Turkish-German Youth Bridge: “Design Your City” Forum Held in Bursa

The “Design Your City” forum, supported by Türkiye-Almanya Gençlik Köprüsü (Turkish-German Youth Bridge), was held in early April 2026, bringing together local authorities and civil society representatives from Türkiye and Germany. The forum aimed to enhance youth participation in local decision-making processes and served as a key platform for strengthening bilateral youth cooperation. The programme, organised in cooperation with Bir Bulut Olsam Association, concluded successfully following a series of well-attended sessions.

Throughout the four-day programme, participants exchanged ideas on youth policies, international exchange programmes, and the development of intercity partnerships. Promoting youth engagement in democratic processes and fostering inclusive local policies were among the key themes discussed.

Representatives from various cities and partner municipalities shared good practices and explored new opportunities for sustainable cooperation. Workshops and panel sessions also addressed bureaucratic and structural challenges faced in youth projects.

The Beşiktaş Municipality Project and Fund Management Unit also took an active role in the programme. A unit representative facilitated a session focusing on organisational challenges and project management, sharing hands-on experience with the participants. In addition, through the international connections established during the programme, new partnerships were formed; a joint Erasmus+ project idea for upcoming calls was further refined, and the proposal development process was formally initiated.

The event was hosted by Nilüfer Municipality and contributed to strengthening youth dialogue between Türkiye and Germany, while fostering new partnerships.