Youth Diplomacy Association
The Youth Diplomacy Association (GDD) is a youth platform that brings together high school and university students interested in diplomacy and international relations, supporting their academic and professional development. Through high-quality initiatives, academic gatherings, institutional visits, and national and international programmes, it helps young people expand their knowledge and experience in the field of diplomacy. By bringing today’s leaders together with tomorrow’s leaders, GDD enables young people to engage directly with experts in the field.
GDD views young people not merely as participants in activities, but as active contributors who generate ideas, assume responsibility, and develop collaborative initiatives. Starting in Türkiye, it aims to bring young people from around the world together on common ground, strengthen international cooperation, and take a leading role in building the foundations of youth diplomacy. In pursuit of these goals, GDD seeks to establish lasting connections among young people from different countries and to promote Türkiye’s model of high-quality social clubs on an international scale.
Our Vision
To become a pioneering platform that brings the world’s youth together on common ground, represents the conscience of young people worldwide on global issues, and builds the foundations of youth diplomacy.
Our Mission
To bring high school and university students interested in diplomacy and international relations together through high-quality initiatives. By connecting today’s leaders with tomorrow’s leaders, we aim to contribute to the academic, professional, and personal development of young people.
To build bridges between young people and the institutions and organisations representing Türkiye abroad, while creating opportunities for young people from different countries to come together and undertake collaborative initiatives.
Our Objectives
Our National Objectives
High-Quality Initiatives
To bring high school and university students across Türkiye who are interested in diplomacy together through academic, cultural, and practical activities.
Professional Guidance
To provide guidance to young people pursuing careers in diplomacy, international relations, and the social sciences, and to connect them with experts in these fields.
Institutional Awareness
To introduce young people to the activities, opportunities, and career pathways offered by institutions and organisations representing Türkiye abroad.
Diplomacy Clubs
To take the lead in promoting a Türkiye-centred approach to diplomacy clubs in high schools and universities.
Our International Objectives
Global Youth Network
To take the lead in establishing an international youth network that brings young people together worldwide and fosters lasting relationships and sustainable cooperation.
Building Youth Diplomacy
To develop an approach to youth diplomacy grounded in dialogue, collaborative idea generation, and project development by bringing young people together around shared interests.
Promoting Social Entrepreneurship
To take the lead in promoting Türkiye’s successful models of social clubs and social entrepreneurship worldwide, particularly across the regions with which Türkiye shares historical, cultural, and social ties.
Our Principles
Quality Over Quantity
We measure growth not merely by the number of people we reach, but by the quality of our work, the impact it creates, and its lasting value.
Youth Initiative
We see young people not merely as participants in activities, but as active contributors who generate ideas, assume responsibility, and shape processes.
Dialogue and Mutual Understanding
We value bringing together different perspectives, cultures, and experiences, placing mutual understanding and constructive dialogue at the heart of our work.
Continuity and Sustainability
We strive to go beyond one-off events by building lasting relationships, ongoing projects, and sustainable structures.