Description: We will organize this camp in cooperation with Mezitli Municipality and this yearIt will be the fourth year of our cooperation. Mezitli Municipality has proven its understanding of democratic, social, fair and transparent municipalism with the international awards that they have received, and they have become one of the most influential municipalities in terms of social innovation in Turkey and in the world. Click here for detailed information. https://mezitli.bel.tr
Type of Work: This short term camp will be held in coordination with the Mediterrenian MTV (GSMTV01) project. STV volunteers will organize workshops for children between the ages of 10-18 about the Sustainable Development Goals, and they will have variable duties according to the needs of the short-term camps. In addition, they will work to construct and pursue different workshops such as soil workshop, wood workshop, creative poster, recycling plastic arts workshop. Our volunteers, who will work with MTV volunteers, should have fluent/advanced English language and be able to teach language to children in basic English. Volunteers who are interested and experienced in digital design, creative handmade posters, social media and promotion, photography and video shooting, video editing, visual arts, English teaching, workshop trainer and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will be preferred. English speaking clubs can also be organized.
Accommodation: Volunteers will be stay in the modern and comfortable bungalow houses of MUTLU YAAM KEiYE (Happy Life Village), which is a year-round youth and volunteer center. Air conditioning, shower, toilet and outdoor garden are available for volunteers use. Mutlu Yaam Village is located in a green and wooded area and is a 15-minute drive to the Mediterranean Sea. Our volunteers will have their meals at the Down Cafe which is a sustainable development project that provides employment and internship opportunities for individuals who have Down Syndrome. The Income from the meals that the volunteers eat here supports individuals with Down Syndrome. Accommodation and meal expenses of our volunteers are covered by Mezitli Municipality.
Approximate Location: Mezitli is the most modern district of Mersin. It is centrally located, easy to reach; near to the sea, working areas and activity centers. After arrive the Adana (neighboring city) by plane, you can easily reach Mersin by taking a train. There are pools and public beaches belong to the Mezitli Municipality. The natural and historical areas you can visit are unlimited. In addition, there will be excursions and activities organized by Mezitli Municipality for you. The Women Producer Markets project won the first prize at the International Guangzhou Urban Innovation Awards held in China. Mersin-Mezitli Municipality, which is the most successful municipalities in Turkey with it s efforts on social innovation and urban studies, hosts this camp.
Organization Description: GSM - Youth Services Centre, was founded in 1985 in Ankara in order to contribute to the personal, social, and cultural development of young people, and to support their active participation in social and economic life.
GSM considers the young people as the primary resource and the most dynamic part of the society. GSM believes that the active participation of young people in the social life contributes to the continuation and the development of social infrastructure.
GSM, makes effort for the development of youth work and youth policies with a right-based approach so that young people can become individuals who looks to the future with great hopes.
GSM, deals with its all programs, projects, and activities within the framework of the basic principles of global education and youth work with a pedagogical approach. It is at the forefront of the studies on the mental, emotional, spiritual, personal, social and cultural development of young people.
GSM works under 5 main areas;
VOLUNTEERING: Volunteering is a social initiative aimed at helping or meeting a social need and is a unique learning process that contributes to the personal and social development of young people. In addition to the benefits obtained from the voluntary work, the young people involved in the voluntary work; develop skills in problem-solving and communication, learn teamwork, be more tolerant in the social life, cooperate and helping one another, have a better understanding of the society and the world, gain new life experiences, increase self-confidence, and also develop value judgements. GSM is an active participant of International Voluntary Service movement and an implementor of European Solidarity Corps Programs.
YOUTH WORKS: Youth Work is defined as social, cultural and educational studies which are aimed to create a learning environment designed to enable young people to discover and realize their potential. Youth Work is an educational process that takes young people into the center, which expresses different types of activities and approaches that will enable their personal, social and emotional development in line with their problems, needs, expectations and rights. GSM deals and carries out its all programs, projects and activities with a pedagogical approach within the framework of the basic principles of Youth Work, and it contributes to the development of youth works with the youth and education programs that GSM organizes.
YOUTH POLICIES: National Youth Policy can be summarized as the goverment’s commitment on enhancing life standarts of the young people and making opportunities for them and implementing these commitments.
Sustainable, inclusive and holistic youth policies that will enable the active participation of young people in social, political, artistic, cultural and economic life have the potential to contribute to the solution expectations and needs of youth and their problems.
GSM makes efforts to improve civil society dialogues for the development of Youth Policies and takes part in the related platforms.
YOUTH INFORMATION: Youth Information, is a learning method which develops skills of young people in making positive life choices and making the right decisions, also including the education.
Youth information; is a learning process that supports the development of youngsters’ abilities; their access to beneficial services, opportunities, and possibilities; and their active participation in social and economic life.
GSM helps young people to learn their problems and needs, and also makes it easier for them to find solutions. GSM tries to reach young people as many as possible using effective and appropriate ways; creative and innovator strategies, methods, and tools for the needs of different groups; and it serves as a “Youth Information Center”.
GLOBAL EDUCATION: GSM-Youth Services Centre is Turkey National Coordinator of the Council of Europe North-South Center, the Global Education Network.
Global Education; is a holistic approach deals with the increasing links between local and global realities.
Global Education which aims to improve participant global citizenship, intents people to understand the world issues, gain knowledge and skills for global problems in the basis of values and behaviors towards the global issues.
Global Education helps individuals to understand the complication of the world; be aware of contradictions; understand that there is not one particular solution for complex problems, and think critically.
It creates a reflexive educational process for the development of these competences; and for individuals to become active global citizens. Transformative learning enables a common vision for a world which is more fair and sustainable for everyone.