5th World Youth Congress in Turkiye, 31 July - 13 August 2010

We are delighted that the 5th in this great series of World Youth Congresses on Youth and Development will be held in Istanbul, Turkiye in 2010 !

Turkiye will welcome 1000 young people from around the world to meet during Istanbul's year as the European Capital of Culture. You will have the chance  to learn a lot about Turkish culture, about Turkish people, and the history of one of the oldest civilizations of the world - which is now the 2nd fastest growing modern economy in the world after China.

Also, just as in Hawaii, you learned about the word 'Aloha' - and in Canada - you learned the meaning of 'Regeneration,' in Turkiye, we hope you will discover the meaning of the word: "imece" - a Turkish word which doesn't have exact definition in English. It refers to an ancient tradition of solidarity – working collectively for the common good. But it carries with it - not the connotation of effort or duty - but the fun of collaboration: it is a festival where we work and achieve things together while enjoying ourselves.

We hope that this is how young people around the world will see youth-led development: the effort to make poverty history in our lifetimes - and create peace, human rights, democracy, trust, volunteerism and a prosperous green economy that will bring sustainable happiness to every race and nation on the earth - this is imece! And it will be the greatest source of joy and fun for us all to take part in this effort.

Istanbul is at the crossroads of civilisations - a meeting point of two great continents. Join us in Istanbul, and help us write another chapter in the history of this fascinating city: one in which the young people of the world and their governments learn to work together in 'imece' to eliminate the scourge of poverty from our world.