ÇAT Yerel Eylem Grubu Derneği̇ (ÇAT YEG)

Çat Local Action Group (Çat YEG) is a community-based rural development organisation located in the mountainous district of Çat in Eastern Türkiye. As part of the LEADER approach, our mission is to strengthen rural development, empower young people, support local entrepreneurship, protect cultural heritage, and build strong cooperation between public institutions, schools, NGOs and local communities.

Our district is geographically remote, high-altitude, economically disadvantaged, and characterised by limited access to opportunities for youth. For this reason, Çat YEG plays a central role in bringing together local stakeholders and creating meaningful development initiatives.

We actively work with young people aged 13–30, women, farmers, beekeepers, students, and vulnerable groups. Our activities focus on digital skills, youth participation, entrepreneurship, culture, environmental awareness, rural tourism, and community engagement. We regularly organise workshops, youth events, festivals, training programmes, social innovation activities, and local development projects.

Çat YEG has strong partnerships with the Çat District Governorate, District Directorate of National Education, Çat Municipality, local schools (Nurettin Topçu Social Sciences High School and Nevzat Karabağ Anatolian High School), NGOs, cooperatives, and regional development agencies such as KUDAKA and DAP.

As an active rural organisation, we are open to international cooperation through Erasmus+, KA210, KA154, ESC, rural development networks, green skills projects, digital storytelling, youth participation, and community-based development initiatives. We aim to build sustainable partnerships that give rural youth a voice, connect them with European peers, and support innovative approaches to improve life in rural areas.