Erasmus+ KA154 Youth Participation Project “Youth Leaders, Future Secure: Participatory Youth in the Fight Against Addiction” Completed

Conducted under the leadership of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Sociology Department, and with our university as a project partner, the Erasmus+ KA154 Youth Participation Project “Youth Leaders, Future Secure: Participatory Youth in the Fight Against Addiction” (Project No: 2025-1-TR01-KA154-YOU-000302215), coordinated by the Equal Opportunity and Sustainable Future Association, successfully carried out an educational activity at Lavanta Tepesi Hotel between October 21-24, 2026.

The educational program conducted within the scope of the project, which aims to encourage more active participation of young people in the fight against addiction processes, addressed the individual, social, and psychosocial dimensions of substance addiction in a multifaceted manner. Activities conducted with the contributions of expert academics, psychologists, youth workers, and civil society representatives included sessions on preventive measures against addiction, participation of young people in decision-making mechanisms, peer education, youth policies, digital awareness tools, and participatory solution models that can be implemented at the local level.

During the educational activity, participants had the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in project development in the field of combating addiction, creating social awareness, and producing youth-based solution proposals through group work, practical workshops, and interactive discussions. The project also aims to increase young people's awareness of social responsibility, strengthen their participation in decision-making processes, and develop a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration in youth work. The activities conducted with the academic contributions of our university's Sociology Department serve as an important example in terms of youth participation and community-based preventive efforts.