It is something observed quite often that one wants to stand up and make sacrifices, in order to fix something that is not working properly. It is a very sacred moment and it is quite something. At such a moment, what is essential is to stand up and go out of the door.

What could you do after going out through the door? Would you change people’s life with boring political party meetings and help people to dream about their future? Get a grip, the eastern block is demolished a long time ago. Well, otherwise would you desire to plan a future through the giant holdings by the hope of making money and make the social transformation with this way? Forget about this, that holdings are so high, and the society is in downstairs for them.
But what is the tone? Have you ever closed your eyes and looked at the stars? Wished to be one of them? Or what is more important, has it even occurred to you that, you wished there would be a star rain in the sky? What I am trying to say is did you want to provide yourself and the other people to reach the positive changes in their lives?

Don’t forget to take your back pack when you go out through the door and fill it with necessary things; because as a volunteer you have been carrying your entire worlds in your back pack.
Slowly set off, and open your eyes wide. Everything; every person, place, every living thing, can be part of the very society you are trying to create with your imagination. So, try to be nice to them. Determine your indispensable conditions. Do not forget that you are a volunteer, but do not also forget, that being a volunteer isn't necessarily working voluntarily, and that you are a professional with the spirit of an amateur. Then, do these in the following order:

- Always be apprehensive to people.
- Be enterprising and try to create new ideas.
- Do not hesitate to defend what you know as right, even though it sounds extra-ordinary to the others.
- Take everybody as addressee.
- Always carry pen & paper; you never know what kind of stories you will encounter with.
- Always be open to new things; never stick in dogmatic ideas.

Assuming that you have put all I've counted so far, go out of the door and walk towards Istanbul. Now, the world is a completely different place for you. Now, when you see trash on the way, you will notice that, it is not the awkwardness of the municipality, but an opportunity for you to come up with new ideas. Either, once a grouchy neighbor is now a close friend for you to communicate. Of course, while flying among the pink clouds, be careful not to fall down in case of turbulence.


Any non-governmental organization you see, go in and listen to them. Have least (limited) priorities. Determine your specific fields of interest. Do you want to work with the young, or the old? The children or the adults? With animals or environment? With women or what? Go to the organization you feel like working with, and start working. Work with people wanting to work with you. Go and get organized. Get organized, because in a place where there is no organization, your individual work will be like emulating to Don Quixote. I like Don Quixote; yet, no matter how strong a knight he is, he is actually not that strong by himself, against society. So set off, get organized and attack! Attack to solve the problems of your country! Attack to solve the problems of the world! Attack to solve the problems of humanity, of universe! With your own Don Quixote!

You will encounter with many obstacles. At some places, you might be accused of infidelity; some places, of treason; some places, of wasting your time... That's OK, but don't forget this: The spirit of time will always be on your side, always rushing with you for success!

As a volunteer, what kind of a thing you feel like doing in Istanbul? Be sure, there is a lot to do... But if you come to Istanbul as a young European, you will most probably end up wasting your time. One of my voluntarily works is bustling to solve this problem. To support providing an environment in which the young can gather, and under the title of "youth," get organized against their problems, this is my most vital task. The maintenance of the circulation of the youth, young people from different cultures gathering and sharing their experiences; these are the most important elements of a new society and a new concept of "youth." Strengthening the economically disadvantaged position of the youth is, however, a job that has to be done primarily, in order to create these elements. With the European Youth Card, it is aimed that the young can circulate in Europe and also they can share their experiences and knowledge. As the youth -with their dreams filled in their backpacks, rushing- I, my friends and the young people I see in streets, we all undertake the task of getting them rid of the obstacles they will encounter with.

So my friend, when you look at the mirror today, if you, too, see someone different than yesterday, "take a walk in the city you live in, with a backpack filled with your dreams; and if by chance, you pay a short visit to Istanbul, join us!"