Recently, eight notable non-governmental organizations took an important step towards the institutionalization of youth and student policies. At a closed workshop held at the Acapulco Hotel, projects that have been ongoing for the past five months were evaluated based on the needs of young people and students.
During the workshop, participants discussed significant topics such as youth policies, advocacy for rights, and the involvement of students in decision-making processes. Furthermore, both national and international representation, as well as joint advocacy efforts, were comprehensively reviewed. The study included representatives from the eight organizations involved, as well as representatives from other NGOs active in the field of youth and students.
This meeting helped to bring together various experiences on a broad platform, considering the changing needs of young people and students. It was emphasized that the ongoing efforts should not only remain as exchanges of ideas but should also translate into concrete policy proposals.
Additionally, it was pointed out that more regular collaboration and coordination mechanisms need to be established to ensure the sustainability of these efforts. At this phase, active focus was placed not only on youth policies but also on student policies, aiming to develop tangible solutions.
One of the most concrete examples in this regard, the “Student Package,” aims to address the phone registration fees and other issues of Turkish Cypriot students studying in Turkey by generating solution proposals. Through this package, continuous communication is established with the relevant authorities in Turkey and Cyprus regarding various issues faced by students.
During the workshop, it was highlighted that efforts in the fields of youth and students need to be continued not only at the local level but also on foreign and international platforms. The idea that an institutional structure needs to be created to achieve this was brought to the forefront.
Moreover, it was noted that a stronger representation and coordination mechanism is necessary to highlight the needs of young people, develop solution-oriented policies for the problems, and maintain a constructive dialogue with relevant authorities.
The Söz Gençte organization aims to create a structure in which young people have a direct say in this process. The proposals raised by young people are finding their way into the Republic Assembly, which is viewed as one of the outcomes of the collaborative effort.
The results of the workshop will also serve as a roadmap for future endeavors. It was discussed that more effective communication and representation channels need to be established in decision-making processes. In this context, a common understanding was developed towards organizing and strengthening the processes further.
This collaboration is based on a broad social foundation reaching more than a thousand people. It was expressed that projects should be conducted openly with voluntary participants and representatives from different organizations, and that this understanding would create a more inclusive working environment.
Source: www.yeniduzen.com
