Map your future

Inclusive Youth Information Award category

Organisation

GENCSEN CLUB ASSOCIATION

Country

Türkiye

WEBSITE

https://www.instagram.com/gencsenclub?igsh=MXM2amt0d3M5eHhwcg&utm_source=qr

Project link

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBDoo4oNNRw/?igsh=Y254a3RrbnJraGg2

General Overview

“Map Your Future” is an escape room designed to introduce young people, particularly refugees and marginalised youth, to European opportunities like Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, and EU Youth Participation. Türkiye hosts many refugees, making social cohesion and integration crucial. This activity brings refugees, locals, and disadvantaged youth together in an inclusive space to interact, learn, and break down barriers. Instead of dry presentations, participants go on an interactive journey, exploring these opportunities through role-playing, storytelling, team challenges, and QR code tasks.

Each participant gets a “Future Map” with milestones representing different stages of a mobility journey. They tackle real-world scenarios, role-play, and make decisions impacting their journey. Tasks include applying for an ESC project, explaining Erasmus+ to a friend, and solving travel problems. “Choose your own adventure” storytelling lets participants make choices with different outcomes.

We then invited participants back for a detailed information seminar. Beyond that, we organised cinema days, painting sessions, and social gatherings to build community and encourage cultural exchange. We also held meetings in our volunteer house, connecting participants with local mentors for ongoing support. Each participant got their own mentor for future guidance.

Ultimately, “Map Your Future” aims to empower young people with the knowledge and confidence to pursue international opportunities. By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, we believe this project can significantly contribute to the personal and professional development of participants, while also promoting intercultural understanding and social cohesion within our community. We are committed to the long-term sustainability of this initiative through ongoing mentorship, resource development, and collaboration with local partners, ensuring its continued impact on future generations of young people seeking to broaden their horizons and build a brighter future.

Thematic Category Correspondence

(50 points max)

How does this initiative (project, event, material) correspond to the thematic category

“Map Your Future” directly addresses the “Inclusive Youth Information” category by ensuring access to European opportunities like Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps for all young people, particularly refugees, asylum seekers, and marginalised youth who often lack awareness of these programmes. It actively combats information inequity by employing interactive, informal learning methods that bypass barriers posed by language proficiency or formal education requirements. The project cultivates an inclusive learning environment through diverse activities like QR code-based challenges, role-playing, and guided discussions, allowing participants to engage at their own pace and in ways that suit their individual learning styles. Visual aids, storytelling, and collaborative teamwork make information accessible to those with varying levels of literacy, diverse learning preferences, or language barriers. Crucially, the emphasis on peer-to-peer learning empowers young people to support each other’s understanding of mobility opportunities, fostering connection and mutual support, especially beneficial for refugees and newcomers.

A core objective of “Map Your Future” is to reach young people, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds and refugees, who have never encountered Erasmus+ or ESC before. By utilising real-life scenarios, decision-making exercises, and gamified elements, the project delivers information in an engaging, stress-free, and relatable manner. The provision of one-on-one support further ensures that all participants, regardless of their background or prior knowledge, feel comfortable and empowered to explore European opportunities.

Finally, the project’s free and open access design dismantles financial and social barriers that frequently prevent marginalised youth from accessing vital information. By guaranteeing equal access to knowledge within a welcoming and supportive environment, “Map Your Future” enables refugees, asylum seekers, and disadvantaged youth to discover new possibilities, ultimately empowering them to participate in European mobility programmes and actively shape their futures.

Impact

(30 points max)

How did your project impact young people / your community?

“Map Your Future” has made a real difference in the lives of young people and our community, especially for refugees, asylum seekers, and marginalised youth. For many, Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps were completely new concepts before this initiative. Now, they have the knowledge, motivation, and confidence to explore these opportunities. The interactive activities, QR code challenges, and peer learning really engaged young people, shifting them from passive listeners to active learners. The project simplified complex mobility programmes, making them easy to understand and digest. As a direct result, several participants are now actively interested in applying for Erasmus+ youth exchanges and ESC volunteering.

For our refugee and asylum-seeking youth, “Map Your Future” has been significant for social inclusion and integration. Participating in the activities connected them with local young people, gave them a chance to practise English, and introduced them to European programmes designed to support their growth. Many now feel empowered to pursue international experiences, overcoming previous barriers of language and lack of information.

The initiative also strengthened community bonds by creating a welcoming space for young people from diverse backgrounds to connect, learn, and support each other. Volunteers and youth workers gained valuable insights into the challenges faced by marginalised youth and are now better equipped to make youth opportunities more inclusive and accessible.

“Map Your Future” has empowered young people with essential information, built stronger community connections, and inspired many to take concrete steps towards international mobility and personal growth. Its impact is ongoing as participants share their experiences and encourage others to explore European opportunities.

Green Focus

(10 points max)

Did your project have any green focus and/or did you implement any eco-friendly measures when organising it?

“Map Your Future” incorporated eco-friendly practices throughout its activities. In our office, we offer free tea, coffee, water, and biscuits, etc., but we maintain a strict no-plastic policy. We use glass cups instead of disposable ones, and we encourage participants to bring their own reusable water bottles. We also promote sustainable transportation by encouraging everyone to use public transit, walk, or bike to our events. Our central location, close to subway and bus stations, makes it easy to choose environmentally friendly travel. Furthermore, we minimised paper usage by avoiding printing visual documents, QR codes, and other materials. Instead, we shared these resources digitally via shared drives and displayed them on screens in our office. By cutting down on plastic waste, using reusable materials, promoting eco-conscious travel, and going paperless, the project not only raises awareness about European opportunities but also demonstrates sustainable practices and inspires young people to live greener.