The opening meeting of the “On the Road to Freedom: Empowerment Against Addiction” project, supported by the European Union and approved by the Turkish National Agency, was held online on December 27, 2024. This important initiative, with the project reference number: 2024-1-TR01-KA210-YOU-000250976, is coordinated by Toprak Çocuk Education and Solidarity Association. The project partners include Centrul Pentru Tineret Mileniu from Romania and FAKTOR a Jövő Közösségéért Egészségügyi és Sportegyesület from Hungary.
Project Partners Came Together
The online meeting was attended by Marif Alparslan, President of Toprak Çocuk Education and Solidarity Association; Gergely Mark Monostori, President of FAKTOR a Jövő Közösségéért Egészségügyi és Sportegyesület; and Iuliana-Andreea Drâmbă, President of Centrul Pentru Tineret Mileniu, as well as project organizers and team members. This meeting served as a kick-off event, marking the first significant step of the project, where the main objectives and implementation methods were discussed in detail.
Strategic Goals in Combating Addiction Were Set
Throughout the meeting, steps to be taken to develop effective methods in combating addiction and raising awareness among young people were discussed. The main objectives determined within the scope of the project were as follows:
- Raising Awareness: Increasing awareness among young people and educators about addiction.
- Understanding Risk Factors: Identifying the factors that lead to addiction and developing preventive approaches.
- Strengthening Self-Confidence and Emotional Intelligence: Providing psychological support to help young people combat addiction.
- Encouraging Alternative Activities: Offering healthy alternatives such as art, sports, and volunteering to counteract addiction.
- Increasing Family and Community Involvement: Ensuring that families and society take an active role in combating addiction.
- International Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing: Conducting joint efforts with different European countries to determine best practices in addiction prevention.
Website and Mobile Application Introduced
One of the key agenda items of the meeting was the project’s website and mobile application. The mobile application, named “Freedom Against Addiction”, will include the following features:
- Informative articles and documents on addiction.
- Educational videos, animations, and short films to raise awareness among young people.
- Guidance on rehabilitation centers, counseling hotlines, and public services.
- Contact information for hospitals and healthcare institutions for emergency situations.
Roadmap for Future Steps Defined
At the end of the meeting, project partners detailed the processes to be carried out in cooperation. Ideas were exchanged regarding the workshops, training programs, and field visits planned for the coming months. Additionally, technical details about the mobile application development were shared, and discussions were held on the roadmap for the next phases of the project.
The “On the Road to Freedom: Empowerment Against Addiction” project aims to create international solidarity in the fight against addiction.
