NC: 2006 Young Guru Academy Conference

The Young Guru Academy (YGA), an Istanbul and North Carolina based non-governmental organization (NGO) devoted to developing socially responsible leaders of the future, held its annual Young Guru Academy (YGA-2006) program in North Carolina on September 12-18.

YGA-2006 was hosted by the local Turkish-American communities of the Triangle and Wilmington areas, with financial sponsorship provided by major multinational companies of Turkey. Participants were a group of promising Turkish University students with the potential of becoming the future leaders and visionaries of Turkey.

YGA programs emphasize social responsibility and civic engagement through cultural exchanges. Visiting YGA participants toured and volunteered their time at the Food Bank of North Carolina. In addition to their community-minded activity, the YGA-2006 participants also toured local universities (DUKE, UNC and NCSU) and held a meeting with the Center for International Understandings (CIU) to review an innovative K-12 global education movement called "North Carolina in the World," coordinated by the center at the request of the Governor's Office. The goal of this cross-cultural program is to increase student knowledge and skills about the world so that all graduates thrive in the global economy. Hundreds of North Carolina education, policy and business leaders are part of this collaborative effort to infuse international content in all subjects, at all levels.

Members of the Academy also jointly held a workshop with the American-Turkish Association of North Carolina (ATA-NC) titled "Read, Think and Share." Objective of this program is to introduce children to classic children's books published in Turkish, promoting bilingual reading and conversational skills, while using YGA fellows as reading buddies and facilitators.

The second half of the leadership conference continued with a four-day retreat at Wilmington's Figure Eight Island. With North Carolina's beautiful coastline providing an inspiring backdrop, intense seminars on such topics as Inspiring Leadership, Unleashing the Potential Within, Managing Diversity, Insightful Innovations for Social Development and Self Knowledge were given. A smaller group of YGA participants also toured the EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington which is the largest full service motion picture facility in the United States east of California.

This year's conference workshop focused on projects that will promote the city of Istanbul as the Cultural Capital of Europe in the year 2010. Two proposals were developed by the YGA fellows, encouraging world youth groups to embrace social responsibilities by serving as Cultural Ambassadors for Istanbul, "Most Inspiring City" in the world, and a melting pot of people where the East meets the West.

At the conclusion of the Academy, Ceyda Gunaslan, a senior at Bosphorus University, said, "I am very fortunate to have been part of this enrichment program. Coming to the United States, being part of this cultural exchange and meeting other YGA fellows like myself in this very unique setting inspires me to take responsibility for a better future, our future."

Annual YGA programs include cross-cultural outreach projects and leadership enrichment workshops. Participation in the all expenses paid Academy is highly competitive and involves a rigorous selection process.

Sinan Yaman (www.sinanyaman.com), the founder of the Young Guru Academy, is an executive consultant and the author of the best-selling book "Ic'ten Lider (Truthful Leader)." As a citizen diplomat and a creativity advocate, Yaman's vision through the Academy is to seek and inspire both insightful business and responsible community leaders. His latest book titled, "Lider ve Hayal Ortaklari (Leader and Dream Partners)" was recently published.

List of YGA-2006 Speakers:
Sinan Yaman, YGA Founder and Author
Osman Sinav, Film Director/Producer/CEO Sinegraf
Ahmet Durul, Retired CEO and Lecturer at Galatasaray University
Matt Friedrick, NCIW Project Manager, Center for International Understandings
Penny MacGuire, NCIW Project Manager, Center for International Understandings
Frank Capra, Jr., President EUE/Screen Gems Studios
Bill Vassar, Executive Vice President EUE/Screen Gems Studios
Robert Waddell, Manager Volunteer Services, Food Bank of North Carolina

List of YGA-2006 Participants:
1- Burcu Esmer, University of Iowa
2- Erinc Kargan, Bosphorus University - Istanbul/Turkey
3- Baris Yavas, ODTU University - Ankara/Turkey
4- Burak Fenercioglu, Duke University
5- Mustafa Bagdatli, Sabanci University - Istanbul/Turkey
6- Sumeyra Babacan, Bosphorus University - Istanbul/Turkey
7- Gaye Akcimen, Koc University - Istanbul, Turkey
8- Selin Buyukaslan, ODTU University - Ankara/Turkey
9- Ceyda Gunaslan, , Bosphorus University - Istanbul/Turkey
10- Osman Gulseven, NC State University

About Young Guru Academy

Aim of Young Guru Academy (YGA) is to educate, train, and inspire innovative and socially responsible young leaders. By serving as a leadership training catalyst on an experience based educational platform, YGA seeks to stimulate and impart high standards of excellence, comradery and civic engagement among its participating fellows. YGA was originally established in 2002 in Istanbul, Turkey as a Non Governmental Organization devoted to cultivating and nurturing community minded business leaders. YGA, Inc. USA is incorporated in North Carolina. IRS ruling on 501(c)(3), non-profit status is pending.

For more information, please visit www.yga.org.tr

US Contact:
Ayse Pamucak, YGA, Inc. USA President
1-919-851-9291