Our association was formed as a formation by a group of youngsters in 2001. This group, after a very active process, turned into an organization which has about 100 active youngsters, functional sub-units and members who are soon specialised on various business sectors till 2004. The first international participation has occurred in the same year and in the same time they started to be included in local governance mechanisms. They had international experience of youth camps and their activities with similar associations and organizations; material gains were enabled with a variety of local support being included in local youth councils and obtained experience about civil society through joint activities with the active associations in different areas. The need for legal status which has become a necessity was fixed by the association work, made in 2008. Registered as Active Youth Association and turned into a non-governmental organization operating in accordance with the law, our group developed further using the advantages provided by the legal position.

 

In the local authority, our association was located in the administrative body of Çanakkale Youth Assembly and had active participation to the local government mechanism setting up working groups. In the same year 2008 when we gained the legal status, having a partnership in the Project of Çanakkale Disabled Youth Summer School, our association played a key role in sustaining the project. At the end of this project, we reached a capacity that carries out joint activities with associations for disabled, makes up protocols with disabled bureau of the local government being represented in parliament with disabilities. During this period, the association and its volunteers gained experience and knowledge in the field of social inclusion of disabled youth through culture, art and sports.

 

A step was taken in 2012 to move to a level of competitor activities in the field of sports. As a result of the reference to the Youth and Sports Ministry Canakkale Provincial Directorate, our association was entitled to be registered as “Aktif Gençlik ve Spor Kulübü Derneği”. So also a “sport” status was added to our “youth” activities that already exist. During this period we focused on the activities about disadvantaged young people's participation in social life and management mechanism, the development of new alliances and youth activities at European level, increasing the personal development and job opportunities for local youth, contributing to the integration of the disabled and other disadvantaged young people to the European community, providing more involvement of them in the relations of production as active citizens.

 

The association has undertaken "conscious profession/job choice", "vocational education" and "human rights awareness" activities for local students between 2016 and 2021. Introductory programs related to vocational high schools were exhibited for middle school students and some field teachers were provided to make conversation. In the studies for high school students, the occupational areas and the status of the universities concerned with them were explained. In both types of studies, guidance (counseling) teachers supported us as facilitators. Career development and entrepreneurship trainings were organized for university students. Seminars and workshops on human rights, the fight against discrimination and the prevention of violence were also organized for students from all these age groups. In line with these ongoing activities and goals, the association works on the subjects of education and entrepreneurship education, Vocational education and training, Interculturel education and learning, youth policies, EU awareness and Democracy, human rights and gender equality, disadvantaged youth and disabilities, intergration of refugees, Romas and other minorities, communication and social dialogue. 

 

Among the objectives of upcoming period as well as the development of already existing activities, we also have undertaking the works in the area designed for disadvantaged young people through local ventures. As for the determined scope of fields, we have the works in the field of communication technologies, hand craft workshops and these young people’s being actively involved in various European networks.

 

The association carries out projects, seminars, meetings, workshops and practical activities on the working topics at local, national and international level. In the field of youth and education it has collaborations with various schools in the local area. At the same time it makes common activities with various community and civil society associations.

 

In 2016, two separate working groups were formed within the association on youth with disabilities and youth asylum seekers/immigrants. These working groups are still actively continuing and developing their activities. Working groups use sports and arts activities as tools for the social inclusion of young people with disabilities and asylum seekers/immigrants. Intercultural learning studies and workshops that provide skill development are implemented on cultural awareness and social Integration. In the field of human rights and democracy, rights advocacy activities and awareness-raising meetings are held for these groups. Support activities related to consultancy and legal processes are carried out for asylum seekers/immigrants, and in these activities, cooperation is carried out with the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASAM) Çanakkale Representation.

 

Again, various activities are carried out through working groups established in different fields. Environmental protection activities, environmental consciousness activities, helping to the handicapped people, works on social inclusion of disadvantaged youth, exhibitions and workshops about the art & cultural topics, hand crafts, scouting and outdoor activities are some of them. It’s working on the field of socialisation, decreasing the violence between youth, adaptation and healthy life of young people with using the non-formal education in Çanakkale City Council, a common platform of local public institutions and non-governmental organisations.

 

The association has taken part in international activities since 2004 and has acquired a variety of roles. The majority of these activities have been under the European Commission Youth in Action and the Erasmus+ Program. In this regard the association has a partnership project as sending organization in the projects over 70 in Europe.

 

AGSK successfully carried out the training course project “S.E.E - Social Entrepreneurship Education" under European Commission Youth in Action Program with the reference number TR31-E27-2013-R1 as the host in 2013. In 2016, AGSK also organized the "Informal Education of the Physically Disabled in Sports" training course with reference number 2015-3-TR01-KA105-024777 and the VET Mobility Project with reference number 2015-1-EL-KA102. In 2016 also the Association coordinated the training course “Non Formal Education of The Physically Handicapped in Sport” with the reference number 2015-3-TR01-KA105-024777 and in a VET Mobility Project numbered 2015-1-EL-KA102-013442 under Erasmus+ Program. In 2017, AGSK implemented a Training Course Project for Youth Workers with great success under the title "Escape Cyber - Enter Life" with the reference number 2016-3-TR01-KA105-036919. Between 2018 and 2022, AGSK hosted 5 VET projects in collaboration with various Vocational Schools in Greece; Innovation and Vocational Training: the way to the development (2017-1-EL01-KA102-035794), UM.B.R.E.L.L.A. (2018-1-EL01-KA116-047230), Development of competences in an international environment of vocational training and education (2019-1-EL01-KA102-062172), DI.S.R.U.P.T.I.ON. (2019-1-EL01- KA102-062163) and Paths of Success (2020-1-EL01-KA102-077808). And in 2020-2022, AGSK is coordinating two separate Erasmus+ Sports projects accepted by EACEA. These are the projects named "Let the disabled join the board" (613398-EPP-1-2019-1-TR-SPO-SSCP) and "Shoot a basket into the life" (623036-EPP-1-2020-1-TR-SPO-SSCP).

 

In 2014 our association was accredited by the Turkish National Agency as part of the European Voluntary Service as sending and coordinating organization. Since that date, our association has provided 16 youngsters in short and long term EVS process as volunteers in Croatia, Romania, Belgium, Estonia, Greece and Italy. Apart from that we took part as partner organization, participant and an executive in many international youth camps, sports activities related to nature and in seminars with youth forums. In some of these international activities our association was located as legal entity, in some others took roles with the participation of managers or volunteers as individuals. Thanks to the European organisation experiences of these participants, we’re in the opinion that ours has enough capability and experiences in the international dimension. Furthermore, we have and will continue to have the advantage of the relation with various associations, organizations and experts in Europe. Also our association has included more than 700 participants in the projects abroad under the roof of European Commission "Youth in Action" and "Erasmus+" programs since 2004.

 

Finally, we would like to inform you that common activities were carried out already with civil society organizations especially operating in this field and scientific studies were followed. Cooperation was made with local government institutions especially with Çanakkale Youth Assembly in these areas to support activities for local youth. Our association as in the project's practical activities has a variety of tools and support elements during the processes of preparation, evaluation, impact, dissemination and ensuring the sustainability. Here are some examples we can give in this field; positive relationships with the local media and university, local government units, NGOs; sport clubs; hundreds of young participating in the association's activities, over 1500 young people from different places following activities of our association, including not only local also in the Internet environment especially in various social media channels.​​​​