About Us

Who We Are

The International Youth Sports and Disabled Federation (UGESFED) is an umbrella non-governmental organisation founded in 2021 and headquartered in Ankara, dedicated to fostering the full, equal, and independent participation of visually impaired, low-vision, and physically disabled individuals, as well as young people, in all spheres of social life.
Combining the transformative and unifying power of sports, innovative non-formal education methodologies, and an entrepreneurial mindset, UGESFED advocates for the rights of disabled individuals and young people with fewer opportunities. Through our initiatives at national and international levels, we strive to dismantle physical, digital, and social barriers while unlocking each individual’s full potential.

Our Mission

To protect and advance the economic, social, cultural, vocational, and sporting rights and interests of visually impaired, low-vision, and physically disabled individuals as well as youth; to eliminate all forms of discrimination; and to ensure their active participation in society as democratic, productive, and self-confident citizens.

Our Vision

To be a pioneering, inclusive, and benchmark federation in Türkiye and globally—anchored in universal human rights standards and accessibility—across adaptive sports, digital transformation, social entrepreneurship, and international youth movements.

Core Values

• Inclusivity and Equal Opportunity: Ensuring fair, accessible, and equal rights for everyone, regardless of physical, sensory, or social differences.
  
• Solidarity and Empathy: Building resilient and lasting bonds across all segments of society through the universal language of sports and the spirit of volunteerism.
  
• Innovation and Digital Transformation: Embracing digital accessibility, technological solutions, and entrepreneurship in alignment with the demands of the modern era.
  
• Active Citizenship and Participation: Empowering individuals to have an active voice in decision-making processes, civil society, and community life.
  
• Transparency and Accountability: Operating under principles anchored in high ethical standards, integrity, and trust across all institutional management processes.
  

Focus Areas

• Inclusive & Adaptive Sports:
  Organising Goalball, Blind Football (B1), adaptive strategy games (chess, dominoes), and physical development camps to eliminate physical and infrastructural hurdles in sports access for disabled individuals.
  
• Education, Skills Development & Rehabilitation:
  Delivering vocational training, digital literacy, foreign language courses, and non-formal education workshops for youth and disabled individuals to enhance their integration into the labour market and social life.
  
• Entrepreneurship & Employment Support:
  Promoting an entrepreneurial culture among disadvantaged groups while providing dedicated guidance, R&D insight, and mentorship for business incubation and career development.
  
• Youth & Gender Empowerment:
  Fostering the active participation of disabled youth and women in decision-making mechanisms through internal bodies such as our Youth Council and Women’s Council, alongside running awareness initiatives on gender equality.
  
• Accessibility & Rights-Based Advocacy:
  Leading public awareness campaigns, legislative advocacy, and audits to make physical spaces, sports facilities, and digital platforms universally accessible.
  
• International Cooperation & Projects:
  Designing and implementing youth exchanges, training courses, and cross-border solidarity initiatives within the scope of the European Union Erasmus+, ESC, and international civil society networks.