As the second round of the first edition of THE:PLACE programme is well underway, ALDA and MAD as coordinators have engaged in a series of visits of the programme beneficiaries these last weeks. THE:PLACE programme is based on the idea that social and spatial challenges encountered in Türkiye and the EU countries often share similar origins, even if they are not exactly the same. Local actors, civil society organisations, and local authorities in this context, have much to gain by collaborating and joining their forces to make a meaningful impact. The programme, therefore, targets to enhance CSOs’ capacity and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and cooperation among them. As much, it encourages collaboration with local authorities through quadrilateral partnerships.
Visits to Youth ID and ACORT in France: come along the way of upcycling workshops and photo exhibitions 🇫🇷
Since both beneficiaries are based in Paris, ALDA and MAD paid an initial visit to Youth ID and ACORT in September. As a reminder, the program relies on partnerships between the EU and Turkish Civil Society Organisations, hence, Youth ID developed a joint project with Karaman Youth Center Association on sustainable fashion among youth. Thus, we had the occasion to visit the French association’s local activities, such as an upcycling workshop to reuse old clothes donated from various fashion brands, where participants could upgrade to their liking a piece of clothing and take it back with them to fully enjoy them in style.
The same week, the ALDA team visited ACORT, a long-established French Turkish diaspora association working in a close partnership with TTM. Their joint project centres on empowering women’s voices, particularly through photographic exhibitions that highlight women’s experiences in urban settings.
Later on, on November 2, Youth ID pulled out all the stops by hosting a giant “youth market” at the renowned “La Recyclerie” third-place in Paris. The event kicked off with an engaging discussion featuring sustainable fashion creators such as Sarah Slimani or Cent Neuf, followed by a massive thrift market along with an upcycling stop, a concert with artists for all tastes, an associative village showcasing local organisations, and a fashion show featuring sustainably crafted outfits. The event was a great success with more than 400 people attending!
Visit to FoCo in Italy: how to better think migrant integration in local communities 🇮🇹
ALDA and MAD visited in October the beneficiary FoCo in Cosenza, which is partnering with the Turkish cooperative Urban Koop. Together, they hosted a three-day event featuring conferences and visits to refugee welcome centres across Cosenza and its province. Key stakeholders from Italy, Türkiye, and Malta discussed strategies for building resilient organisations that can effectively integrate refugees and migrants into local communities. One of the main focuses was exploring the cooperative model as a means to achieve these goals. The visits included stops at centres for unaccompanied minors in Cosenza and Cariati (Italy), providing valuable insights into the similarities and differences in the operations and objectives of such organisations compared to those in Türkiye. Additionally, the discussions highlighted the political role of communities and diasporas in shaping integration dynamics. Our beneficiaries have much more to offer in the upcoming months, stay tuned!
