Özet:

Purpose: The COVID-19 epidemic has caused a great damage to the physical, mental and social health of young people, like many populations. In this process, young people, in addition to the problems they have experienced directly or indirectly due to the epidemic, have also faced accusations that they did not fulfill their duty to prevent the spread of the epidemic and that they behaved irresponsibly. However, young people, on the one hand, have been in the front stages of the fight against the epidemic as social services and health workers, and on the other hand, have signed a wide range of good practice examples, from taking measures to slow the spread rate of the epidemic to relieving the problems arising from the epidemic. After discussing the issues of how young people are affected by the epidemic and what is expected from young people in the fight against the epidemic, the study focuses on making examples of good practice performed by young people visible. It is thus aimed at preventing the negative generalizations on young people spread during this process and to create inspiration for new practices that can be implemented in the fight against the epidemic. Results and suggestions: This study has taken a look at the examples of good practice in which young people are conducting against the epidemic in four continents and sixteen different countries. In many parts of the world, young people, in addition to their dedicated work in the field of health and social services against the epidemic, have done important practices, such as food and drug distribution, correction of misinformation, spread of preventive measures, in order to slow the spread rate of the epidemic and create positive changes in people’s lives. It is important that more and more young people participate in the fight against the epidemic every day in this process to rely on their strengths and skills and to encourage their work.

Özet:

Purpose: Like other population groups, the physical, mental, and social health of young people also has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Though young people themselves are directly and/or indirectly affected by the pandemic, they have also been accused of not doing their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and of acting irresponsibly. However, young people have fought against the pandemic as social and health workers and have presented a wide array of best practice examples, such as taking measures to slow the spread of the pandemic and alleviating pandemic related problems. In this study, first, it has been discussed how young people have been affected by the pandemic and what is expected from them, after which it has been focused on best practice examples. In doing this, it is endeavored to challenge negative stereotypes held about young people and to create a corpus of effective practices that can be implemented to overcome the current pandemic. Conclusion and recommendations: This study focuses on the best practices by young people during the COVID-19 pandemic in four continents and sixteen different countries. As social and health workers, young people the world over have worked self-sacrificingly against the pandemic. Additionally, they have also carried out important services, such as food and medicine distribution, correction of inaccurate information, dissemination of preventive measures, and creating positive changes in people’s lives. During the pandemic, it is important that their strength and skills are trusted and encouraged so that an increasing number of young people can participate in the fight against the pandemic.

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