Upon returning from the International Youth Cultural Heritage Camp in Italy, the AYBU Department of Architecture team presented their experiences and outcomes in a detailed session held on 30 October 2025. Conducted within the framework of the Erasmus+ Project 2023-2-TR01-KA220-YOU-000182116 “CHERISH – Cultural Heritage Recovery after Disasters and Conflicts: Understanding, Training, and Empowerment”, the presentation emphasized the significance of international collaboration in cultural heritage protection and disaster resilience.
The session began with Assoc. Prof. Recep Yorulmaz, who introduced the Erasmus+ program, its opportunities, and the objectives of the CHERISH project. Following this, Asst. Prof. Dr. Cemile Feyzan Şimşek, the team leader, presented the first day’s activities, including the introductory sessions, ice-breaking exercises, and a cultural tour of Spoleto.
Lecturer Dr. Ömer Faruk Pamak, shared the second day’s morning visit to the Santo Chiodo Laboratory, where damaged artworks and architectural fragments from Norcia—affected by the 2016 earthquake—are preserved and restored. Afternoon visit to the Umbria Regional Civil Protection Center presented by Res. Asst. Necmettin Sancak, and MSc. Student Nisa Ilgın Baştuğ, exploring its operation facilities, emergency camps, and storages. Civil protection officers provided information about procedures to follow before, during, and after disasters.
The third day, presented by Res. Asst. Aslı Zeynep Doğan and MSc. Student Dilara Pehlivanlı, focused on the Coo.Be.C. Restoration Laboratory and the workshop “From Emergency to Restoration.” This hands-on session on ceramic and canvas restoration aimed to raise awareness about cultural heritage protection and allowed participants to experience real conservation practices under expert supervision.
MSc. Student Enes Öner presented the fourth day’s events, featuring AYBU’s presentation “Resilience Tactics and Youth-Led Engagement in Post-Disaster Cultural Recovery.” The team discussed the concept of cultural resilience within UNESCO’s framework and facilitated a workshop where international participants, divided into groups, proposed strategies for youth involvement in cultural recovery using Norcia as a case study. The session concluded with a poster presentation of their proposals. In the afternoon, Sumy State University organized a workshop on intangible cultural heritage, encouraging participants to develop ideas for preserving non-material cultural values in their own contexts.
The fifth day’s program, presented by MSc. Student Hilal Sıla Şentürk, covered the Norcia Site Visit, where participants examined key heritage sites such as the Basilica di San Benedetto, Palazzo Comunale, Chiesa di Sant’Agostino, and La Castellina (Civic Museum and Fortress). The visit provided an opportunity to observe post-2016 restoration efforts and assess the city’s ongoing commitment to preserving its historical identity.
The presentation concluded with Asst. Prof. Dr. Cemile Feyzan Şimşek presenting the Certification Ceremony and Culture Night, marking the completion of the program. The presentation offered an invaluable opportunity for students and faculty to share international experiences, reflect on cross-cultural practices in heritage conservation, and strengthen academic collaboration in post-disaster recovery studies.
