AKON Türkiye - Social Innovation

The "Policy Document Development Summit for the Strengthening of Young Search and Rescue Teams", conducted by Hatay Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Aid Initiative and supported within the scope of the Erasmus + program, was successfully held. The project aimed to encourage young people to take a more active role in disaster risk reduction, emergency response and community-based resilience. In this direction, the first phase of the project was organized in Reyhanlı district of Hatay. Young participants from different provinces of Turkey; They participated in comprehensive trainings and workshops on disaster awareness, search and rescue processes, first aid, crisis management and social resilience. Participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also had the opportunity to develop their own solution proposals through applied training, simulations, group work and creative production processes. Educational materials, games and digital content prepared by young people during the program produced important outcomes for disseminating disaster awareness. Within the scope of the project, a policy document reflecting the perspective of young people was also prepared. In the second stage, the selected youth delegation made various contacts in Ankara and shared this document with public institutions and decision makers. The interviews revealed that young people can actively participate in disaster management and policy development processes. During the project, participants; It has achieved significant gains in areas such as teamwork, leadership, communication, advocacy and decision-making in times of crisis. At the same time, a strong awareness was created about disaster awareness and volunteer culture. Hatay Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Aid Initiative officials emphasized that this study, beyond being just an educational program, created a sustainable model in which young people become stronger as active citizens and contribute to social resilience. The project, implemented with the support of Erasmus +, made a significant contribution to the empowerment of young people as individuals who are prepared for disasters, as well as actors who produce solutions and contribute to decision-making processes.