When we talk about intercultural differences, we are not only considering the distant points of the world. We live in a colourful geography that hosts many different cultures, which allows us to enjoy cultural diversities.
Bringing together students and educators across the country every year, Türkiye Kardeşleri (Sisters and Brothers of Turkey) Domestic Exchange Program aims at fostering respect for differences and appreciation of diversity.
The objectives of the program are to:
  • Increase participants’ awareness on culture through creating an environment where they can get to know different cultures and rediscover their own cultures, and decrease their negative prejudices against differences;
  • Empower participants with global competences: develop their knowledge and experiences on active citizenship, and their soft skills such as confidence, mutual trust, communication, team work;
  • Help educators increase their competences on non-formal training methods and intercultural learning.
The program consists of 3 stages:
  • Pre-departure Orientations:
The aim of the stage is to help the participants to get the maximum from the program and ease their process of intercultural adaptation. In this stage, we organize orientations for students, sending and hosting families.
  • Exchange week:
Students experience a different culture from the first hand through staying with volunteer families during the exchange week which comprises 3 main components:
– Training sessions on culture and volunteering
– Cultural activities
– Volunteer activities
  • Youth Summit
The achievements of the exchange week are assessed during the youth summit where all participants come together and get to know each other, engage in trainings and workshops carried out by our volunteers. Intercultural learning workshops are held with educators.

“I saw that the geographic distances and differences cannot hinder the friendship and brotherhood.”

Melike,  Student 

“I’m a teacher and I’m 30 years old. I recognized my prejudices while warning the children not be prejudiced and I understand that how much they are meaningless.”

Mehmet,  Educator

“I learned to respect the differences thanks to this program and understand how crucial this is for the peaceful world.”

Berkay, Participant – Student
The program took place for the first time in 2015 with the participation of 21 students from Adana, Bitlis and Sakarya.
In 2016, 61 students and 15 educators participated in the program from 7 cities, namely Adana, Antalya, Eskişehir, Rize, Sakarya, Uşak and Zonguldak.
2017 edition of the programme hosted 163 students and 27 educators from 9 cities, namely Adana, Bursa, Edirne, Erzincan, Eskişehir, Isparta, Rize, Uşak and Zonguldak.
Türkiye Kardeşleri 2018 will take place with the participation of over 170 students and 36 educators from 12 cities, namely Adana, Aydın, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Edirne, Erzincan, Eskişehir, Isparta, Kars, Rize, Uşak, Zonguldak, between 21 – 30 September.