He arrived home recently from what he described as a "fantastic" and "full on" trip.
During a one-week stay in Solferino, Italy, where the Red Cross movement started, he learned about a range of different cultures and how the organisation worked overseas, before travelling for three days to Geneva and spending three days in the city itself.
Along with about 600 young people from 150 countries, he formed a youth declaration which was given to the president, Juan Manuel Suarez del Toro Rivero, and secretary-general, Bekele Gelata, of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The same document would be given to the New Zealand Red Cross.
"Hopefully, they will take on board what is said. There are a few hard-hitting facts in there."
The document appealed to the leaders of the world to recognise young people as agents of change, encourage their abilities to utilise technology and communicate interculturally, and include young people in decision-making, planning and programme development and implementation to empower their communities.
The changes were more of a "revamp" and there was "a need to start communication", he said.
Workshops were also part of the conference and Mr Turner learned about disaster risk reduction, reserves mobilisation and psychological social support.
He hoped to set up a social response unit in New Zealand which would look at the "psychological needs of the community post-disaster".
The enthusiasm of some volunteers surprised Mr Turner but it was good to spend time with like-minded people, he said.
Everyone swapped souvenirs and he came back with T-shirts, hats, pins and a flag signed by many delegates.
