​​Key Highlights:

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From 15–22 October, we gathered in Avanos — the heart of pottery and creativity in Türkiye 🏺
34 young people, group leaders, and facilitators from Austria, Türkiye, Georgia, and Latvia came together to explore clay, creativity, and self-discovery. 🌍

Within the framework of the project, a ceramic workshop was organized as a core activity to foster social inclusion, active participation, and young people’s mental well-being.
The workshop was led by Lecturer Emel Mülayim from Akdeniz University, who guided the process from an academic and educational perspective, supporting participants in developing creativity, manual skills, and self-expression in a safe and inclusive environment.

As part of the practical implementation, Yakup Yıldırım, a ceramic artist officially awarded the title of “Pottery Artist” by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, delivered hands-on training, sharing traditional production knowledge and connecting cultural heritage with contemporary youth needs.

In addition, Ebru Çelikhan developed and facilitated a concept linking masks with emotions, enabling participants to transform their inner feelings and creativity into ceramic works—especially expressive masks reflecting personal and collective experiences.

During the following days of the youth exchange, these works were exhibited in the center of Avanos, bringing young people’s voices into the public space through art.

This project was co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union ​