Turkish - American Youth Parliament

TURKISH-AMERICAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT

TAYP aims at bringing 100 students, young professionals and emerging leaders (ages 18-35) from the two countries together to develop grassroots initiatives that will positively impact people’s lives and will result in stronger ties between the two nations. Over the last 50 years of close partnership, various groups established ties with their counterpart on the other side of the Atlantic, yet a very important group; The Youth, has been missing. TAYP Project offers itself as the ideal opportunity for future leaders of both countries to come together around the same table and discuss the important issues of the world they will be leading tomorrow.

Specific objectives of the program

• to provide the needed forum that will bring the young leaders of the US and Turkey together

• to have the voices of Turkish-American youth heard by key decision makers and public on a range of issues that impact on them and on the society in general, both now and in the future.

• to present the opportunity to future leaders of both countries to develop ideas, activities and actions, from its initial planning through to implementation, this way the youth will not only be consulted and informed, they will have the chance to initiate and lead.

• to encourage more active and better-informed participation of American and Turkish youth in decision-making processes.

• to ensure awareness on both sides about the issues of particular interest of the other side

• to contribute to the solid foundation of the Turkish-American alliance by providing informal contacts between the emerging leaders of both countries and by helping them establish and elaborate links between them

• to develop confidence in the participating youth and to encourage future cooperation

• to foster a good relationship and understanding among the young participants.

• to create a network among the future leaders of Turkey and the US by establishing an alumni of participants.