4th Arayüz Youth Summit: The Voice of Youth, the Rise of Hope

On May 23, 2025, the 4th Arayüz Youth Summit was held at Galatasaray University, organized in partnership with the Arayüz Campaign and the Galatasaray University European Youth Studies Club. The Summit hosted vital discussions on youth political activism in Türkiye, drawing a broad range of participants including academics, journalists, youth activists, and media professionals. With youth political participation at its core, the event created a new space for critical dialogue.

This year’s theme centered on the wave of youth activism that gained momentum following the student protests of March 19, 2025. The report presented at the Summit, aimed at enhancing the visibility of youth in political and social spheres, documented a pivotal moment in the collective memory of a generation.

“Youth Activism” Report Presented for the First Time

The opening session featured the first public presentation of the Arayüz Campaign’s latest research report, “Youth Activism in Türkiye: The March 19 Protests” Moderated by Arayüz Campaign Director Nevzat Taşcı, the session included contributions from academics Alphan Telek (Sciences Po/CERI) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Yücel (Galatasaray University), who evaluated the movement through the lens of new social movement theory.

The report analyzes the mass mobilization of university students following March 19, using both theoretical frameworks and empirical data. Based on in-depth interviews, the study highlights how growing insecurity, housing crises, and repression of freedom of expression have created fertile ground for activism, while showcasing the horizontal organizing methods, digital solidarity networks, and collective memory strategies developed by this new generation.

“Visibility of Protests and the Media” Session

The second session of the Summit, titled “Visibility of Protests and the Media,” brought together key media figures. Moderated by İlkim Emirler (Gazete Oksijen), the panel featured Burcu Karakaş (Journalist), Ozan Gündoğdu (NOW Haber), and Umut Can Savcı (Aposto), who explored how youth-led movements are portrayed—or silenced—by media outlets.

Among the session’s highlights were discussions on the role of mainstream media during the protests, the increasing pressure of RTÜK (Radio and Television Supreme Council) on broadcasters, and the positioning of social media as a new public sphere. Speakers underlined that the visibility of the March 19 protests was largely achieved through digital media, while emphasizing that in a climate of repression, the stories of youth remain largely unheard. The role of alternative media in bridging this gap was framed as both a source of hope and a shared responsibility.

Gratitude and a Call to Continue

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the academics, journalists, university students, and civil society representatives who participated in the Summit. This gathering was more than a one-day event—it was a moment that captured and documented a generation’s lived experience and memory.

📺 All sessions from the Summit, including the presentation of the Youth Activism Report, available on our YouTube channel.

As the Arayüz Campaign, we remain committed to amplifying youth voices and placing their concerns at the center of public discourse. Because we believe: Youth are not alone—and change is only possible together.