Son yıllarda, Türkiye ve diğer ülkelerde gençlik üzerine yapılan çalışmaların sayısında önemli bir artış gözlemlenmektedir. Gençlerin topluma katkısı, özellikle sürdürülebilirlik kapsamında büyük bir öneme sahiptir. Eğitim seviyelerinin yükselmesi, girişimcilik faaliyetlerine katılımları ve sosyal projelerde yer almaları, sürdürülebilir kalkınma hedeflerine ulaşmada etkili bir rol oynamaktadır. Gençlerin toplumsal sorunların çözümüne aktif olarak dâhil olmaları, yalnızca mevcut dönemin değil, geleceğin de daha sürdürülebilir bir toplum yapısına sahip olmasına katkı sağlamaktadır. Bu sebeple, gençlerin bilgi, beceri ve motivasyonlarını toplumsal katkıya yönlendirecek politikaların geliştirilmesi, sürdürülebilir kalkınma açısından stratejik bir önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışma kapsamında, Eurostat veri tabanında yer alan "Çocuklar ve Gençler" ana başlığı altındaki "Gençler" kategorisi incelenmiştir. Bu kategori altında; genç istihdam ve girişimcilik, gençlik ve dijital dünya, gençlik eğitim ve öğretimi, gençlik sağlığı ve refahı, gençlerin sosyal katılımı ve gençlerin topluma katılımı olmak üzere altı ana konu başlığı ve ilgili veriler analiz edilmiştir. Bu veriler, Avrupa Birliği ülkelerinde gençlerin sürdürülebilir kalkınma hedeflerine katkılarını ve karşılaştıkları engelleri değerlendirmeye olanak sağlamaktadır. Yapılan bu analizler, gençlerin sürdürülebilir bir geleceğe olan ilgilerini ve bu süreçte topluma nasıl dâhil olduklarını anlamak için önemli bir kaynak sunmaktadır. Altı ana konu başlığı, Resimsel Bulanık AHP yöntemi kullanılarak değerlendirilmiş ve önem sıralamaları belirlenmiştir. Bu sıralamaya göre, en önemli konular sırasıyla genç istihdam ve girişimcilik, gençlik eğitim ve öğretimi, gençlik sağlığı ve refahı, gençlik ve dijital dünya, gençlerin topluma katılımı ve gençlerin sosyal katılımı şeklinde belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, bu altı konu başlığı altında yer alan toplam 51 kriter detaylı olarak incelenmiş ve en etkili olan ilk beşi şu şekilde sıralanmıştır: Bireylerin internet üzerindeki faaliyetleri; bireylerin web siteleri aracılığıyla gerçekleştirdikleri e-devlet faaliyetleri; Cinsiyete göre en az üst orta eğitim seviyesine sahip 20-24 yaş arası; cinsiyete göre yüksek öğretim eğitim düzeyine sahip 30-34 yaş arası nüfus; cinsiyet, yaş, eğitim durumu, faaliyet türü ve sıklığına göre son 12 ay içinde kültürel veya sportif faaliyetlere katılan kişiler. Aynı zamanda TOPSIS uygulaması ile 18 Avrupa Birliği Ülkelerin de yapılan karşılaştırma ile ilk 5' te yer alan Avrupa Ülkeleri: Finlandiya, Yunanistan, İspanya, İtalya ve Danimarka şeklinde olmuştur.
Over the past few years, there has been a notable increase in studies focused on youth in Turkey and across various European nations. This growing body of research reflects a broader understanding that young people play a critical role in shaping sustainable communities. Empowering and engaging youth can yield transformative results in several key domains, including environmental stewardship, social welfare, and long term economic health. The increase in education levels, participation in entrepreneurial activities, and involvement in social projects all demonstrate the vital contributions young people make toward achieving sustainable development goals. By taking on active roles and responsibilities, younger generations become catalysts for innovation and positive change. Their fresh perspectives, coupled with technological fluency, enable them to propose forward-thinking solutions that address complex global challenges—ranging from environmental issues to social inequality. As a result, the development of comprehensive policies and strategies aimed at guiding youth toward socially beneficial endeavors is paramount. Not only do such strategies help cultivate responsible citizens, but they also pave the way for a more resilient and inclusive society. In this context, the Eurostat database provides a wealth of information under its "Children and Young People" section, specifically in the "Youth" category. This dataset encompasses six key thematic areas: "Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship", "Youth and the Digital World", "Youth Education and Training", "Youth Health and Well-being", "Youth Social Inclusion", "Youth Participation in Society". Analyzing these areas helps researchers and policymakers evaluate how youth across the European Union (EU) contribute to sustainable development objectives, as well as identify the barriers they face. The data sheds light on trends such as digital literacy, access to higher education, and the extent of engagement in social and cultural activities. Understanding these trends is crucial for devising strategies that maximize youth potential, empower communities, and protect the environment. For instance, the focus on digital literacy underscores the impact of technology in modern life. As more public services and cultural activities transition online, digital competency becomes an indispensable skill for social participation, civic engagement, and professional success. By analyzing relevant indicators like internet usage, e government activities, and digital learning platforms officials can pinpoint where interventions are most needed to support young people. To assess the importance of each thematic category and its contribution to sustainability, the Resimsel Bulanık Analitik Hiyerarşi Prosesi (often referred to in English as the Pictorial Fuzzy AHP or Visual Fuzzy AHP) was employed. This multi criteria decision-making method facilitates a structured evaluation process by assigning weights to different criteria based on expert judgments, data insights, and comparative analyses. After an in-depth application of the Picture Fuzzy AHP methodology, the six thematic areas were ranked according to their significance: Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship; Youth Education and Training; Youth Health and Well-being; Youth and the Digital World; Youth Participation in Society; Youth Social Inclusion. Furthermore, a total of 51 criteria under these six topics were analyzed in detail and the top five most influential ones were listed as follows: Individuals - internet activities; E-government activities of individuals via websites; Young people aged 20 24 with at least upper secondary educational attainment level by sex; Population aged 30-34 with tertiary educational attainment level by sex; Persons participating in cultural or sport activities in the last 12 months by sex, age, educational attainment, activity type and frequency. This ranking reflects the current priorities of European countries regarding youth engagement and underscores the necessity of fostering employment opportunities, entrepreneurial ventures, and robust educational pathways. At the same time, it reveals how digital skills, health factors, and societal participation each contribute to holistic youth development. In addition to Picture Fuzzy AHP, the TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method was utilized to compare 18 EU member states based on the above criteria. According to the TOPSIS analysis, the top five countries demonstrating strong performance across these youth indicators are: Finland, Greece, Spain, Italy, Denmark. Each of these nations has developed distinctive policies that bridge education, employment, and digital engagement—safeguarding social inclusion and health for younger generations. For example, Finland's robust educational infrastructure is renowned worldwide, while Denmark's emphasis on civic engagement ensures that youth voices are considered in policymaking. Spain and Greece, despite facing economic challenges, have fostered a growing startup culture and actively promote entrepreneurial initiatives among young people. Italy's focus on culturally rich programs and collaborative social projects also provides a noteworthy model for supporting youth engagement. In today's rapidly evolving global landscape, nurturing the potential of youth is essential for achieving long-term sustainability. Data from Eurostat, coupled with decision-making tools like Picture Fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS, underscores how intertwined the concepts of education, digital proficiency, health, and social engagement truly are. By prioritizing youth empowerment in these interrelated sectors, European countries and indeed, the world at large can move closer to realizing their sustainability objectives. The examples of Finland, Greece, Spain, Italy, and Denmark highlight the diverse policies that can be employed to elevate youth opportunities. Whether through educational innovation, targeted entrepreneurship programs, or broad-based health and digital initiatives, these nations illustrate the strategic value of investing in young populations. Ultimately, the collective action of governments, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector is required to harness the energy, creativity, and leadership of youth. When provided with adequate resources, mentoring, and supportive environments, young people can and will shape a future that is not only sustainable but also more equitable and prosperous for all. Furthermore, to maximize the potential of young people, governments should adopt a holistic approach that integrates cross-sectoral cooperation. This includes aligning education systems with labour market demands, fostering partnerships between academia and industry, and ensuring that health and social policies meet the diverse needs of young people. Such efforts are vital in addressing inequalities in access to education, digital resources and employment opportunities, particularly in urban and rural areas. Policymakers should prioritize initiatives that reduce inequality and provide targeted support to vulnerable youth populations, including migrants, minorities and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In parallel, international cooperation plays an important role in driving youth-centered sustainability initiatives. Sharing best practices, promoting exchange programs and enabling joint research projects between countries can create synergies that benefit all stakeholders. The European Union's Erasmus+ program and similar global initiatives are excellent examples of how collaboration can increase youth mobility, cultural understanding and skills development. By expanding these programs and increasing their accessibility, nations can cultivate a globally aware generation capable of tackling transnational challenges such as climate change, economic instability and public health crises.
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