGEE members, Belgium Consulate General- Ýstanbul
90 91
Gratitudes Gratitudes
PROJECT TEAM
Ahmet Eren Öztürk, A. Cem Gündoðan, Ayþe Banu Baðrýaçýk, Arif Sýrrý Özçelik, Bahar Özcan, Buðra Ahlatcý, Burcu Ýnan, Burcu Önal, Burçin Evrenkaya, Cansu Albayrak, Devin Bahçeci, Ekin Eraydýn,
Ethemcan Turhan, Fatma Karpuz, Fatma Kaya, Fýrat Altunhan, Gökhan Baþaran, Gözde Öztürk, Gülece Þenel, Hande Bozkurt, Ýlker Yasin, Ý. Barbaros Çörekoðlu, Jorinda Berberi, M. Uður Göçen, Merve Böðürcü,
Onur Kutlukaya, Özge Taðýzade, Özgür Küçüktaþdemir, Seda Koþar, Selcan Küçük, Semih Gökceoðlu, Serhat Korkmaz, Tuðba Keskin, Yýlmaz Demir, Zeynep Karasu
Members of AEGEE-Ankara
Aras Bülbül, Ayþe Özge Özdemir, Bilgi Can Köksal, Ceren Gergeroðlu De Torres, Eda Bitlisoðlu, Egemen Metin Turan, Emrah Kurt, Emrah Yahþi, Ezgi Erkan, Gamze Keskin, Hakan Gümüþ, Mete Kurtoðlu, Yusuf
Ertaç Taþar
Board of AEGEE-Ankara 2005-2010
Patrons of AEGEE-Ankara
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Süha Sevük, Prof. Dr. Atila Eralp, Dr. Bahadýr Kaleaðasý, Assos. Prof. Dr. Cem Bozþahin, Prof. Dr. Korel Göymen
Comité Dirécteur of AEGEE-Europe 2006-2008
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CANNOT BE MENTIONED HERE
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Aslý ToppareBerkan SaðlamGiles PortmanÝsmet Köroðlu
Ýlyas ÇetinKader SevinçÖzlem Altuð
Þevki MütevellioðluVural Öger
And
Middle East Technical University (METU)
Mayýs High School, Ortadoðu Private High School, Ýstiklal Private High School, Samsun Anatolian High School, Samsun Science High School, TED Ankara College Foundation High School, Üsküdar High School,
Yusuf Ziya Öner Science High School, Ziya Gökalp High School, Zografion Greek High SchoolAnd
Abdullah Ayrancý, Ahmet Altunköprü, Ahmet Demir, Alaaddin Kurt, Ali Altun, Ali Özgüner, Ali Özveren, Armaðan Coþkun, Burhanettin Dumlu, Celil Altýntas, Derya Çakar, Erim Öncel, Fevzi Budak, Fuat Þahin,
Funda Akpamuk, Hüseyin Erçin, Ýsmail Yavuz, Kostas Eftimiyadis, Mehmet Baki Sevgili, M. Emin Topdemir, Melike Toklucu, Mustafa Çakýr, Müzehher Önal, Nermin Baytimur, Nurdan Mete, Nusret
Çakmak, Osman Nuri Ekiz, Orhan Demiral, Ramazan Çakmak, Raþit Kara, Sadýk Þimþek, Þahin Demirkol, Serap Dokumacý, Yani Demircioðlu, Yunus Yýlmaz, Ziya Sürmeli
Members of AEGEE-Erzurum & AEGEE-Diyarbakýr
Trainers of the Summer Camp:
Didem Dinçerden, Kerem Þenol, Kývanç Tos, M. Murat Yurtbilir, Serhat Yarangümelioðlu
And
Gizem KolbaþýMETU Office of Cultural Affairs
Contributors to the Visit to Brussels:
André De Munter, Arzu Þengün, Ayþegül Gülþen Smith, Barbora Maronkova, Çaðlar Fahri Çakýralp, Despina-Ino Afentouli, Diogo Pinto, Dilek Ýþter Ateþ, Elizabeth Hernandez-Bastias, Felix Schumann,
Fethiye Has, George Katsirdakis, Gergely Polner, Ýlyas Çetin, Ýsmet Köroðlu, Marina Macchi, Marta Gomez, Meltem Çakýr, Nadia Marsan, Nektarios Nicolaides, Ralf Von Ameln, Sabri Ergen, Selin Özaydýn, Steve
Sturm, Vakur Kaya, Yeter Yaman-Naudocie
And
Representatives and Administrations of
AEGEE-Europe, Belgium Embassy- Ankara, European Commission, European Parliament, European Youth Forum, Permanent Delegation of Turkey to the EU, NATO, OBESSU
Contributors to the Closing Ceremony in Brussels:
Aslýhan Tekin, Deniz Devrim, Ender Duruel, Ender Mersin, Erdem Sezer, Faruk Kaymakçý, Firdevs Sera Erzene, Gisela Gauggel- Robinson, Gül Arslan, Ýlke Toygür, Nur Cihan Öztürk, Özlem Özgencil, Sýla
Sefercioðlu, Tom Antonissen, Yusuf Cinal
And
AEGEE members, Belgium Consulate General- Ýstanbul