Between 11–20 February 2025, we implemented the project “Erasmus+ Experiences and International Opportunities” hosted by Gençlik Akademisi. The project aimed to strengthen equal access to youth information in Bayburt, one of the smallest and most disadvantaged cities in Türkiye. International opportunities are limited in the region and Erasmus+ application rates remain very low. Geographical distance, scarce social and cultural activities, economic constraints, and a lack of inspiring role models often cause young people to perceive mobility programmes as “impossible” or “not for us”. In this context, our main goal was to make Erasmus+ opportunities feel reachable, inspire young people through real experiences, and strengthen Eurodesk’s role as a trusted youth information network. The project was designed in two phases. The first phase was an international Erasmus+ experience conference held on 11 February, reaching around 250 university students in Bayburt. Participants from Türkiye, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Greece contributed to the programme by sharing stories of mobility, learning and personal growth. Topics such as cultural adaptation, skills development, career opportunities and project culture were discussed in an accessible and youth-friendly way. A strong Q&A session allowed young people to ask honest questions about eligibility, application steps and practical challenges, turning curiosity into clear understanding. The second phase focused on inclusion and hands-on capacity building through an “Accessible Project Writing, Literacy and AI Camp”, attended by around 60 students. This stage supported young people—especially those with fewer opportunities—by helping them develop project ideas, structure proposals and gain confidence in writing. Through group work, participants actively created ideas, drafted applications and supported each other as peer multipliers. By the end of the project, at least 20 Erasmus+ project drafts were prepared, showing concrete learning outcomes and readiness to apply. Overall, the conference and the camp worked together as a complete pathway.
Open Doors to Europe: Erasmus+ Opportunities – Project Writing, AI Workshop
Title of the Project
Open Doors to Europe: Erasmus+ Opportunities - Project Writing, AI Workshop
Organisation
Gençlik Akademisi
Project dates
2025-01-01
2025-01-01
What is it about?
How is this project relevant to the specific category?
This initiative strongly fits the “Inclusive Youth Information” category because its main purpose is to strengthen equal access to reliable information for young people who face barriers in reaching opportunities. Bayburt is one of the smallest and most disadvantaged cities in Türkiye, where geographical distance, limited social and cultural activities, economic constraints, and a lack of role models reduce young people’s exposure to international programmes. As a result, Erasmus+ is often perceived as “unreachable” or “not for us.” Our project addressed this inequality by positioning Eurodesk as a trusted bridge and making youth information accessible, understandable, and motivating.
The inclusive value of the project comes not only from reaching large numbers, but from turning information into real capacity and confidence. In the first phase, we organised an international Erasmus+ experience conference on 11 February and reached around 250 university students in Bayburt. Participants from Türkiye, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Greece shared personal mobility stories, learning journeys, and growth experiences, which helped young people relate to real examples instead of abstract descriptions. The programme covered cultural adaptation, skills development, career opportunities, and project culture in a youth-friendly way. Young people with disabilities also took part in the conference, and the Q&A session created an open space where participants could ask honest questions and receive practical guidance.
In the second phase, we delivered an “Accessible Project Writing, Literacy and AI Camp” with around 60 students, including young people with disabilities. This stage supported participants—especially those with fewer opportunities—through hands-on group work where they generated ideas, structured proposals, and drafted applications together. One of the trainers delivering the project writing sessions was a person with a disability, which provided a powerful role model and made inclusion visible in practice, not only as a concept.
What was the impact of the project?
This project created a strong impact by increasing young people’s awareness of Erasmus+ and Eurodesk in Bayburt, one of the cities in Türkiye with the most limited access to international opportunities. Thanks to the conference attended by around 250 young people, participants listened to Erasmus+ experiences directly from people who had lived them, which helped them break the perception that “international opportunities are not for me.” In Bayburt, limited social and cultural opportunities, economic difficulties and a lack of role models are major barriers that reduce young people’s motivation to apply. The conference created an important “turning point” by showing that these opportunities are also possible from Bayburt and that young people are not alone in this journey.
Through the Q&A session, participants gained clear and practical information about eligibility, application steps and process management, reducing hesitation caused by misinformation. The presence of young people with disabilities in the conference also strengthened the inclusive approach and ensured accessible information for everyone. The second phase of the project, the “Accessible Project Writing, Literacy and AI Camp,” deepened this impact. With around 60 students participating, the camp provided a capacity-building process where young people did not only receive information but also developed projects in a practical and structured way.
Throughout the camp, young people worked in groups to generate ideas, analyse needs and learn the Erasmus+ project logic, turning their learning into draft proposals. By the end of the project, at least 20 Erasmus+ project drafts were produced, proving that the initiative generated tangible outputs. As a result, the project reduced opportunity gaps in Bayburt, strengthened young people’s self-confidence and readiness to apply, and increased the long-term local visibility of Eurodesk.
Did the project have any green focus?
We made an effort to adopt an environmentally friendly approach throughout the project. During the conference and camp, we kept printed materials to a minimum and delivered most of the youth information through digital presentations, online documents and social media communication. In this way, we reduced paper consumption and used a more sustainable dissemination method. We also avoided unnecessary single-use materials during the organisation process and paid attention to reducing waste. In addition, we planned the main activities within the Bayburt University campus in order to minimise the environmental impact related to transportation. With small but practical actions, we integrated an eco-friendly perspective into the overall implementation of the project.
How did you ensure Eurodesk's visibility in your project?
We strengthened Eurodesk visibility throughout the project with both physical and digital evidence. Eurodesk was included in the conference posters and announcement materials, linking the activity to Eurodesk from the very first communication stage. During the event, we introduced Eurodesk as a reliable youth information network and presented Erasmus+ opportunities, access points, application steps and guidance services within the Eurodesk framework, also addressing young people’s needs through the Q&A session. After the conference, we shared photos and videos on social media, ensuring that the Eurodesk message was not limited to the venue but reached a wider youth audience online.
