Since its establishment in 2014, Paydaş Association for Education, Culture and Arts has played an active role not only in educational, cultural, and artistic activities but also in numerous national and international projects in the fields of youth, adult, and vocational education. In particular, the association has stood out through youth exchanges, educational partnerships, and strategic collaborations across Europe within the scope of the Erasmus+ Programme.
Closely following innovative approaches in global education, the Paydaş Team has collaborated with universities, NGOs, schools, and institutes across Europe to integrate new methods into its current work. Innovative projects have been developed in the relevant fields of the Erasmus+ programme, with applications submitted to both the Turkish National Agency and other national agencies in Europe. Through the approval of these projects, the association has successfully conducted various initiatives including youth exchange programs, academic research-based work, digital product development, and the establishment of online platforms.
The pride of cooperating with some of Europe’s leading institutions has been rightfully earned. In addition, significant partnerships have been built with major public institutions and universities in Türkiye:
- In the field of adult education, the Edu4Sent project was carried out in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Zonguldak.
- In school education, the Math Teachers’ Adventures of ICT Integration project was implemented in collaboration with Hacettepe University.
- Internationally, partnerships included:
- Talinn University in a school education project on climate change,
- Uc Limburg University in a project aimed at enhancing teachers’ digital skills,
- BFU Burgas University in a project on developing skills through artificial intelligence, along with many other successful Erasmus+ collaborations with universities and NGOs.
Paydaş has also organized and participated in a variety of educational, cultural, and artistic events both in Zonguldak and in various other regions of Türkiye. These activities have been attended by association members and adapted to appropriate platforms for each field.
Highlights of the activities include:
- Drama workshops
- Book reading events
- Film screening days
- Talks and panels
- Workshops
- Concerts
- Photography exhibitions
Examples of noteworthy events include:
- Photography presentations by Nadir Özsoy and Çetin Alkılıç,
- A talk on Industrial Heritage with local historian Ekrem Murat Zaman,
- A discussion on The History of Epidemics with Prof. Dr. Füsun Cömert,
- A music session with international musician Gustavo Battistessa.
Ongoing clubs and workshops hosted by the association include:
- Söze Övgü cultural talks
- P4C Philosophy Workshop
- Paydaş IT Workshop
- Paydaş English Speaking Club
- Youth Workshops and International/National Project Writing Workshops
Paydaş embraces a guiding principle of combining the positive contributions of traditional perspectives with the facilitative elements of innovative approaches in both projects and events. Valuing teamwork, the association organizes both online and face-to-face project development sessions with its dedicated project teams. It brings together experienced educators and academics with younger generations, with intergenerational interaction being a cornerstone of its project philosophy.
All cultural and artistic events are conducted with a focus on social benefit, steering clear of temporary trends and maintaining a commitment to meaningful themes that blend art, nature, and cultural heritage. This vision continues to guide Paydaş from past to present.
This is why Paydaş shares culture and art.
This is why, with Paydaş: for the better, for the more beautiful!