Young People Explore Göbeklitepe, Halfeti and Balıklıgöl

From Training to Cultural Discovery

As part of “Mind Games, Digitalisation and Disaster Awareness: A Journey towards the Future for Young People”, KOZ-DER organised visits to Göbeklitepe, Halfeti and Balıklıgöl following the project’s training activities, with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye. Young people explored the region’s historical, natural and cultural heritage and shared new experiences together.

The cultural and social activities extended the interaction that began during training into different settings. The visits aimed to bring cultural discovery, shared learning and social participation together.

Exploring Göbeklitepe, the “Zero Point of History”

Participants visited Göbeklitepe, often described as the “zero point of history”, to encounter traces of the past firsthand. The visit offered a learning experience beyond the training room and encouraged curiosity about history and cultural heritage.

The aim was to help young people become more familiar with their region’s heritage, appreciate the importance of protecting it and connect the past with the present. Exploring a historical site together created opportunities to share observations and impressions.

Nature and Regional Heritage in Halfeti

Another stop on the programme was Halfeti. Participants explored its natural surroundings and cultural character while spending time together in a different setting after their training. A boat trip, also captured in the photographs, became one of their shared experiences.

The visit aimed to support awareness of nature and the environment, familiarity with regional heritage and stronger social connections through shared experiences. It highlighted opportunities to learn by observing the surroundings and exploring together.

A Cultural Experience at Balıklıgöl

At Balıklıgöl, participants encountered the region’s cultural and historical character. Together with Göbeklitepe and Halfeti, this stop complemented a programme bringing different natural and cultural settings together.

The visits provided opportunities to become more familiar with the region and develop awareness of cultural diversity. Exploring together and creating shared memories supported the project’s social participation objectives beyond the training environment.

Discovery, Social Participation and Growing Stronger Together

The aim went beyond visiting different places: the activities brought together cultural heritage awareness, connection with nature and interaction among young people. The visits offered opportunities to share an experience and develop the relationships formed during training.

Designed to empower young people in Kilis affected by the 6 February earthquakes, the project received TRY 910,000 in grant support and was planned with an implementation schedule of approximately eight months. The programme for young people aged 14–29 complemented mind games, robotics and coding, digital skills, disaster awareness and psychosocial support with cultural-social activities.

The trips formed part of this holistic approach to personal development and social participation. The photo gallery brings together moments from the visits and time spent together.

Thank You

KOZ-DER thanks the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye for its support, our team for organising the trips and all young people who took part.

We continue to create opportunities for young people to learn, discover and grow stronger together.