Twenty-three youth workers and practitioners from across Türkiye met in Ankara to explore how to use the Council of Europe’s Compass manual in their work with young people.

From 31 October to 1 November 2026, participants took part in the in-person training course Training of Trainers in Human Rights Education with Young People in Türkiye. The course forms part of the Council of Europe’s 2026 Youth for Democracy programme and its priority on young people’s access to rights.

Preceded by online learning sessions, the course helped participants deepen their knowledge of human rights, explore methodologies for non-formal education, and develop the skills needed to design and implement awareness-raising activities for and with young people. The training is based on the Council of Europe educational resources such as Compass: Manual for Human Rights Education with Young People.

The course also provided an opportunity to work with the latest Turkish version of Compass, which is being finalised for publication.

 First published in 2002, the Compass manual has become a reference for value-based youth work and non-formal education. It is now available in more than 30 languages and combines theoretical guidance with 60 practical activities and methods.

 Alongside developing their skills, participants began building a regional network of human rights educators. They explored how to adapt the manual’s methods to the needs and aspirations of young people and their local communities. Following the training course, participants will continue their learning process through a mentored practice phase. Working in small groups, they are currently adapting selected Compass activities for online delivery and refining their workshop designs with the support of mentors. On 12-13 December 2026, participants will facilitate six public online workshops based on Compass activities, putting into practice the knowledge, skills and methodologies they have developed throughout the programme.

This practical phase aims not only to strengthen participants’ facilitation skills, but also to extend the reach of human rights education by engaging new audiences through interactive learning experiences grounded in Compass.

 The course was organised by Amnesty International Türkiye in cooperation with the Council of Europe Youth Department, within the Youth for Democracy programme and Embassy of Switzerland in Türkiye.

The 2023 Reykjavík Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe’s member states underlined the importance of investing in a democratic future. This includes supporting young people’s participation in democratic life and decision-making through education on human rights and core democratic values.