Evaluation of youth policies from a local perspective: The sample of Elazig Youth Council

In this study, the aim and functioning of youth assemblies, which are structured in order to encourage and direct the civic participation of young people in the context of youth policies, and which can also be considered as one of the application areas of youth policies through local governments, are discussed. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the aims, objectives and activities of the youth council by conducting a research on the Elazig Municipality Youth Council. In this study, which was designed as a qualitative research and based on the case study pattern, the study group of the research consisted of the members of the Executive Committee of the Elazig Municipality Youth Council and earthquake survivors who participated in the activities carried out by the Youth Council. The purpose of choosing two separate groups is to evaluate the Elazig Youth Council in terms of both those who take part in the assembly and the social groups that benefit from the activities of the assembly. Data were collected by focus group interview and in-depth interview techniques. The responses received after the focus group discussions with the children participating in the activities of the Youth Council were categorized as evaluation, interpretation, positive/negative criticism of the activities and organizations attended by the children, and finally, demands. According to the evaluations of the earthquake victims, who were included in the participant group of the research because they took part in more than one activity, it is primarily remarkable that the positive opinions are high. Negative criticisms and demands are shaped by the fact that they find the activities short-term and want them to be repeated. The data obtained as a result of individual interviews with the other participants of the working group emerged as the aims, activities and targets of the youth in the assembly, and the feedback they received. The purpose of the youth's presence in the assembly, whether their activities are compatible with these purposes, and their personal satisfaction in terms of their civic and local participation were wondered. According to the findings, the Elazig Youth Council Executive Committee Members stated that they received mostly positive feedback from the city by evaluating the contribution of the Elazig Municipality Youth Council as an institutional structure to the city, emphasizing that the assembly creates a living space for the youth and that long-term projects should be signed in the parliament in the future. They also stated that the working environments and activities in the assembly, motivate them personally.