Imece is an old Turkish solidarity system which has been applied for centuries in the countryside. It is an example of social solidarity and sensibility. In literature, imece is explained as: mutual aid, collective work, working together for the community or for one of its members, like a bee, in solidarity. In daily life, “imece” refers to coming together to help an individual or a community, finishing the work as quickly and cheerfully as possible like a festival.
Imece is a way of helping each other, and further than that it is the system of moving together for a common good, a way of social responsibility. Considering the current problems of our world, such as poverty, epidemic diseases, pollution, climate change, corruption, conflicts and terror; the need for joint action to take comprehensive steps to promote solutions for these problems is inevitable. It is impossible for an individual, a group, or a nation to deal with all those problems. To secure our future, all nations; moreover, all individuals need to feel the responsibility and take concrete steps in a collective way. Thus the main theme of the 5th World Youth Congress Turkiye 2010 is chosen as Imece to stress the need and urgency of joint action.
