COASTAL VOICES – Young People Reimagining Coastal Cities

COASTAL VOICES – Young People Reimagining Coastal Cities is a planned Erasmus+ KA152 Youth Exchange coordinated by DenTek, a student-led youth group operating within the Maritime Faculty of Istanbul Technical University.

The project will bring together 28 young people and 4 group leaders from 4 countries. Each national group will consist of 7 participants aged 18 to 25 and 1 group leader. The eight-day youth exchange will be hosted in Bandırma, Türkiye, with an additional coastal field study in Erdek. The mobility is planned for spring 2027, with the exact dates to be agreed together with the selected partners.

The project will explore how young people experience and imagine the future of coastal cities. Main topics will include marine pollution, climate change, public access to coastal areas, sustainable tourism, maritime culture and youth participation in local decision-making.

Participants will compare the challenges faced by their own coastal communities and examine the relationship between the port, industry, urban life and the coastline in Bandırma. During the Erdek field study, they will explore natural coastal areas, tourism, local life and sustainable use of the coastline.

The programme will be based on non-formal learning. Activities will include workshops, field observations, problem mapping, simulations, role-playing, intercultural activities, mixed-country teamwork and daily reflection sessions. Participants will develop youth-led proposals for coastal cities and produce short videos, photographs, digital stories and social media content.

We are looking for three committed partner organisations or informal groups from Erasmus+ Programme Countries. Partners should be interested in environmental sustainability, coastal communities, youth participation, maritime culture or non-formal education. Previous Erasmus+ experience is welcome but not required.

Each partner will be expected to recruit and prepare 7 young participants and 1 group leader, contribute to online planning meetings, support the learning process during the exchange and organise at least one local follow-up or dissemination activity after the mobility. We particularly welcome partners that can involve young people with fewer opportunities and support participants who have limited international experience or lower confidence in using English.

The working language will be English, but advanced language skills will not be required. Visual methods, peer support and small-group activities will be used to ensure meaningful participation at different language levels.

The project is planned for submission under the Erasmus+ KA152 Youth Exchanges action. Participation and mobility will take place if the application is approved for funding. Our aim is to build a reliable partnership that can continue developing future Erasmus+ and European youth projects after COASTAL VOICES.