Gelişen Nesil

Our Focus Areas

Across seven areas we strengthen young people's access to knowledge, safe spaces for participation and networks of solidarity.

Democratic Participation & Youth Policies

We see that young people are often left out of the decisions that shape their own lives. Even when their opinions are asked — at school, in the neighbourhood, in the city or in public institutions — those opinions are frequently not taken seriously. We work for young people to be not just listened to, but to generate ideas, develop solutions and take part in decision-making. Through youth forums, local meetings, policy proposals and dialogue with institutions, we care about making young people’s voices more visible.

Rights-Based Inclusion & Equality

Not every young person starts life with the same opportunities. The neighbourhood they live in, their family’s economic situation, their gender, disability, migration experience or city can all affect their access to everything from education to social life. At Gelişen Nesil we design our work with these differences in mind. We strive to create spaces where women, disadvantaged youth, young people living in rural areas, those with migration experience and everyone who often feels left out can participate safely.

Digital Citizenship, AI & Information Integrity

A large part of young people’s lives now takes place in the digital world. Yet reaching accurate information on social media, telling misinformation apart, protecting personal data or using AI tools consciously is not always easy. We aim to create learning environments where young people can ask questions without fear, share their experiences and feel stronger in the digital world. From digital safety to media literacy, from the ethical use of AI to online rights, we discuss current topics together with young people.

Climate Justice, Green Transition & Local Resilience

For young people the climate crisis is no longer a distant future issue; it is a reality that directly affects their city, their health, their economic conditions and their hopes for the future. We see that young people are both anxious about disaster risk, pollution and urban problems, and eager to produce solutions. That is why we develop activities where young people can take an active role in environmental awareness, sustainable living, disaster preparedness and local solidarity. We believe small but realistic steps can make a difference where we live.

Youth Well-Being, Safe Spaces & Peer Solidarity

One of the things young people need most today is a space where they can express themselves freely and be listened to without judgement. Education, unemployment, anxiety about the future, loneliness, family pressure and social media all weigh on young people’s daily lives. We believe in the value of gatherings where young people can draw strength from each other, share experiences and feel they belong. Peer solidarity, safe communication and healing together are an important part of our youth work.

Future Skills & Social Innovation

It matters not only that young people hold a diploma, but that they are ready for a changing world. Communicating, working in a team, developing ideas, writing projects, using digital tools and solving problems are now essential everywhere in life. That is why our trainings and workshops favour methods where young people don’t just listen but practise and create. We support young people in turning their own ideas into projects that generate social benefit.

European Citizenship, Mobility & Intercultural Dialogue

Many young people cannot access education, volunteering, mobility and project opportunities in Europe simply because they don’t know about them. We care about making Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and similar international opportunities easier to reach. We believe that meeting young people from other countries, creating together and seeing other ways of living is invaluable both for personal growth and for a broader social perspective. Our goal is a network where locally-rooted youth work grows into international partnerships over time.

Global framework

Sustainable Development Goals

We align our work with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals, contributing in particular to quality education, gender equality, reduced inequalities, climate action and partnerships for the goals.

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