Turkish Youth Meets Their Homeland Through Evliya Çelebi Mobility Program

Applications are now open for 2024 Evliya Çelebi Mobility Programs to be jointly implemented by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (GSB).

YTB and GSB jointly roll out Evliya Çelebi Mobility Programs for the Turkish youth abroad. Turkish youngsters residing abroad and aged 18 to 25 are eligible to apply for the Turks Abroad Youth Camps while those aged 18 to 29 are free to apply for the Turks Abroad Cultural Trips.

The program is intended to help Turkish youth abroad meet their homeland, sightsee historical and cultural destinations on site, help youth from various countries with Turkish diaspora presence get to know each other better, strengthen their bonds with their homeland, and experience a camp to remember as part of their summer break.

Turks Abroad Youth Camps

The first-round camps are set to be held for men on July 22 to 27, 2024 at GSB’s Marmaracık Youth Camp, Istanbul. A camp is set to be held for women on July 29 to August 3, 2024. The second-round camp activities will be held at GSB’s Youth Camp in Fındıklı, Rize on August 19 to 24, 2024 for men (125 people) and on August 26 to 31, 2024 for women (125 people). For more information about the camps, please visit https://genclikkamplari.gsb.gov.tr/.

Benefits offered within the scope of the program

Travel compensation will be offered at a certain rate, depending on the countries where applicants reside. A shuttle service is provided for transportation from the airport to the campsite and vice versa at certain times and in limited numbers. Meals and accommodation are free of charge throughout the camp. In addition, free museum visits are included in the camp schedule. 

 What Do Turks Abroad Youth Camps Involve?

Participants will be able to enjoy a great deal of activities throughout the camp. This includes tens of activities, such as theatre, handicrafts, brainteasers, sports activities, paintball, archery, horse riding, mountain biking, badminton, trekking, basketball, volleyball, matrak, and a campfire.  

Turks Abroad Cultural Trips

As part of the Cultural Trips, which is the second module of Evliya Çelebi Mobility Programs, Turkish youth abroad will have a chance to enjoy the destinations that follow the route of İstanbul - Bursa – Çanakkale and Ankara – Nevşehir – Kayseri for free in 10 rounds throughout the summer.

A bus load of young people will join cultural and civilization tours in each round as part of designated routes. 400 young people, including men for 5 rounds and women for 5 rounds, will go on cultural trips.

Applications are now open for the Turks Abroad Youth Camps and the Turks Abroad Cultural Trips for 2024 Evliya Çelebi Mobility Programs on https://genclik.ytb.gov.tr/. The deadline is April 30, 2024.

Following an assessment, youngsters eligible to join the programs will be announced by no later than May 15, 2024 on https://genclik.ytb.gov.tr/ and by email.