United Kingdom • • • 🌿 Progressive

Una joven conversa con un diplomático en una oficina con vistas al Bósforo y a Estambul, mientras otros jóvenes trabajan al fondo
Imagen alusiva a la jornada de acompañamiento al Cónsul General en Estambul.

Young people in Türkiye can become British Consul General for a day

The British Consulate General in Istanbul is inviting young people aged 18 to 24 living in Türkiye to enter a competition with an essay of up to 250 words or a…

--- The context --- The world keeps changing, and younger generations are asking for a seat at the table where their future is decided. With that spirit, the British Consulate General in Istanbul has opened a competition inviting young people living in Türkiye to imagine the world they want to see in 2027 and to explain which change would make a difference and why it would matter. --- The facts --- Anyone who, at the time of applying, lives in Türkiye and is aged between 18 and 24 years can take part. The question is straightforward: looking ahead to 2027, what is one change they would like to see in the world, and how could it make a difference? Answers may be submitted as an essay of no more than 250 words or as a video of no more than 2 minutes, in English or Turkish. Entries close on 22 November 2026, and only one entry per person is allowed. Previous winners of the competition in Türkiye and close relatives of consulate employees are not eligible. The winner will shadow the British Consul General in Istanbul for a day, joining a programme of events, and must cover all of their own travel, local transportation and accommodation costs, with no reimbursement from the consulate. --- The positions --- The call rests on a clear conviction: the ideas, perspectives and ambitions of young people can help address today's challenges and build a better tomorrow. The rules speak just as clearly: entries will be judged anonymously by a panel that includes consulate employees, and the decision on the competition and the prize will be final, with no correspondence entered into afterwards. --- What remains unknown --- The exact date of the shadowing day, which the consulate will set, has not yet been announced, and neither have the themes that will dominate the entries received. The full programme of events for the day has not been detailed either, beyond the fact that the winner may be photographed or filmed during the activities and related public engagements of the initiative. --- Unanswered questions --- What change will young entrants propose most for 2027? Can a short format of 250 words or 2 minutes capture deep ideas fairly? Will a day beside the Consul General turn into real diplomatic vocations for some participants? --- EPM analysis --- The competition turns an open question into a doorway to public diplomacy. By demanding concrete proposals in a short format, it forces entrants to prioritise: wishing for a different world is not enough, they must explain how a single change could make a difference. That discipline of synthesis is, in itself, a first lesson in the diplomatic craft. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, opening diplomacy to the eyes of young people aged 18 to 24 is a sensible investment in public trust, because listening before deciding improves any foreign policy. The short format rewards clarity, and anonymous judging protects merit against connections. One concern remains: covering all costs may shut the door on talent without resources. Even so, a day shadowing the Consul General is worth more than a thousand speeches about participation, because it turns youthful curiosity into real, first-hand experience.
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