Life for PRR Project Brought Young People Together for Sustainability in Kilis

The Life for PRR (Protect, Reduce, Reuse) project was implemented in Kilis between 3-10 July 2025 as an environmental Erasmus+ Youth Mobility project (KA152-YOU). Carried out in cooperation with Kilis 7 Aralık University, the project brought together local young people from Kilis and nearly 50 international participants around environmental awareness, recycling, sustainable development and green lifestyle behaviours.

In addition to Türkiye, youth organisations from Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Poland and Croatia took part in the project. Life for PRR became an important international youth activity in Kilis, focusing on environmental protection, reducing consumption, using resources more consciously, promoting reuse and encouraging young people to take individual and social responsibility for a low-carbon future.

Project Aim: Protect, Reduce, Reuse

The main approach of the Life for PRR project was based on the concepts of Protect, Reduce and Reuse. Under the theme of “Protect”, participants discussed the importance of protecting nature, water, soil, local production and cultural heritage. Under “Reduce”, they focused on reducing unnecessary consumption, preventing waste, lowering carbon footprint and using resources more efficiently. Under “Reuse”, practical activities were carried out on reusing materials, recycling techniques, circular economy and sustainable living practices.

The project aimed to help young people become more aware of environmental problems and recycling, learn about green jobs and sustainable lifestyles, take action for a low-carbon future and participate more actively in decision-making processes. At the same time, young people from different countries shared knowledge, experiences and good practices, creating a strong space for intercultural interaction.

Non-Formal Education Workshops and Recycling Activities

Within the project, participants took part in educational workshops on recycling, energy planning, resource use, circular economy, sustainable consumption and environmentally friendly daily habits. Through non-formal education methods, young people were not passive listeners, but active contributors to the learning process.

In recycling workshops, participants created new products from waste materials, worked on reusing existing materials and developed creative solutions for environmental problems. They experienced how small individual changes can become part of a larger transformation when combined with social awareness.

Cooperation with Kilis 7 Aralık University

Kilis 7 Aralık University made an important contribution to the implementation of the project in Kilis as a cooperation partner. The university environment enabled young people from different countries to come together in an academic and social atmosphere, supported the smooth implementation of project activities and helped participants get to know Kilis more closely.

Through this cooperation, the project went beyond being only an environmental youth mobility and created a strong basis for new cooperation between local institutions, youth organisations and civil society. In this respect, Life for PRR contributed to making young people more visible and active in the fields of environment, sustainability and active citizenship in Kilis.

Local Production Experience: Watermelon Harvesting

As part of the project activities, participants joined a watermelon harvesting activity to experience the local production culture of Kilis. Young people visited agricultural production areas and had the opportunity to observe the labour of local producers, the value of soil and the journey of food before it reaches the table.

The watermelon harvesting activity was not only an agricultural experience for the participants; it also created a practical learning space where they reflected on food waste, the protection of local production, production in harmony with nature and sustainable consumption habits. Young people from different countries worked together in the same field, strengthening teamwork, task sharing and solidarity.

Environmental Awareness in Kilis and Gaziantep

Within the project, participants had the opportunity to discover places and practices related to environment, recycling and local awareness in Kilis and Gaziantep. Through visits to recycling centres and local environmental practices, participants evaluated how waste management, resource use and sustainability are connected to daily urban life.

Environmental awareness activities were also carried out in busy areas of Kilis. Young people took active roles in drawing attention to environmental problems, promoting recycling awareness and encouraging sustainable lifestyle behaviours. In this way, the project became an awareness-raising process not only for participants, but also for the local community.

Historical and Cultural Values of Kilis Were Introduced

Life for PRR was not limited to environment and recycling themes; it also enabled participants to discover the historical and cultural values of Kilis. The city’s stone architecture, historical streets, local life culture and urban memory were introduced to the young participants throughout the project.

Through cultural visits, participants had the opportunity to see the heritage Kilis carries from past to present. These visits showed that protecting cultural heritage is also an important part of sustainability. Young people experienced that protecting the environment also means protecting the history, culture and shared memory of communities.

Visit to Ravanda Castle

Within the scope of the project, participants visited Ravanda Castle and discovered one of the important historical values of Kilis. Ravanda Castle, which reflects the history of the region, offered participants a powerful learning space on the protection of historical heritage and its transfer to future generations.

During this visit, young people had the opportunity to see that historical structures are not only physical places remaining from the past, but also values representing the identity, memory and cultural continuity of societies. The visit to Ravanda Castle became one of the important stops strengthening the cultural learning dimension of the project.

Şanlıurfa Cultural Trip: Balıklıgöl and Göbeklitepe

Within the scope of the Life for PRR project, participants also visited Şanlıurfa, one of the most important historical and cultural centres of the region. During the Şanlıurfa trip, Balıklıgöl and Göbeklitepe were visited, offering young people a strong experience related to human history, belief culture, archaeological heritage and the history of civilisations.

The visit to Balıklıgöl contributed to participants’ understanding of Şanlıurfa’s historical atmosphere and cultural diversity. The visit to Göbeklitepe enabled young people to reflect on humanity’s shared heritage, develop historical awareness and understand more closely the universal importance of protecting cultural values.

Intercultural Interaction and Shared Learning

Young people from Türkiye, Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Poland and Croatia came together in the same learning environment throughout the project. Participants shared environmental problems, recycling practices, sustainability approaches and local experiences from their own countries.

Workshops, group activities, nature activities, cultural visits and social events helped build strong connections among young people. Bringing young people from different cultures together around a common purpose strengthened environmental awareness and contributed to the development of intercultural dialogue.

An Important Environmental Project for Kilis

Life for PRR had a special meaning as one of the important youth projects carried out in Kilis with an environmental focus. The project contributed to helping both local young people and participants from different countries approach environmental problems more consciously, gain recycling awareness and develop sustainable living habits.

The project also created a foundation for new cooperation between local authorities, the university, youth organisations and civil society organisations. The meeting of Kilis’ local dynamics with international youth work showed that more comprehensive activities can be developed in the future in the fields of environment and sustainability.

Expected Results and Impact

At the end of the project, it was aimed that young people would increase their environmental awareness, gain sustainable consumption habits, learn more about Erasmus+ projects and other European opportunities, draw attention to environmental problems in Kilis and develop solution-oriented ideas.

Life for PRR left a lasting impact on participants as a multidimensional youth work activity aiming to create environmental awareness at local, national and international levels. The knowledge, experience and awareness gained during the project are expected to be carried by participants into their own lives, organisations and local communities.

Thank You

As KOZ-DER, we would like to thank all stakeholders who contributed to the implementation of Life for PRR (Protect, Reduce, Reuse), Kilis 7 Aralık University for its cooperation, the youth organisations involved in the project, our team members who contributed to the activities and all young people who took part in the project.

Life for PRR will remain in memories as a strong and unforgettable Erasmus+ experience that contributed to young people becoming more sensitive to the environment, culture, local life and one another.