The first leg of the project "The Voice of Youth, Journal Project" , which is created by Basak Culture and Art Foundation and supported by European Union Youth Activities Center, has been realized in Istanbul.

Young members of Accademia Psicologia Applicata (APA) from Palermo, Xenia from Naples, Gün-Der and Basak Culture And Art Foundation from Istanbul met in Turkey between 18th and 23th May. With this meeting, Baþak Culture and Art Foundation and Gün-Der hosted and introduced themselves to young people, 8 from Italy and 8 from Turkey, who have very different social statuses like journalist, university student, textile worker, high school student and even unemployed.

During the project, young participants had the chance to see different structures of Anatolia, partially though. Outstanding Semah dance show of Karacaahmet Sultan Charity's Semah team, Turkish and Italian participants' songs in different languages, a brief lecture about "Ottoman Democracy Actions" from Prof. Dr. Vahdettin Engin in Marmara University and historical and touristic places of Istanbul like Hagia Sophia, The Basillica Cistern, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar and finally an enthusiastic rock concert from Bogaziçi University Music Club had reflected the mosaical form of the project.

During the project that is created in the form of "Action 1.3 Youth and Democracy", all participants introduced themselves both individually and as a group as well as they shared opinions about their home country's formation. Also, they created a small but important example of a democratic demand by stating the necessity of discussion about habits or behaviours that they sometimes do not understand or disagree with.

Also, National Agency representative Oya Bumin pleased us by attending our activities, all her effort and her special care for our project.

By staying all together for 6 days in the house in Kavacik (a neighbourhood) which is dedicated to the project, young participants achieved a very important workshop activity which is basicly knowing each other personally as well as having the opportunity to compare the perception of democracy. Young participants will write their articles for the journal by combining their observations with a research.

In the second leg of the project, young participants from Turkey will visit Palermo and Naples in order to meet Italian culture and to create another journal about democracy with Italian participants by cultural interaction.

     Basak Culture and Art Foundation

     The Voice of Youth project Coordinator

     Mehmet Ali Düzgün