GSM – Youth Services Centre
International Voluntary WorkcampsTurkey 2011
www.gsm-youth.org
Outgoing: [email protected]
Incoming: [email protected]
Bayındır Sokak 45/9 Kızılay 06640 Ankara Turkey
P: + 90 312 417 11 24 F: + 90 312 425 81 92
Who are we?
GSM – Youth Services Centre is a non-governmental and non-profit youth organisation that has been founded by a group of young people in 1985 in Ankara, Turkey.
Since its first day, GSM has actively worked in youth field and until today it has created and successfully implemented many national and international youth projects. GSM is a pioneer organisation in the field of youth-work in Turkey.
Our main aim is to support common understanding, peace, friendship and intercultural learning among young people coming from different cultural backgrounds by organising international youth activities. We believe that these intercultural activities give a space to young people to share their experiences and own cultural richness, which could help young people to break down any barriers and prejudice.
Main Activities;
- International Voluntary Workcamps
We, as one of the active members of ALLIANCE of European Voluntary Service Organisations, have been organising International Voluntary Workcamps in Turkey in cooperation with municipalities, universities, institutions and other NGOs.
- International Youth Projects under European Programs
Our another major activity is the youth projects such as youth exchanges, training courses, seminars and youth gathering under Euro-Mediterranean Youth Action Program, occured after the 1995 Barcelona Declaration and since 2004 under YOUTH program. We organise youth projects in Turkey with
the financial support of European Commission and Council of Europe as well as enable the active participation of Turkish young people in these youth projects in Europe organised by our worldwide partners.
Youth Information
Turkish youth have the difficulty of reaching informatin because of not having a proper youth information structure on either local or national level. We believe that reaching information and expressing one’s self are the major principles of human rights and that’s why we feel the responsibility to meet the expectations on youth information. Keeping these in mind, we created a website, www.youthpost.org in partnership with UNDP Turkey and British Council – Ankara, win which the links, documents, reports and information regarding youth issues that may interest young people. Besides this, another website www.gencavrupa.info was shaped and it is a key for youth to reach the information that they can need for their personal or professional life.
- NGO Capacity Building Seminars
For many years we have been organising various national and international youth activities from which we gained quite some important experience and knowledge. Sharing these experiences and knowledge with other youth organisations is one of our main principles. In order to enable the youth empowerment into civil society more, we organise NGO Capacity Building Seminars from time to time due to the expectations and needs of the national grass-root level youth organisations.
GSM is a member of,
- ALLIANCE of European Voluntary Service Organisations- YEN – Youth Express Network- Youth CAN – Youth Culture in Action Network- ERYICA – European Youth Information and Counselling Agency
The General Characteristics of GSM’s Workcamps
All the camps;
- are being organised by GSM in cooperation with municipalities, universities and local initiatives
- are international and the camp language is ENGLISH- last for 2 weeks- have one or two GSM camp leaders- have an age range of 18 to 28- do not provide insurance-
What is expected of the volunteers?
- no previous experience or specialty for participating at the camps is necessary
- to be ready to work 5-6 hours a day- to be able to speak at least basic English- to arrange their own transfer to/from the camp place- to join all the camp activities and obey the rules of the camp- to bring necessary materials, which are required for the camps- to arrive at the camp place on the arrival day and depart on the departure
day- to have their own large insurance in their own countries and bring any
necessary documents- to bring a big smile and enthusiasm
Turkey in ShortRepublic of Turkey is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian
peninsula in western Asia and Thrace in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe. Bridging Europe and Asia, Turkey is bordered to eight countries: Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Azerbaijan (the exclave of Nakhichevan) and Iran to the east and Iraq and Syria to the south and southeast. The Mediterranean Sea and Cyprus are to the south, the Aegean Sea and Archipelago to the west and Black Sea to the north. Separating Anatolia and Thrace are the Sea of Marmara and the Turkish Straits (the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles) which are commonly reckoned to delineate the border between Asia and Europe, making Turkey transcontinental.
WORKCAMP PROGRAMME 2011 – GSM TURKEY
No Name Location Dates Type# of
Volunteers
GSM01 Afyon Afyonkarahisar 09.07 – 24.07 ENVI 18
GSM02 Dumlupinar Kutahya 09.07 – 24.07 ENVI 18
GSM03 Mersin Mersin 09.07 – 24.07 ENVI 18
GSM04 Antalya Antalya 09.07 – 24.07 ENVI 18
GSM05 Muğla Muğla 16.07 – 31.07 ENVI 18
GSM06 Mut Mersin 16.07 – 31.07 ENVI 18
GSM07 Bornova İzmir 31.07 – 14.08 CONS 18
GSM08 Yenipazar Aydin 31.07 – 14.08 ENVI 18
GSM09 Gure Balikesir 06.08 – 21.08 ENVI 18
GSM10 Ayas Ankara 13.08 – 27.08 CONS 38
GSM11 Urla İzmir 05.09 – 20.09 CONS 18
GSM12 Milas Muğla 05.09 – 20.09 FEST/CULT 18
GSM13 Seferihisar İzmir 05.09 – 20.09 FEST/CULT 18
GSM14 Didim Aydin 10.09 – 25.09 RENO 18
GSM15 Sindirgi Balikesir 10.09 – 25.09 ENVI 18
GSM16 Oren Muğla 10.09 – 25.09 ENVI 18
GSM17 Adalar İstanbul 10.09 – 25.09 ENVI/RENO 18
GSM01 Afyon / Afyonkarahisar
09 July – 24 July 2011
ENVI
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Afyonkarahisar Municipality. We have been organizing workcamps with Afyonkarahisar Municipality since 2005. For more information about the municipality, please visit www.afyon-bld.gov.tr.
Work: Afyonkarahisar Municipality has been organising international voluntary camps both for raising awareness on voluntary work and improving international dialogue for a long time. The volunteers will be engaged in some environmental renovation work like gardening and landscaping around an elementary school.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Afyonkarahisar is located at the intersection of three regions: Aegean, Mediterranean and Central Anatolian Regions. The city is mostly known for the Phyrgian Valley, marble and Turkish delight. There are also some fairy chimneys and thermal foundations which attract many tourists every year. The city is a member of “Association of Historic Towns in Turkey”.
Terminal: Nearest international aiport: Ankara and Izmir.
GSM02 Dumlupinar / Kutahya
09 July – 24 July 2011
ENVI
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Dumlupinar University which is very keen on organising a workcamp. The person responsible of the camp for the last 2 years attended a workcamp abroad this year and now he is back to organise another workcamp with a wider perspective. This will be our 3rd year cooperating. For more information about the university, please visit www.dumlupinar.edu.tr. Some information about the city can be found at www.kutahya.gov.tr (IE friendly only).
Work: Both the city and the university is inexperienced in the name of international events, so this camp for the 3rd time in a row will again be a nice experience for both the students and the residents. The volunteers will be working for the greening of the university campus. The main activity will be planting trees and gardening.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Dormitory
Location: Kutahya, the hometown of famous fable author Aisopos (Esop) is located at the midpoint of Izmir-Ankara-Istanbul triangle. Throughout the history it was inhabited by many different civilizations of which some are Hittites, Macedonians, Romans, Armenians and Greeks. The city is mostly known for its Chinaware which can be seen all around.
Terminal: Nearest international airports: Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.
GSM03 Buyuksehir / Mersin
09 July – 24 July 2011
ENVI
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Mersin Metropolitan Municipality. We’ve been cooperating for the last 10 years. More information can be found at www.mersin.bel.tr.
Work: During this year’s camp, the volunteers will take part in the renovation of public parks and in addition to that some practical environmental work like gardening and landscaping will be done.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Mersin is a major city with Turkey’s second tallest skyscraper (the 52 story Mertim Tower) and a busy port on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey. About 108 km of Mersin’s coastal band is beaches. The city is famous for its sandwich with grilled meats wrapped in flat bread named “Tantuni”.
Terminal: Nearest international airport; Istanbul and Adana.
GSM04 Antalya / Antalya
09 July – 24 July 2011
RENO
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Antalya Metropolitan Municipality. More information about our partner can be found at www.antalya.bel.tr/.
Work: During the camp, the volunteers will do some some renovation work in and around an elementary school in a socio-economically disadvantaged area in a town of Antalya.
Food and accomodation: Self-catering / Guesthouse
Location: Antalya is one of the most touristic Mediterranean cities in Turkey which lies at the southern coast. It has many touristic coastal towns like Alanya, Kemer, Kas and others which attract thousands of tourists every year. The city is a member of “Association of Historic Towns in Turkey”. Antalya has a total of 9 twinning cities in Russia, Germany, Northern Cyprus, Kazakhstan and the United States.
Terminal: Nearest international airports; Antalya and Istanbul.
GSM05 Mugla / Mugla
16 July – 31 July 2011
ENVI
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Mugla Municipality. Though our first cooperation with Mugla Municipality was in 1994, this will be our second camp in a row since 1995. Just like last year, our host in Mugla is an ex-volunteer! More information can be found about the city and the municipality at www.mugla.bel.tr/.
Work: The work in Mugla will take place at an animal shelter belonging to the municipality. The volunteers are expected to take care of the dogs at the shelter as well as do some renovation work like building kennels, painting the shelter etc.
Food and accomodation: Self-catering / Guesthouse
Location: : Mugla is one of the most touristic Aegean cities in Turkey which lies at the southwestern coast. It has many touristic coastal towns like Bodrum, Fethiye, Milas and others which attract thousands of tourists every year. The city is a member of “Association of Historic Towns in Turkey”. Besides cultural wealth of the city at present, it’s getting richer with the additional cultural events and activities of the recently founded Mugla University.
Terminal: Nearest international airports; Izmir and Istanbul.
Special requirements: Please note that the work will be carried out in close contact with the animals and volunteers who enjoy working with animals should apply.
GSM06 Mut / Mersin
16 July – 31 July 2011
ENVI/RENO
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Mut Municipality. We have been organising workcamps with Mut Municipality since 2002. For more information about municipality please visit www.mut.bel.tr.
Work: During previous camps hosted by Mut Municipality, a building was restored which later became a cultural centre with the volunteers’ help and work they’ve done. This year the volunteers will take part in some environmental cleaning work and some renovation at the parks around Mut will be done.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Mersin is a large city with Turkey’s second tallest skyscraper (the 52 story Mertim Tower) and a busy port on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey. The city is famous for its sandwich with grilled meats wrapped in flat bread named “Tantuni”. Mut is a member of “Association of Historic Towns in Turkey” and there are many historical and touristic places like Dagpazari Church, Alahan Monastery, Karaeksi and Alaoda Cave in Mut.
Terminal: Nearest international airport; Adana and Istanbul
GSM07 Bornova / İzmir
31 July – 14 August 2011
CONS
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Bornova Municipality. We’ve been organising workcamps in cooperation with Bornova Municipality since 1994. Further information will be found on http://www.bornova.bel.tr/.
Work: The volunteers will be working to improve a municapl playground for the community. They will work 5 hours a day during the weekdays.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Bornova is one of the biggest provinces of the city Izmir which is called the pearl of the Aegean region. Thanks to its young population and life style which is formed by cafes and parks, Bornova is the most attractive part of the city as it’s close to the seaside and to the university campus.
Terminal: Nearest international airport: Izmir.
GSM08 Yenipazar / Aydin
31 July – 14 August 2011
ENVI/RENO
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Yenipazar municipality . This will be our first cooperation with the municipality. You can visit www.yenipazar.bel.tr for further information.
Work: The volunteers will mainly do landscaping around the town. Various kinds of environmental work will be done 5 hours a day by them only in weekdays.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Yenipazar is the most social province of Aydin. You wil be able to observe local people playing traditional games amongst strawberry greenhouses and it’s famous for its foods. Besides, the city is the second Turkish candidate town of “Cittaslow” network.
Terminal: Nearest international airports: Istanbul and Izmir.
GSM09 Gure / Balikesir
06 August – 21 August 2011
ENVI/RENO
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Gure Municipality. This will be our first cooperation with Gure Municipality. Information available at: http://www.gure.bel.tr/ .
Work: The main activity in Gure will be landscaping around the town. The volunteers will be working 5 hours in the weekdays and do planting work.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Gure is a small Western Anatolian town located in the province of Balikesir. 150 km from İzmir. There are some thermal premises and national parks attracting tourists. The town is located near sea and Mount Ida.
Terminal: Nearest international airports: Istanbul and Izmir.
GSM10 Ayas / Ankara
13 August – 27 August 2011
CONS
38 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Ayas Municipality. More information about Ayas and the municipality can be found at http://www.ayas.bel.tr/
Work: This camp is one of the special GSM workcamps which is dedicated to IYV+10 (Internationl Year of Volunteers). There will be 18 international, 10 Turkish and 10 Macedonian participant of the camp. With the help of local facilitators, the group will help constructing a public park.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Ayas is a town of Ankara in the Central Anatolia region, 58 km from the city centre. The town is very rich for historical monuments, thermal premises. The district is known for its mulberry trees, its tasty tomatoes and healing mineral water spas, both for drinking and bathing. There is an annual mulberry festival in the town of Ayas.
Terminal: Nearest international airport: Ankara, Istanbul.
GSM11 Urla / Izmir
05 September – 20 September 2011
CONS
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Urla Municipality. We have been cooperating with Urla since 1994 and organised more than 10 camps. More information about Urla and the municipality can be found at www.urla.bel.tr.
Work: The main activity in Urla will be working at the construction of a children’s playground in a park or a recreational area in the town.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Urla is one of the westernmost towns of Turkey in Izmir. Only 38 km away from Izmir, it is located on the peninsula surrounded by the Aegean Sea surrounding Izmir Gulf. The population in Urla is also ethnically diverse. There are some Yugoslavian, Romanian, Bulgarian and Greek migrants inhabiting Urla for quite some time.
Terminal: Nearest international airport: Izmir.
GSM12 Milas / Mugla
05 September – 20 September 2011
FEST/CULT
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Milas Municipality. The municipality is one of our oldest and most experienced partners. More information about Milas and the municipality can be found at http://www.milas.bel.tr/.
Work: The volunteers will take part in the preparation work of the International Milas Festival. During the festival, there will be exhibitions, sports competitions, concerts. The volunteers are expected to take part in the preparation and organisation of this festival.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Milas is a touristic coastal town in Mugla, where the mountains meet the sea and Mediterranean meets the Aegean. The town is quite rich in terms of history. There are many ancient cities and historic places, some belonging to thousands of years ago. That is probably the reason why Milas is a also member of “Association of Historic Towns in Turkey”.
Terminal: Nearest international airport; Izmir.
GSM 13 Seferihisar / Izmir
05 September – 20 September 2011
FEST/CULT
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Seferihisar Municipality. This is the first time that we cooperate with Seferihisar and they are so excited and willing to continue to keep working together. More information about Seferihisar and the municipality can be found at www.seferihisar.bel.tr
Work: There will be plenty of fun activities during the camp such as celebrations, festivals and garden work. You will help to organize the local Turkish Theatre Reunion, celebration of the arrival of the founder of Turkish Republic M. Kemal Ataturk to the city and finally Plastic Arts Seminar. The volunteers are expected to take part in the preparation and organisation of this festival.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Seferihisar is the first member of the “Cittaslow“ movement in Turkey. Near Izmir, which is the biggest city in the Aegean region, Seferihisar is rich with its historical mosques, ancient Turkish baths and buildings.
Terminal: Nearest international airport: Izmir.
GSM 14 Didim / Aydin
10 September – 25 September 2011
RENO
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Didim Municipality. We have been cooperating since 1996. More information about Didim can be found at www.didim.bel.tr/.
Work: The volunteers will be constructing a playground for the children. They will be working 5 hours a day in the week days.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Getting its name from the ancient temple of Apollon called “Didiymeion”, Didim is one of the ancient Greek cultural centres. With its 60 km coastal band, clear sea, a total of 13 km of beautiful beaches and ease of international transportation from Izmir, Didim is a popular touristic area, mostly inhabited by English citizens. It’s one of the only two touristic towns of Aydin.
Terminal: Nearest international airport; Izmir and Istanbul
GSM15 Sindirgi / Balikesir
10 September – 25 September 2011
ENVI/RENO
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Sindirgi Municipality. This will be our second cooperation with Sindirgi Municipality. Information available at: http://sindirgi.bel.tr/.
Work: The volunteers will be working at the parks around the town and also near the guesthouse they’re staying in Sindirgi. They’ll be doing some environmental and renovation work like gardening, planting and painting.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Sindirgi is a small Western Anatolian town located in the province of Balikesir, 63 km from Balikesir's centrum, 150 km from İzmir. There are some thermal premises and national parks attracting tourists. The town is one of the 89 members of “Association of Historic Towns in Turkey”.
Terminal: Nearest international airports: Istanbul and Izmir.
GSM 16 Oren / Mugla
10 September – 25 September 2011
ENVI
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Oren Municipality. We had first cooperated with Oren Municipality in 1999. More information can be found at http://www.oren-bld.gov.tr/.
Work: The volunteers will be given some environmental work like planting and gardening according to a 1/1000 scale construction plan already present. The work will take place during work hours.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Guesthouse
Location: Mugla lies at the southwestern coast of Turkey which is one of the most popular touristic cities. It has many touristic coastal towns like Bodrum, Fethiye, Milas and others which attract thousands of tourists every year. Oren is actually a small town with 4500 inhabitants but during the summer season, about 30.000 people inhabit Oren. Its previous name was Gereme and ancient name was Keramos which is the actual origin of the word ceramics.
Terminal: Nearest international airport; Izmir.
GSM 17 Adalar / Istanbul
10 September – 25 September 2011
ENVI/RENO
18 Vols
Partner: Our partner is Adalar Municipality. This will be our first time cooperating with Adalar Municipality. More information can be found at www.adalar.bel.tr.
Work: The volunteers during this camp will be involved in various activities such as gardening, tree and grass planting and they will work on a bike road. Also, there is going to be some fence renovation work to do during the weekdays and work hours.
Food and accomodation: Cafeteria / Bungalows
Location: Adalar (meaning “islands”) Municipality governs 9 islands of which only 5 are inhabited in the Sea of Marmara. The distance of islands from the mainland varies between 10 and 25 km. The islands are also known as “Prince Islands” for the reason of being used as a place of exile during Byzantion rule. Though the demographics has changed much throughout the last century, Adalar was mostly inhabited by Greek and Armenian minorities.
Terminal: Nearest international airport; Istanbul.
Extra Fee: 50 Euro extra fee will be paid upon arrival.