September 2006 marked the date at which the programme "Social Progress for Youth" which was carried out successfully by the GAP administration for the last 5 years entered a new phase.

Under the protocol acted with the Pepsi Company, the Company took over the flag as the institutional supporter of the programme from the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and Swiss Government on 1 September 2006.

Under the programme there will be activities through 9 Youth and Culture Centres in the GAP Region Program which bear the title "It is worth for the youth" aiming to contribute to the social and cultural development of youth in the region.

Upon the official taking effect of the protocol acted by the GAP Administration and Pepsi, various celebration activities took place in Gaziantep, Kilis and Urfa on 5-7 September 2006.

This year the Pepsi Company sponsored the summer concerts of celebrated artist Sezen Aksu whose GAP performance took place in Gaziantep on September 5^th. There was wide official participation to the concert including GAP President Muammer Yasar Özgül, Gaziantep Governor Süleyman Kamçi, Diyarbakir Governor Efkan Ala, Kilis Governor Nevzat Turhan, Batman Governor Haluk Imga, Adiyaman Governor Halil Isik, Gaziantep Mayor Asim Ugur Güzelbey and Siirt Mayor Mervan Gül. During her stage performance, Sezen Aksu gave an explicit support to the programme for local youth. Young people coming from various parts of the GAP Region met with Aksu, an artist striving to contribute more and more to the issues of the country, and her group "Hepsi" composed of 5 young female vocalists. Young audience gave a special present to Aksu, produced locally with their own labour.

Speaking during the event GAP President Muammer Yasar Özgül expressed his happiness to carry out such a meaningful project with the Pepsi and continued :

"As the GAP Administration, we have undersigned important projects for the development of our region since the first launching of the GAP Project. Our aim is to ensure that social and cultural development accompanies economic development. In this regard, the sustainability of our projects is of crucial importance. The programme "Social Progress for Youth" whose foundations were laid 5 years ago is an outstanding example of success. For the last five years we have moved ahead with this programme in harmony with the UNDP and Swiss Government. For the coming 5 years, we are enthusiastic to do the same in cooperation with the Pepsi. On behalf of the GAP Administration, I extend my thanks to the UNDP and Swiss Government while saying welcome to our new partner, Pepsi."

Expressing his excitement for just launching an initiative to support youth, Pepsi Bottling Group Sales Department Deputy President Fahhan Özçelik said :

"No matter what part of the world or what kind of social environment, we assign specific value to youth. As the Pepsi Company we firmly believe that the youth in the GAP Region absolutely deserve much beyond what they have now and we are trying to fulfil our responsibility to provide wider opportunities to the youth of the region. The project we are going to carry out with the GAP Administration will create new opportunities for youth in the social progress and development in the region. While expressing my thanks to the UNDP and Swiss Government for bringing the project up to this point with the GAP Administration since 2001, we put our pledge to carry it up to new and higher levels of success."

Continuing his speech, Fahhan Özçelik stressed the "Youth Magazine" to be prepared by local youth under the project would serve as a communication bridge in the region and many other initiatives would be launched by young people. Adding that they were happy to have introduced Sezen Aksu to young people in the region, Özçelik said: "We are much delighted to lead this meeting at the outset of the new phase of the project. Today is the day translating many dreams into reality. We have just brought Sezen Aksu, a "value adding" artist with the youth of the region, our valuable future, in Gaziantep today. The youth deserve everything and this is just the first step."

Under the programme "Social Progress for Youth" which is a social and cultural support initiative for young people in South-eastern Anatolia, 67,166 young persons took part in the projects of Youth and Culture Centres from May 2001 to June 2006. Within the framework of projects including "Social and Cultural Development", "Employment" and "Social Awareness Building" participating young people achieved considerable success. The 5^th term activities under the project "Training Pioneer Farmers", which is one of the projects launched by Centres, have recently been completed with the support of the Pepsi. Young people are now ready to embark upon new initiatives.