DEC Youth Tour Delegate Recalls Fun and Informative 2023 Experience

We talk a lot about how incredible an opportunity participating in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Summer Youth Tour Program is, but sometimes, it’s important to pass the mic to someone who has actually participated in the event to amplify the message. If you ask 2023 Youth Tour delegate Desen Basaran – one of the three Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) sponsored students – who attended Youth Tour last year – the experience is one that perfectly balances education with entertainment, offering students the chance to explore Washington D.C. while broadening their knowledge about the world around them.

“Youth Tour is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Not only will you learn about the history of our nation’s capital and cooperatives, but you will do so while having fun and networking,” Basaran says.

For Basaran, the networking element of Youth Tour was one of the major highlights of the trip. From a professional standpoint, she and her fellow student delegates had the opportunity to meet Senators Chris Coons and Rand Paul during a private, behind-the-scenes tour of Capitol Hill. Students also interacted with utility industry experts to learn more about the cooperative business model. On a more personal note, Basaran says the connections she made with her fellow students during the trip are ones she continues to cherish.

“The highlight of Youth Tour was the people. Everyone was so nice, supportive and eager to connect,” Basaran says. “Virginia, Maryland and Delaware delegates toured D.C. as a large group and stayed together for the entirety of the five days we were there, so I got to make meaningful relationships, not only with the Delaware delegates, but also the Maryland and Virginia delegates. The first thing we did when we arrived was participate in small group activities, which allowed us the chance to get to know more about each other and our future plans. Pin trading was also a big part of Youth Tour. Students would come together to exchange pins, which allowed me to meet delegates from other states. At the end of the trip, not only had I accumulated a plethora of pins, but I had also made a plethora of connections.”

In terms of the connections she formed, Basaran – who celebrated her 17th birthday while in D.C. – also recalls how the group came together during one of their lunches to sing “Happy Birthday” to her, gathered around a dish of tiramisu the waitstaff had decorated with candles. For the remainder of the trip, Basaran says her peers affectionately referred to her as “Birthday Girl.” Unbeknownst to her at the time, Basaran would have the opportunity to expand upon these connections – as well as the co-op and civic knowledge she had gained – even after Youth Tour had ended, when she was selected to participate in NRECA’s Youth Leadership Council (YLC).

Each year, one Youth Tour delegate is selected to represent their state as a member of YLC, and with that honor gets to travel and go onstage at NRECA’s PowerXchange Conference. This year, Basaran joined her 43 fellow delegates in San Antonio, Texas for the conference, where they were introduced on stage to a crowd of 6,000 industry leaders. Similar to her Youth Tour experience, Basaran says she and the other students partook in several group outings, including a tour of the Alamo, a river cruise and a concert performed by country music star Josh Turner. Another similarity – the amazing connections she made during her travels.

“Without Youth Tour, I never would have had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and meet all of the incredible people that I did,” Basaran says. “We all became incredibly close and loved each other’s company. There is no other experience that I can compare to YLC, and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it through Youth Tour.”

As well as the opportunities it afforded her, Basaran’s time at Youth Tour also yielded important lessons about the role of young people in shaping the world around them. Inspired by what she learned from the industry and political leaders she met, Basaran says she now better recognizes her ability – and the ability of her peers – to take action to affect the changes they wish to see.

“Through Youth Tour and YLC, I had the privilege of being exposed to diverse perspectives, fostering both my individual development and leadership skills. Networking with fellow representatives and national leaders not only provided valuable connections but also underscored the significance of collaboration,” Basaran says. “The programs inspired a heightened sense of civic responsibility and taught me that it is our job to address problems in the world and find solutions to those problems. We must also carry on the torch to empower future generations after us. After Youth Tour and YLC, I took away the idea that we must be willing to push forward and continuously learn as youth to promote societal progression.”

For those considering submitting an application to be a part of this year’s Youth Tour experience, Basaran encourages them to take the leap – visit the DEC website and apply.

“This unbelievable experience with DEC and NRECA has truly changed my life, and I am extremely thankful for all of the opportunities that I have received as a result,” Basaran says. “I will never forget my time as a Youth Tour delegate and can’t recommend this program enough.”