The Youth Studies Unit (YSU) was founded in 2005 as a joint venture between the Community Volunteers Foundation, one of Turkey’s largest educational foundations, and Istanbul Bilgi University. It focuses on the issues and needs of youth and strengthens the role of civil society in addressing and engaging youth. It has conducted trainings and workshops throughout Turkey on English, internet use, local activism, youth policy, and literacy. YSU founded the “Short Wave” (Kisa Dalga) Youth Centre (SWYC) which is intended to reach disadvantaged youth, particularly young women, using art and urban culture as a means of engaging them on issues affecting them and their communities. The YSU has two main sub-programmes: deepening its work at local level, and replicating this experience and other youth activism throughout Turkey.

With EMpower support in 2008 and 2009, through the SWYC, the Youth Studies Unit provided a safe space and culturally relevant leadership opportunities to marginalised urban youth. By involving them more directly in the programme design, programme participants have proven more than willing to implement positive change—both for themselves and for the communities that they live in.

Building on EMpower support in 2009, the current grant is helping the SWYC continue their leadership work with young people to increase their autonomy and participation in society. SWYC is using youth-friendly workshops (photography, rhythm, theatre, publishing, music etc.) and subsequent follow up activities including involvement with other local NGOs to help youth explore and question their attitudes towards other cultures and to expose them to opportunities outside their neighbourhoods. In 2010, YSU will establish the SWYC as a registered NGO and build a road towards its independence.