A human being who never lets go of the belief that a fairer, more equal, and more beautiful world is possible, and who strives to turn ideas into action through projects both in Türkiye and beyond. An idealist, feminist activist, traveler, and lifelong volunteer.
My name is Selin Gürlemez. I was born in 1991 and hold a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. My academic journey has been shaped around gender equality, social inclusion, and youth policies; along this path, I began my master’s studies in Women’s Studies at Istanbul University. One of the most formative chapters of this journey was my Erasmus experience at Humboldt University of Berlin within the Gender Studies program. During this time, together with my fellow friends, I co-tutored a course for two semesters on “Feminist movements in Turkey -from the Ottoman Empire till today.” This experience, bringing academic knowledge together with collective learning, was deeply transformative for me.
My introduction to youth work took me far beyond the borders of Türkiye. After attending a language school in Malta, I participated in a long-term social inclusion project in Portugal through the European Voluntary Service (EVS/ESC). Working side by side with kids and young people from different countries and cultural backgrounds strengthened my worldview, my belief in solidarity, and my sense of responsibility.
Since 2017, I have been part of YEU International, a Brussels-based international youth organization, where I have been serving as Secretary General since 2022. I also support the youth office department of Bodrum Dance, Youth and Sports Club (BDK). I continue to produce and contribute in spaces that bring together the local and the international, theory and practice.
When I discovered the transformative power of traveling and encountering new people and cultures, I wanted to combine it with my greatest passion: writing. This is how universelin came to life; as the outcome of a journey where youth work, volunteering experiences, and travel stories intertwine.
Here, sometimes I write about a city, sometimes about a project, and sometimes simply about what’s been on my mind. Because I believe that stories grow when they are shared, and that change begins exactly there.
