Pi Youth Association is a youth organisation established to implement the decisions taken by the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations in the field of youth in Turkey, with the aim of enabling young people in Turkey to develop knowledge, skills, positive attitudes and behaviours. The association also carries out its activities taking into account universal sensitivities, principles and values regarding human rights, gender equality, participation and the environment. The main focus of Pi Youth Association is youth rights and issues. It works on six areas of focus, including this.
These are:
1) Combating the Climate Crisis and Sustainability,
2) Youth Rights, Issues and Youth Participation,
3) Healthy Living for Young People and Youth Workers,
4) Empowerment of Young People and Youth Workers,
5) Promoting a Culture of Volunteering among Young People,
6) Civil Society Capacity Development (only for youth organisations)
Pi Youth Association’s target audience includes all individuals aged 15-30 living in Turkey (i.e. young people) and teachers, youth leaders and youth workers who contribute to their development. Among the target audience, those belonging to disadvantaged groups such as refugees and people with disabilities are given priority. In addition to carrying out activities that support the individual development of young people, Pi Youth Association also works on youth rights issues to fundamentally solve the problems experienced by young people in our country. When determining its medium and long-term strategies, Pi Youth Association uses the European Youth Strategy (EU), the Council of Europe (CoE) Youth Sector Strategy, the Republic of Turkey Development Plans, and the current situation of youth in our country as its most fundamental sources.
Pi Youth Association summarises its activities under three main headings. These are local, national and international activities.
Local activities are those carried out within Izmir for the personal development of young people. These are mostly English conversation clubs, ESC and Erasmus Plus information seminars, training, workshops and seminars on topics such as combating discrimination, gender, creative design, film analysis, etc. In carrying out these activities, it works in collaboration with local administrations, local public institutions, and other NGOs. Pi Youth Association currently has official cooperation protocols with 10 municipalities in Izmir, including 9 districts and 1 major city.
National activities are the work carried out in the field of youth rights and issues, which is its main focus. In this regard, it organises capacity-building training for youth workers nationwide and liaises with national authorities on issues such as youth rights and strengthening youth work. Our most significant achievement in recent years in this area has been securing official recognition for youth associations by the Directorate General for Relations with Civil Society. To take this step, we ran a national campaign, led the effort, and completed our work in collaboration with more than 40 youth associations across Turkey. See https://genclerealanac.org/
Furthermore, as the Pi Youth Association, we lead the Youth Work Network (GENCA), which enables civil society organisations to learn from each other and together. This network currently includes more than 40 youth organisations operating in different cities across Turkey. See https://genclikcalismalari.org/uye-kurumlar/
Finally, our association continues to offer opportunities for young people internationally to develop personally and gain skills abroad through the Erasmus Plus and ESC Volunteering Programmes. It is one of the most active youth associations in Turkey working in this field. It is a member of numerous international networks such as the Anna Lindh Foundation, the United Nations Global Compact, and UN Volunteers, facilitating the involvement of local youth in international initiatives while also conducting monitoring activities and participation efforts regarding youth rights and youth policies on the international stage.
Pi Youth Association
“Activates the Potential”
