Paylaş
As part of the Art Project Stakeholder Access and Sustainability Activities, our first event, the Opening Meeting, was held on March 27-28 with all project partners (USV, TOBAV, MORDEM, GGD, and KEAN), project participants (ASİS-DER, İzmir Yaşar University, Trakya University, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University), representatives from the European Union Delegation to Turkey, Amra Levnjak, and the Flying Broom Foundation Board of Directors.
Within the scope of the Art Project Stakeholder Access and Sustainability Activities, we held a Networking Meeting on June 1, 2024, at the Mitannia Regency Hotel in Diyarbakır with the participation of the project team, project partners, and representatives from various institutions and organizations, including civil society organizations, universities, bar associations, municipal councils, and the press from 11 project provinces, as well as independent rights defenders. We held our meeting, planned to strengthen stakeholder support and enhance sustainability, with the participation of the Aksaray Bar Association from Aksaray province; TOBAV, Dokunma Association, Sinetopya Association, Uçan Süpürge Foundation from Ankara; MORDEM, Diyarbakır Bar Association Children’s Rights Center, Mesopotamia Foundation, Rosa Women’s Association, Merkezkaç Art Collective from Diyarbakır; KASED, Young Women Entrepreneurs, Wejegeh Amed, Sur Anka Association, Rengarenk Umutlar Association, Nisk Huner, Gazete Duvar, Lis Publications, Dayanışmanın Kadın Hali Association (DAKAHDER), BAKAD; EKAMEDER from Edirne, Roman Youth Association, Young Volunteers Association from Hakkari, Youth Center; Yaşar University from İzmir, Women’s Rights Protection Association, İzmir Bar Association Women’s Rights Center; Kırşehir City Council, ÇYDD Kırşehir Branch from Kırşehir; Hacı Bektaş Veli University NÜKÇAM Unit from Nevşehir; Ömer Halisdemir University from Niğde; Cumhuriyet University from Sivas; and Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, ASİS-DER, İHD Van Branch, Star Women’s Association representatives from Van, along with the project consortium and project team, totaling 50 participants.
As part of the Youth Advocacy Activity, on June 8, 2024, at the Demora Hotel in Ankara, young rights advocates from six project provinces—Ankara, Diyarbakır, Edirne, İzmir, Hakkâri, and Van—and our project partner in Greece, Cell of Alternative Youth Activities (KEAN), In the first part of the meeting, after the participants got acquainted, the activities and outputs targeted within the framework of youth advocacy and gender equality regarding the content and working areas of the Art Project were presented. Following this, we discussed with the young participants the identification of problems related to youth rights and proposed solutions. In the session “Art with Youth: Deconstructing Mental Models,” we divided into groups and designed drama, music, and dance workshops on various themes. In the final session, within the scope of the “Local Culture Network” digital platform to be established as part of the project, suggestions emerged regarding the content of this digital platform by sharing the stories of local women who preserve and produce local culture in their own provinces. At the closing, we formed a “Youth Selection Committee” and concluded the meeting with the goal of establishing active and sustainable connections with young rights advocates for the activities to be carried out in the continuation of the project.
As a result of this meeting, we discussed fundamental strategies that set the agenda in the field of gender equality and youth advocacy for young women and girls, and exchanged ideas on what could be done to develop and implement these strategies.
As part of Capacity Building Activities, we held a two-day “Rights-Based Art and Culture Methodology Training for Advocacy” at Kaya Prestige Hotel in Izmir on September 7-8, 2024, with representatives of civil society organizations, project teams, and project partners from 11 project provinces. The training was organized by the Aksaray Association of Entrepreneurial Businesswomen, the Aksaray Branch of the Turkish Women’s Council Association, the State Theater Opera and Ballet Employees Mutual Aid Foundation (TOBAV), the Dokunma Association, the Sinetopya Association, the Flying Broom Foundation, Wêjegeh Amed, the Sur Anka Association, MORDEM, Edirne Women’s Center Solidarity Association (EKAMEDER), Roman Youth Association, Young Volunteers Association, Turkey Journalists, Writers, and Intellectuals Union Platform Association Hakkari Branch, Piya Association, Equal Life Association, Izmir Women’s Rights Protection Association, Izmir City Council Women’s Assembly, Contemporary Life Support Association Kırşehir Branch, Cappadocia Education and Research Association (KEVADER), Kırşehir Book Philosophy and Culture Association, Saadet Öğretmen Child Abuse Prevention Association (UCİM) Niğde Branch, Sivas Education Social Cultural Research Association (SESKAD) and Academic and Social Innovation Strategies Association (ASİS-DER).
The Art Project conducted a “Psychosocial Empowerment Training” in Diyarbakır at the Plaza Hotel on September 13-14-15, 2024, as part of Capacity Building Activities, bringing together representatives of civil society organizations from 10 project provinces, the Flying Broom Foundation project team, and project partners. Aksaray Association of Entrepreneurial Businesswomen, Turkish Women’s Council Association Aksaray Branch, State Theater Opera and Ballet Employees Mutual Aid Foundation (TOBAV), Dokunma Association, Sinetopya Association, Flying Broom Foundation, Sur Anka Association, Cultural Research Association for Peace (BAKAD), Women’s Culture, Arts, and Literature Association (KASED), Colorful Hopes Association, Children’s Studies Association (ÇocukÇA), MORDEM, Edirne Women’s Center Solidarity Association (EKAMEDER), Roman Youth Association, Young Volunteers Association, Turkey Journalists, Writers, and Intellectuals Union Platform Association Hakkari Branch, Yüksekova Women’s Association, Piya Association, Izmir Women’s Solidarity Association, Equal Life Association, Kirsehir Book Philosophy and Culture Association, Cappadocia Education and Research Association (KEVADER), Cappadocia Women’s Solidarity Association (KAPKAD), Sivas Development Youth Association, Human Rights Association Van Branch, and Academic and Social Innovation Strategies Association (ASİS-DER).
As part of Capacity Building Activities, we held a “Literacy, Agenda Setting, and Digital Youth Advocacy Training” on September 20-21-22, 2024, at Raymar Hotel in Ankara with representatives of civil society organizations from 11 project provinces, the Flying Broom Foundation project team, and project partners. The three-day training was attended by representatives from the Aksaray Association of Entrepreneurial Businesswomen, the Aksaray Branch of the Turkish Women’s Union, the Youth Services Center, the Pikolo Association, the Sinetopya Association, the Association for Gender and Women’s Studies, the Flying Broom Foundation, the Rengarenk Umutlar Association, the Sur Anka Association, KASED, MORDEM, Edirne Women’s Center Solidarity Association (EKAMEDER), Roman Youth Association, Young Volunteers Association, Turkey Journalists, Writers, and Intellectuals Union Platform Association Hakkari Branch, Izmir Art Therapy Association, Izmir Cultural Interaction and Awareness Association, Contemporary Life Support Association Kırşehir Branch, Kırşehir Book Philosophy and Culture Association, Cappadocia Women’s Solidarity Association (KAPKAD), Cappadocia Education and Research Association (KEVADER), Saadet Öğretmen Child Abuse Prevention Association (UCİM) Niğde Branch, SESKAD, Contemporary Life Support Association Sivas Branch, Academic and Social Innovation Strategies Association (ASİS-DER), and Human Rights Association (İHD) Van Branch.
As part of the Art Project, we held a Dance Workshop themed “Interaction of Cultures – Creative Dance” at MORDEM Art in Diyarbakır on November 12-13-14 with the participation of 15 young people. On the first day, we explored physical awareness, concepts, dance confidence exercises, creating stories through physical movement, and expressing emotions through movement. On the second day, we focused on holistic interaction, physical expression with music, and creative movement. On the final day, we completed the workshop by identifying gender codes in dance, creating a collective story, and presenting performances. Through the Dance Workshop, we had the opportunity to collectively think about, design, and experience ways to challenge and reshape gender codes and prejudices related to different cultures.
The Music Workshop themed “My Song is Your Song” took place in Hakkari from November 29 to December 1 at the Verda Cultural Center with the participation of 15 young people. The three-day Music Workshop increased the young people’s intercultural interaction and knowledge of various cultures, while enabling them to hear the universal, regional, and local tones of music. At the same time, it created a different awareness among young people about gender equality and inclusiveness, while facilitating the sharing of each other’s experiences.
We held the Music Workshop themed “My Song is Your Song” at Trakya University State Conservatory in Edirne from December 6-8 with the participation of 11 young people. The three-day Music Workshop enhanced the young participants’ intercultural interaction and knowledge of various cultures, while enabling them to experience the universal, regional, and local tones of music. As a result of the rhythm workshop conducted with instruments, the participating young people created collective musical pieces with different instruments under the theme “Our Song.”
Finally, as part of the Art with Project Youth Advocacy Activity, on September 6, 2025, at the Grand Wonne Hotel in Ankara, young rights advocates from six project provinces—Ankara, Diyarbakır, Edirne, İzmir, Hakkâri, and Van— In the first part of the meeting, after the participants got acquainted, information was provided about the activities carried out in the first year of the Art Project. The activities and outputs targeted within the framework of youth advocacy and gender equality in relation to the content and working areas of the project were presented. Following this, we discussed with the participating youth the identification of problems related to youth rights and proposed solutions. In the final session, we received their suggestions for the activities to be carried out in the second year of the Art Project. Within the scope of the “Local Culture Network” digital platform to be established as part of the project, the stories of local women who preserve and produce local culture in their provinces and the problems they see regarding gender equality in the digital environment came to the fore. At the closing, we formed a “Youth Selection Committee” and concluded the meeting with the aim of establishing active and sustainable connections with youth rights advocates for the activities to be carried out in the continuation of the project.
