From November 2022 to June 2023, D84 partnered with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) to promote youth participation and influence youth policies in the scope of Turkey’s 2023 General Elections. This project aimed to create a platform for youth engagement and to ensure that political parties effectively address the issues facing young people in Turkey.

Our team produced a comparative political party report that evaluated the youth policies of the four major political parties: CHP, IYI Party, AKP, and HDP. This report provided a detailed analysis of how each party approached youth politics, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

In addition to the report, four policy papers were developed, each focusing on a key issue within youth politics. These papers clearly outlined the problems faced by young people in areas such as education, employment, political representation, and civic engagement, and proposed tangible solutions to address these issues.

This project was instrumental in promoting youth participation in the 2023 elections and shaping discussions around youth policies. For more information, you can explore the related initiative, “Gençliğin Yüzleri”, which highlights the voices and concerns of Turkey’s young generation.

 

The project aims to equip women politicians, primarily in preparation for the 2024 local elections, with the necessary skills to effectively prepare for their campaigns and fulfill their duties if elected. At the end of 2023, we conducted Politics and Media trainings for women politicians with the participation of 165 women in 6 provinces. The candidacy of around 40 of our participants has been clarified for the 2024 local elections. 17 that can make room in their calendar, along with local journalists from their cities and representatives from national media, were brought together at a networking event on February 15, 2024, at Istanbul Postane Galata. Furthermore, within the scope of the WE ACT, we provided subgrant support to 21 projects in the field of gender equality in Turkey.

On May 22nd, 2024, we proudly hosted the Forum and Reception for the WE ACT project. This event was hosted by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Istanbul. We welcomed over 100 guests, including national and international stakeholders, women politicians, members of the media. The program featured insightful discussions on local election results from a gender equality perspective, women’s leadership in political parties, and strengthening gender equality in local politics. This remarkable event brought together women leaders from diverse political ideologies, fostering an environment of collaboration and mutual respect. We are proud of the positive impact of this event and extend our gratitude to all speakers and guests who made it a success!

 

 

The Turkish-European Exchange between Young Public Intellectuals is an initiative by D84, supported by the Mercator Foundation, set to launch in 2025. This program aims to connect young academics from Türkiye and Europe to foster collaboration, critical thinking, and public engagement in global politics, economy, and social movements.

Through workshops, theoretical sessions, and practical exercises, the project will provide participants with the tools and mentorship needed to contribute to rational public discourse. The program will engage 15 young academics from Türkiye and 15 from Europe, promoting intellectual exchange and knowledge sharing across borders.

By bridging the gap between academic and public spheres, the Young Public Intellectuals Exchange Project aspires to create a new generation of intellectuals equipped to address contemporary global challenges.

For more information, stay tuned!