Discovering Europe Together: ErasmusDays at Beşiktaş Municipality

Beşiktaş Municipality celebrated this year’s ErasmusDays — an international initiative highlighting the impact and opportunities of the Erasmus+ programme across Europe — with a three-day series of information sessions held between 14–16 October at the Beşiktaş Municipality Project Point in Karaoğlan Youth Center.

Throughout the sessions, young participants learned about various European programmes designed to support learning, volunteering, and cultural exchange. The morning sessions provided a general overview of Erasmus+, while the afternoon focused on specific opportunities: the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) for young people aged 18–30, Youth Exchanges and SALTO programmes for those aged 18–35, and DiscoverEU, a special initiative enabling 18-year-olds to explore Europe by train.

High school students showed great enthusiasm for DiscoverEU, expressing curiosity about the application process and sharing their excitement about discovering new cultures. Young adults were equally engaged during the ESC and Youth Exchange sessions, where they explored ways to volunteer abroad, participate in community projects, and connect with peers across Europe. Many participants expressed a strong motivation to take part in future Erasmus+ opportunities, seeing them as valuable steps toward personal growth and intercultural understanding. Through these sessions, Beşiktaş Municipality once again reaffirmed its commitment to empowering youth participation and strengthening its role as a vibrant centre for young people in Istanbul.