Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has restored the historic Tripoli Mevlevi Lodge in Tripoli, Lebanon, turning it into a Youth and Cultural Center.
The building, which had fallen into disrepair due to flooding from the Abou Ali River in Tripoli and the civil war in Lebanon, was restored by TİKA and returned to its original appearance.
In 2024, renovation work was completed on the Mevlevi Lodge in Tripoli, which had been declared the Arab Capital of Culture for that year, to prepare it for its new role. After addressing the wear and tear caused by natural conditions, the lodge was handed over to the Mevlevi Trustee to function as a youth and cultural center.
Visited by Evliya Çelebi
Founded in 1619 by Ali Pasha of Samsun as a center of knowledge along the pilgrimage route, the Mevlevi Lodge was visited by the renowned traveler Evliya Çelebi in 1672. He described it as “a delightful structure surrounded by lemon, citrus and rose gardens, with dervish lodgings overlooking the river.”
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) named the library it established in Bamyan province, Afghanistan, after Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga, a private physician who was sent to Afghanistan by Atatürk to contribute to the health sector.
The “Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga Library,” whose construction was initiated by TİKA about four months ago on the Bamyan University campus, covers an area of 220 square meters. It is fully equipped with essential materials such as tables, desks, bookshelves, screens, projectors and computers, providing an environment where 100 university students can simultaneously conduct scientific studies and research.
University opens its first library
The library, named after Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga and with a capacity for 5,000 books, was inaugurated at a ceremony held on the university campus for the benefit of academics and students.
The opening ceremony of the library was attended by Afghanistan’s Minister of Higher Education, Sheikh Neda Mohammad Nadeem; Deputy Minister of Economy, Dr. Abdul Latif Nazari; TİKA’s Coordinator in Kabul, Fazıl Akın Erdoğan; Director of the Yunus Emre Institute, Gündüz Pulat; Governor of Bamyan, Mullah Abdullah Sarhadi; Rector of Bamyan University, Mufti Hazrat Mohammad Burhani, and various media representatives.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Higher Education Nadeem expressed his gratitude to Türkiye and TİKA for their support.
Atatürk’s doctor Urga’s legacy preserved
TİKA’s Kabul Office Coordinator Fazıl Akın Erdoğan stated that TİKA will continue its support for the Afghan people. Erdoğan expressed his hope that the library will be beneficial for the university students, who represent the future of Afghanistan. He remarked, “I hope that the library will contribute to your academic growth.”
Erdoğan noted that the university previously lacked a library, leaving thousands of students without this essential resource. He highlighted that the library was completed in just 3-4 months and is now available for use.
Erdoğan noted that Bamyan, a city known for its tourism, places a high value on reading and writing, with many young people aspiring to attend university. He said, “We established our library at Bamyan University to reflect the city’s appreciation for learning. We named the library after Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga and were pleased to open it alongside Afghanistan’s Minister of Higher Education.”
Erdoğan explained that Urga spent 17 years of his life in Afghanistan saying, “Even before TİKA was established or perhaps even before the idea was conceived, he worked here as a voluntary collaborator, helping to establish Afghanistan’s first medical faculty. We decided to honor his legacy by naming this library, which we built at the university after him.”
“An important opportunity provided for Bamyan University students”
Asıf Ekberi, a fourth-year student in the Department of Tourism, mentioned that for the past four years, they had faced difficulties with book availability and study conditions due to the lack of a library on campus.
Stating his satisfaction with the establishment of the library, Ekberi said, “This library provides an important opportunity for Bamyan University students. They now have a place to study and access to numerous resources.”
Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga
Born in Çankırı in 1880, Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga served as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s personal physician. At the request of King Amanullah Khan of Afghanistan, who was visiting Türkiye, and on Atatürk’s appointment, Urga spent 17 years in Afghanistan.
During his time there, Urga made substantial contributions to the field of health and played a key role in establishing the Kabul Medical Faculty, Afghanistan’s first medical school.
In Zigetvar, Hungary, “Turkish Day” events were organized with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) as part of the annual “Kanuni-Zrínyi Commemoration Days,” held every September in honor of Suleiman the Magnificent and Miklós Zrínyi.
In 2024, designated as the “Turkish-Hungarian Cultural Year” to mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Hungary, TİKA organized “Turkish Day” events in Zigetvar as part of the annual “Kanuni-Zrínyi Commemoration Days,” held each September in memory of Suleiman the Magnificent and Miklós Zrínyi.
The “Turkish Day” events, held in Yunus Emre Square where the Zigetvar Turkish House—restored by TİKA—is located, were attended by Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Budapest; Ahmet Metin Genç, Mayor of Trabzon; Birol Akgün, President of the Turkish Maarif Foundation, as well as accompanying delegations and local residents.
At the event, where the Ottoman Mehter Band of Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality performed, guests were treated to Turkish delicacies such as baklava, börek, Turkish delight and Turkish coffee.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has set up pastry, welding and sewing workshops for individuals with disabilities in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
The welding workshop, established with the support of TİKA, enables people with disabilities to produce their own wheelchairs. The pastry and sewing departments will also help them generate additional income and empower them to build a more stable livelihood.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Norman Yulian, President of the Indonesian Association of Persons with Disabilities (PPDI), expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation with TİKA and shared their readiness to expand the project to other cities.
In Indonesia, there are nearly 24 million people with disabilities, representing approximately 8.5% of the population. According to the 2022 report by the Indonesian Central Statistics Agency, only about 3% of this disabled population participates in the workforce.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided equipment and medical supplies to strengthen the practical training capabilities of Dakar Municipality’s Health Vocational School (EMPS).
To facilitate student research in the field of health, 20 new computers were installed in the school’s library, along with a laser printer. Additionally, 5 video projectors were provided to enhance the quality of visual training for midwifery and nursing students.
The opening ceremony for the project was attended by Nur Sağman, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Dakar; Barthélémy Dias, Mayor of Dakar; Mouhamed Diop, Secretary General of Dakar Municipality; and Dr. Rokhaya Seck, Director of the Vocational School of Health.
About the Health Vocational School
Established in 2006, the Health Vocational School offers free three-year education to approximately 200 financially disadvantaged midwife and nurse candidates each year. Currently, 202 students, including 169 girls, are enrolled in the school. Upon graduation, students are evaluated by the Ministry of Health for placement based on the demand for healthcare personnel in Senegal.
With support from Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), musicians and philharmonic orchestra artists received foundational training in Turkish music at the Institute of Fine Arts at Quindío University in Armenia, Colombia.
The workshops were conducted by Turkish musician Serkan Yılmaz, who provided participants with an immersive cultural experience through his lectures on Turkish music theory. Participants remarked that exploring Turkish music felt like learning a new language and that they had developed a mini Turkish repertoire by the end of the course.
Sebastián Martínez Castro, Director of the Institute of Fine Arts, noted that the event provided a new perspective on music and offered a closer insight into Turkish culture. “Through this workshop, we discovered that Western music is not the sole source of musical inspiration and that diverse musical traditions should be preserved,” Castro said.
Commenting on the impact of cultural diversity on music, Yılmaz emphasized that exploring various musical traditions enhances musicians’ creativity. “Turkish music offers a unique approach to thinking, composing and writing. This new perspective will enrich the work of every musician here,” Yılmaz said.
Concert featuring Turkish compositions held
At the conclusion of the workshop, Colombian artists attended a concert by Serkan Yılmaz at Quindío University. The performance, which featured Colombian musicians playing Turkish compositions, was highly praised by the audience.
Rector Luis Fernando Polanía Obando, Vice Rector Alejandra María Giraldo García, Director of the International Relations Office Eduardo Perafán Del Campo and TİKA officials attended the concert.
David Gómez Ramírez, concertmaster of the Uniquindío Philharmonic Orchestra, commented on the training: “These workshops introduced us to the fundamentals of Eastern music. We learned a great deal in just one week. It was both enjoyable and enriching to have this opportunity provided by TİKA.”
Quindío University’s Institute of Fine Arts is a prestigious arts education center with a 30-year history, and it is home to the region’s only philharmonic orchestra. With branches across the country, the Institute offers music education to approximately 2,000 people annually.
The capacity of the “Village-to-City Sales Center,” established in Baku in 2020 through a collaboration between Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and Agro Procurement and Supply JSC, affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has been expanded. The center allows producers to directly offer agricultural products and village crops to city residents.
The sales center, set up in a tent structure covering 960 square meters next to the centrally located “Gençlik” metro station in Baku, offers agricultural and livestock products from over a hundred farmers to consumers, particularly on weekends and holidays.
In addition, beekeeping products from various regions of the country are sold to the residents of Baku at the national beekeeping and honey exhibitions, which are held annually and last for about a month.
Additional sales points established
As part of the project carried out by TİKA at the request of the Agro Procurement and Supply Joint Stock Company of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Village-to-City Sales Center was expanded by 180 m2 and an additional 60 sales points were added. This expansion was undertaken to accommodate the increased demand from producer farmers, particularly during honey exhibitions and other sales events.
The sales center, now expanded to a total area of 1,140 square meters, enables more farmers to bring their products directly to urban consumers.
“Producers gained market access”
At the handover ceremony of the Village-to-City Sales Center to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, TİKA’s Coordinator in Baku Hayrettin Özçelik emphasized that TİKA supports projects that enhance the livelihoods and employment opportunities of those involved in agriculture and animal husbandry in Azerbaijan. He highlighted that the Village-to-City Sales Center, which provides small-scale producers with access to the market through an institutional framework, aligns with this mission.
The Village-to-City Sales Center, expanded through TİKA’s efforts, will connect the people of Baku with over 200 beekeepers at the National Beekeeping and Honey Exhibition, scheduled to take place from September 9 to 29, 2024.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed aid packages to 3,000 families whose homes were inundated by heavy rains in Bangladesh. Additionally, a Mobile Clinic Vehicle was sent to the flood-affected areas.
Heavy rains in Bangladesh since August 20 have led to widespread flooding across many regions of the country. Areas such as Moulvibazar, Lakshmipur, Habiganj, Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram and Noakhali have experienced significant flooding of roads and homes. The main highway connecting the capital, Dhaka with the country’s second-largest city, Chattogram was closed due to the floods. Disaster victims have been accommodated in shelters and public buildings, including schools.
TİKA prepared aid packages containing essential food items, water purification tablets and hygiene materials for distribution to 3,000 families in Feni, Lakshmipur and Noakhali. The distributions were conducted in collaboration with Bangladeshi authorities, fire departments and NGOs.
Some of the emergency aid packages prepared by TİKA for those affected by the floods were delivered to the victims by the Bangladesh search and rescue team, who had previously been sent to Türkiye after the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023.
Free Health Services Provided to Thousands of Flood Victims
Alongside the aid distribution efforts, TİKA sent a Mobile Clinic Vehicle to the flood zone. On the first day, the mobile clinic, staffed by volunteer doctors and health workers, conducted health screenings and distributed medicine at Atatürk Model High School in Feni. Over the past week, the clinic provided health services to flood victims in the Feni and Noakhali regions of Bangladesh. Serving nearly 6,000 people, the mobile clinic focused particularly on groups with limited access to healthcare such as children, women and the elderly.
Treatment and medication support were provided for skin diseases and waterborne illnesses that increased after the floods, along with awareness-raising activities on disease prevention.
TİKA’s mobile clinic is scheduled to remain in the region for at least one more month to address epidemic risks and post-disaster trauma cases.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) set up three tilapia fish farms in Kisumu, Kenya, for fisher families who lost their livelihoods due to heavy rainfall.
Located one kilometer from the Paga Coast of Lake Victoria, these fish farms contribute to Kenya’s blue economy strategy and help sustain artisanal fisheries.
Stocked with 30,000 juvenile fish and provided with a year’s supply of fish feed, the farms aim to revitalize the local economy, diversify livelihoods, and promote sustainable food security.
Each farm is expected to produce 20,000 adult tilapia per harvest, with two harvests planned annually.
The modern fish farms, established with TİKA’s support, are located in a flood-resistant area of the lake and provide fishing families with new opportunities by increasing productivity.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Ochieng Owili expressed that the project will help mitigate poverty, reduce unemployment and address economic inequalities in the region. He also extended his gratitude to Türkiye and the Turkish people.
As part of a project carried out in cooperation with Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Marikina City Municipality, medicines were provided to 900 patients in need who are being treated for hypertension and diabetes, which are widespread in the Philippines. In addition, 100 wheelchairs were distributed to individuals with disabilities.
The distribution ceremony was attended by Turkish Ambassador to Manila, Niyazi Evren Akyol; TİKA’s Coordinator in Manila, İbrahim Katırcı; Marikina Vice Mayor, Marion Andres; staff from the Marikina Health Center and local residents.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Ambassador Akyol highlighted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and the Philippines and that Türkiye’s ongoing support strengthens the bonds between the two nations.
In his speech, TİKA Manila Coordinator İbrahim Katırcı stated that TİKA prioritizes the health sector in the Philippines and will continue to implement projects aimed at improving access to quality healthcare services for the Filipino people.
Marikina Vice Mayor Marion Andres expressed his appreciation for the cooperation with TİKA and thanked Türkiye for its support to the underprivileged communities in the region.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has renovated the training shelter for K-9 police dogs used by law enforcement in the Tajura district of Tripoli, the capital of Libya.
Director of the Specialized Training Institute of the General Administration of Security Operations, Colonel Rabie Ayyad Mervan, at the Libyan Ministry of Interior, stated that “the renovation of the shelter will enhance the training of police dogs, which are vital for ensuring security at key locations such as elections and airports.”
After the shelter’s opening ceremony, Colonel Rabie Ayyad Mervan presented a plaque of appreciation to TİKA.
K-9 dogs from Türkiye are also being trained at the renovated shelter.
Commenting on the support provided to the Libyan security forces, TİKA’s Tripoli PCO representatives said, “TİKA has renovated the shelter where K-9 dogs are trained at the headquarters of the Libyan General Administration of Security Operations in the Tajura region, a site of significance for Turks, along with providing training equipment.”
At the newly renovated shelter, police dogs undergo drills to prepare for various security scenarios.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has donated a playground, educational materials, therapeutic tools, and recreational equipment to the Mustaqbal Center for Special Needs in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, to contribute to the physical and mental development of the children.
The project aims to significantly enhance the education and social integration of 116 children with special needs, including those with autism, Down syndrome, learning disabilities, and speech delays, who are receiving education and therapy at two campuses in the Hodan and Darussalam regions.
TİKA Mogadishu Coordinator Zafer Eşki highlighted the importance of supporting children with special needs in Somalia, stating, “Through our project, we aim to ensure that these children can continue their development in a fun and educational environment. Our goal is to improve their quality of life and provide equal opportunities in education.”
The Mustaqbal Center for Special Needs officials expressed their gratitude to TİKA for its support.
