Pi Youth Association

Pi Youth Association (PIYA) was established in 2014 with a clear mission: to enable young people to develop knowledge, skills, positive attitudes, and behaviours. Our work is committed to empowering young people by fostering knowledge, skills, positive attitudes, and behaviours.

PIYA is dedicated to making a positive impact on young people's lives. By combating the climate crisis, advocating for youth rights, promoting a healthy lifestyle, empowering youth and youth workers, disseminating volunteering awareness, and building capacity for youth organizations, it is committed to creating a better future for the youth.

Its target group is inclusive, encompassing all individuals and youth workers between the ages of 15-30 living in Turkey. We prioritize the inclusion of women, refugees, and disabled people. Our activities are focused on supporting young people's personal development and addressing the issues faced by young people in our country. We base our strategies on the European Union Youth Strategy Document and the current youth situation in our country. Since 2016, we have been transparent about our activities and balance sheets, publishing them on our website. We are also a signatory of the donor rights declaration, demonstrating our commitment to accountability.

Its office team consists of 15 people, including 8 professional employees, 2 part-time employees and 5 interns. Additionally, the Pixel Team, a volunteer group consisting of over 120 local youths aged 15-30, actively supports all the association's projects and activities. They regularly participate in cultural activities and training sessions, demonstrating a strong commitment to the Association's mission.

Pi Youth Association is also a member of many national and international networks. For instance, at the national level, we are one of the founders of the Youth Works Network in Turkey. Besides, at the international level, we are members of the AMSED Member Network, Anna Lindh Foundation, European Youth Foundation, ICYE, IG Network, LOOM (Intercultural Learning Network), Prisma European Network, and Youth and Environment Europe (YEE). As a non-profit organization, we collaborate with Google for Non-profits, Microsoft for Non-profits and TechSoup Turkey to develop the infrastructure of our association. Finally, we are also a signatory of the UN Global Compact.

Pi Youth Association is a local and non-governmental youth organization that operates nationally and internationally. It can connect with numerous young people. The Association maintains active and engaging social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. More than 50K people follow its social media accounts and website.

⮚ https://www.pigenclikdernegi.org/en

⮚ https://www.instagram.com/pidernegi/

⮚ https://twitter.com/pidernegi

⮚ https://www.linkedin.com/company/pi-youth-association/

Pi Youth Association has been engaged in local initiatives since 2014, and starting in 2016, it expanded to encompass national and international projects.

Local activities focus on encouraging the personal development of youth, especially those with fewer opportunities (social, economic, and geographically disadvantaged backgrounds). These include indoor activities like Language Speaking Clubs, origami workshops, first aid training, training on dating violence and healthy relationships, gender and anti-discrimination workshops, seminars on the ESC and Erasmus+ program, development workshops on technology skills and creative design, active volunteering, and capacity-building training, project preparation and development workshops. Outdoor activities include nature walks, ice skating, hiking, biking, football, volleyball, basketball, yoga & meditation training. These activities aim to provide a diverse range of experiences that contribute to the holistic development of young people.

Our organization has consistently maintained a strong focus on national activities related to youth rights and issues since its inception. One such national endeavour, the Genç Bak-İş project, constituted a KA3 initiative encompassing projects designed to facilitate youth-centered policy formulation, promote vocational training, enhance its quality recognition, and advocate for it among decision-makers. This project was conceived to address the shortage of skilled personnel with vocational and technical training in the labour market, as well as to uphold young people's right to education and information.

Another noteworthy national project is the "Civil Society Dialogue for Empowering Youth Works in Local Communities." This project aims to enhance the capacities of youth workers and civil society organizations operating in the youth sector. It focuses on areas such as increasing employment, improving working and living conditions, establishing social protection mechanisms at an appropriate level, fostering dialogue with social partners, developing human resources to ensure sustainable employment, combating poverty and social exclusion, and providing equal opportunities for men and women. The primary goal is strengthening the dialogue between Turkey and the European Union on civil society.

Furthermore, the organization actively engages in international youth development through the Erasmus+ program, offering opportunities such as youth exchanges, training courses, and volunteering abroad under the ESC initiative. Since obtaining its ESC accreditation in 2016, the association has supported over 1500 volunteers, sending them across Europe. They have hosted 62 ESC volunteers, 3 Erasmus+ interns, 2 VET, 1 Erasmus for Young Entrepreneur (EYE) participant, and 3 volunteers through the German Volunteering Programme. After we received the ESC Humanitarian Aid quality label, we approved the projects, where we will send volunteers from all over Europe and Türkiye to Chile, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Vietnam, and Nepal.

Pi Youth Association stands out as one of Turkey's most active organizations dedicated to youth development. Since 2014, we have been committed to providing the younger generation with innovative opportunities for personal growth. It is worth noting that, Pi Youth Association unites 40 organizations under its umbrella, enhancing our collective impact and reach. These efforts extend internationally as we closely follow and contribute to various global youth rights and policy initiatives. This dedication has led us to become integral members of esteemed international networks, including the AMSED Member Network, Anna Lindh Foundation, European Youth Foundation, ICYE, IG Network, LOOM (Intercultural Learning Network), Prisma European Network, and Youth and Environment Europe (YEE).

All details and ongoing projects can be accessed straight from our website or by clicking the link below.

https://www.pigenclikdernegi.org/en/category/completed-en/