Frequently Asked Questions

YouthTICK is a youth organization based in Yalova, Türkiye, that connects young people with Erasmus+ programs, civic participation opportunities, and international youth exchanges across Europe. We focus on the Germany-Türkiye youth corridor and work to build genuine intercultural dialogue, entrepreneurship skills, and sustainable development awareness among young people aged 15-30.

You can join YouthTICK by applying to our volunteer program or participating in our Erasmus+ exchanges. Visit our opportunities page to see current openings. Applications are typically open 3 months before program start dates. You can also follow us on Instagram @youthtick or contact us at info@youthtick.org for upcoming opportunities.

Most YouthTICK programs are designed for young people aged 18-30, in line with Erasmus+ Youth Exchange eligibility criteria. Some local workshops in Yalova accept participants from age 15 with parental consent. European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering programs typically require participants to be 18-30 years old at the time of application.

No. All Erasmus+ youth exchange programs coordinated by YouthTICK are fully funded by the European Union. This covers accommodation, meals, and local transportation during the program. International travel costs are reimbursed up to the limit set by the Erasmus+ distance calculator. There are no hidden fees or membership costs to participate.

Basic English is helpful for most international programs, as it's the common working language in Erasmus+ youth exchanges. However, you don't need to be fluent — many programs include language animation activities and use non-formal education methods that go beyond language. Local programs in Yalova are conducted in Turkish.

Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges typically last 5-10 days (excluding travel days) and include 20-30 participants from at least 2 countries. European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering projects can range from 2-12 months. Local workshops in Yalova usually run for 1-3 days. Training courses for youth workers are typically 5-7 days.

Our primary focus is the Germany-Türkiye youth corridor. We are actively building partnerships in Germany (priority region), Poland, Greece, and Spain. As we are in our foundation phase (est. 2026), we are concentrating on building genuine, lasting relationships before scaling to more countries. We are open to partnership inquiries from youth organizations across all Erasmus+ Programme Countries.

YouthTICK is an independent youth initiative and is not directly funded by the European Union. However, the youth exchange programs we coordinate are funded through the Erasmus+ programme. We are currently in our foundation phase, building partnerships and preparing our first Erasmus+ project applications for 2026-2027.

Yes! YouthTICK welcomes volunteers from across Türkiye and internationally. While we are based in Yalova, many of our activities are virtual or take place in partner countries. We are particularly interested in connecting with young people from other Turkish cities and from our partner countries in Europe. Visit our volunteer page to learn more.

We welcome partnership inquiries from youth organizations, NGOs, schools, and municipalities interested in youth mobility and intercultural exchange. We are particularly interested in organizations based in Germany, Poland, Greece, and Spain. Contact us at info@youthtick.org or visit our partnership page to explore collaboration opportunities.

Erasmus+ is the European Union's programme to support education, training, youth and sport across Europe. The Youth strand of Erasmus+ funds youth exchanges, volunteering projects (European Solidarity Corps), and training courses for youth workers. It's open to participants from EU member states and partner countries including Türkiye. All activities are fully funded by the EU.

Check our opportunities page or follow our Instagram (@youthtick) for open calls. When we announce a youth exchange, we'll share an application form (usually via Google Forms) with details about the program dates, partner countries, and topic. The typical application deadline is 4-8 weeks before the program starts. Selected participants will be notified by email and invited to a pre-departure orientation meeting.

YouthTICK programs focus on six core areas: (1) Youth Civic Participation, (2) Intercultural Dialogue, (3) Entrepreneurship, (4) Sustainability, (5) Research & Learning, (6) International Networking. Visit our focus areas page for detailed descriptions of each area.

Absolutely! Most of our programs are designed for first-time participants. Erasmus+ youth exchanges use non-formal education methods that are accessible to everyone, regardless of previous experience. We provide pre-departure orientation for all participants to help you feel prepared. Your enthusiasm, openness to learning, and willingness to engage with people from different backgrounds are more important than prior experience.

The Germany-Türkiye youth corridor refers to the strong cultural, historical, and demographic ties between Germany and Türkiye that create natural opportunities for youth exchange and cooperation. With a large Turkish diaspora in Germany and existing cultural connections, this corridor represents a strategic priority for YouthTICK's foundation-phase activities. We believe these shared ties create fertile ground for genuine, lasting intercultural dialogue.