Eskisehir and EU Cooperation: New horizons in youth and sports projects

Bahar Bulak

Recently, we conducted a comprehensive interview with İsmet Ozan Karabınar, Tender Coordinator of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, about Eskişehir’s EU-funded youth and sports projects. This interview reveals the impact of Eskişehir’s cooperation with the EU on local youth and sports projects and future plans.

 Mr. Ozan, as the Ministry of Youth and Sports, what are the EU-funded projects in Eskişehir?

Ozan Karabınar: Eskişehir is a very active city in terms of youth and sports projects. We have implemented many projects thanks to EU funds. Especially within the framework of the Erasmus+ program, we carry out many projects to increase young people’s experience abroad, promote cultural exchange, and support sports activities. For example, last year, the international exchange program we organized for young people under Erasmus+ attracted great interest. Thanks to this program, young people had the opportunity to meet different cultures and increase both their personal development and cultural awareness.

What are the contributions of these projects to Eskişehir youth and sports?

Ozan Karabınar: Projects supported by EU funds make a great contribution to our youth gaining international experience.

Thanks to these projects, young people not only go abroad but also collaborate with young people from different countries to produce joint projects. This has a positive impact on their personal development and professional skills. In the field of sports, we have built new sports facilities and modernized existing ones with EU-funded projects, increasing the opportunities for young people to do sports and encouraging them to live a healthy life.

What are the future projects that Eskisehir is planning in cooperation with the EU?

Ozan Karapınar: In the coming period, we aim to further expand our cooperation with the EU. In particular, we are working on projects that will improve the entrepreneurial skills of young people and increase their digital literacy. We are also planning to build new facilities and further develop existing ones in the field of sports. With these projects, we aim to offer more opportunities to the youth of Eskişehir and better prepare them for the future. The contribution of EU funds in this process is very important for us and we want to further strengthen this cooperation.

Finally, what is your message to the youth and athletes in Eskişehir?

Ozan Karapınar: I would like to say to our young people and athletes in Eskişehir: We are working to offer you more opportunities through EU funds and cooperation.

You must make the most of these opportunities and participate in these projects to develop yourself. Do not forget that international experiences and ties with different cultures will play a big role in your personal and professional development. For our young people who play sports, I recommend that they lead a healthy life and benefit from the discipline of sports.

This interview with İsmet Ozan Karabınar reveals how Eskişehir’s strong cooperation with the EU has brought tangible benefits in the fields of youth and sports and how Eskişehir aims to further develop this cooperation through future projects. Eskişehir continues to prepare its young people for a brighter future with these opportunities.