The “Ocean Ambassadors Meeting”, organised as part of the Erasmus+ KA153-YOU project “Enhancing the Capacity of Youth Workers in the Field of Ocean Literacy”, was held in Ankara from 3 to 7 November 2026. The first mobility activity of the project, coordinated by the Writers Union of Türkiye (TYB) in partnership with DEHUKAM and the Balkan Studies Foundation, brought together youth workers from Türkiye and North Macedonia. The programme began with an opening ceremony hosted by the Social Sciences University of Ankara. Opening remarks were delivered by Prof. Dr. Musa Kazım Arıcan, Rector of the Social Sciences University of Ankara, Prof. Dr. Muhammed Enes Kala, President of TYB, Dr. Mustafa Başkara, CEO of DEHUKAM, and Dr. Sevba Abdula, President of the Balkan Studies Foundation.
Following the opening, DEHUKAM Senior Researcher Dr. Alperen Furkan Taş introduced the key concepts of ocean literacy. DEHUKAM Project Researcher Elif Topuz presented the project’s objectives, activities, and expected outcomes. The presentation also covered the overall structure of the Erasmus+ Programme and mobility opportunities that support the professional development of youth workers. At the coordination meeting, representatives from all project partners shared examples of their youth work and reviewed the joint work plan.
During the Ocean Literacy Workshop, participants from different organisations worked in groups to explore environmental challenges affecting marine ecosystems. Proposed solutions that could be adapted for youth activities were presented in a joint session, and participants exchanged ideas on the content of the project booklet. The workshop was followed by a talk with poet and writer Mehmet Aycı on the place of whales in literature and world history.
Later in the programme, DEHUKAM Researcher Çağrı Ünal delivered a training session on ocean ecosystems, sustainability, and zero waste. In addition to the training sessions and talks, participants visited the MTA Natural History Museum and learned about the work of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) during a study visit.
The programme concluded with an evaluation session in which participants shared their experiences, followed by the presentation of Youthpass certificates.
