With the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), a service vehicle was provided to the Široka Rijeka Home Care Center in Croatia. This service vehicle will transport local women farmers to markets so they can sell their products, and it will also provide basic services for the elderly and disabled in the region.
The city of Vojnic has a multicultural society with women, children, people with disabilities and elderly orphans making up the majority of the population. Geographical conditions and settlement patterns make it challenging to maintain the continuity of social services in the region.
Široka Rijeka Home Care Center provides a wide range of services, including daily hot meals, medicines, fuel and basic health checks, for 55 disabled, orphaned or otherwise care-dependent individuals living in 22 villages.
The products obtained from the greenhouses established by TİKA for the benefit of women in the region in recent years can now be delivered to markets using the provided service vehicle. This project, which supports the economic empowerment of women, also aims to provide basic services to the elderly and disabled at the care center.
With the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), a 41-member medical team from Türkiye went to Niger, where they provided 2,941 outpatient services and performed 336 surgeries.
In cooperation with TİKA and Bir İnsan Dünyaya Bedeldir Sağlık ve Eğitim Köyleri Volunteering (BİSEG) Association, the 29th health organization event, supported by the Turkish Ministry of Health, Turkish Airlines (THY) and various non-governmental organizations from Türkiye, was held in Niger.
In the organization held in the city of Tessaoua in the Maradi region of Niger, a 41-member medical team conducted screenings and surgeries across various medical specialties. A total of 2,941 outpatient services were provided in internal medicine, gynecology, ENT (ear, nose and throat), ophthalmology and dentistry. Additionally, 336 surgeries were performed in general surgery, urology and gynecology, along with 602 dental treatments, 1,483 ultrasounds, laboratory tests and dressings.
Patients who could not afford treatment due to the high cost of health services expressed their gratitude to the Turkish people and the Republic of Türkiye for the assistance provided to them.
About Niger
In Niger, where nearly half of the population lives below the hunger line according to United Nations data, health services and hospital infrastructure are extremely inadequate to meet the health and treatment needs of the population.
In particular, people living in rural areas far from the capital, Niamey, have difficulty accessing specific surgical procedures as well as routine examinations. In the country, where compulsory health insurance systems and social assistance are inadequate, a significant portion of the population cannot access health services or obtain medicines.
For this reason, deaths due to simple diseases such as malaria, typhoid and cholera as well as malnutrition are frequently observed, especially among children and the elderly.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) aims to increase the production capacity of artists and promote Afghan handicrafts by providing material and equipment support to the Herat University Handicrafts Center in Hariva
The delivery ceremony for the materials and equipment provided by TİKA to the Herat University Handicrafts Center in Hariva was held with wide participation. Attendees included TİKA’s Coordinator in Herat, Arafat Deniz; Herat Provincial Directorate of Culture and Information Press and Publications Official, Ahmad Farid Ayyubi; Tourism Unit Official, Rahmatullah Mohammadi; Art and Culture Unit Official, Hamidullah Giyasi and various artists.
Speaking at the delivery ceremony, TİKA’s Coordinator in Herat Deniz mentioned that in previous years, the center had operated with insufficient facilities and artists could not produce their work.
Deniz said, “Today, only a few of the rooms where various arts and crafts such as miniature painting, illuminated manuscripts, calligraphy, carpet making, sericulture, glass making, prayer beadwork, silversmithing, carving, pottery and sesame oil production were open. Last year, on World Tourism Day, we organized a significant handicraft fair at Herat Citadel. Our support for equipment and materials in this center aims to contribute to the revival of tourism and the economy and to promote the arts and culture of the region.”
Press and Publications Official Ayyubi expressed his gratitude for TİKA’s cooperation in supporting artists. Muhammadi, the Tourism Unit Official, mentioned the scarcity of raw materials and supplies necessary for the women working in Institute to produce, and stated that thanks to TİKA’s support, their production capacity will increase and they will introduce Afghanistan’s handicrafts to the world.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) delivered greenhouses with drip irrigation systems, hoeing machines, feed crushing machines, spraying machines, beehives and various other agricultural equipment. This project, carried out in cooperation with the Council of Farmers, Dehkan Farms and Landowners of Uzbekistan, aims to enhance seedling production and promote sustainable agricultural practices in Uzbekistan.
Within the scope of the project, producers who are members of the Union of Yukari Ovul Neighborhoods were provided with equipment to enhance their seedling production and sales capacity. A greenhouse with a drip irrigation system and a heating system was installed on an area of 200 square meters. Additionally, a hoeing machine, feed crushing machine, spraying machine, beehives and various other equipment were delivered to the producers.
New-generation tomato, cucumber, pepper and potato seeds and seedlings were also distributed to the producer families. This initiative supported socially disadvantaged families in transitioning from a subsistence agricultural economy to commercial production. The greenhouses established by TİKA aim to serve as a model for the neighborhood, encouraging the development of agricultural enterprises.
Speaking at the greenhouse installation ceremony held in the Orta Chirchiq District of Tashkent Province, TİKA’s Coordinator in Tashkent Ali Rıza Tezcan provided information about TİKA’s projects and activities throughout Uzbekistan. He affirmed that TİKA would continue its support for sustainable rural development. Burhan Demirok, Agricultural Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Tashkent, also inspected the greenhouses on-site and received information about the project.
Officials from the Council of Farmers, Dehkan Farms and Landowners of Uzbekistan expressed their satisfaction with the agricultural support provided to the farmers through greenhouses and drip irrigation systems. They emphasized the significant impact of this assistance on improving the economic situation of families in need, particularly in rural areas. The residents of the neighborhood expressed their gratitude to TİKA and the Turkish people for their support.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in Central America and Cuba as part of the 4th High-Level Meeting of MIKTA Development Cooperation Institutions Network.
The 4th meeting of MIKTA Development Cooperation Institutions Network, attended by Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena Ibarra and representatives from Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Türkiye and Australia, was held at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the two-day meetings, representatives of MIKTA development cooperation agencies discussed the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals, as well as practices of international cooperation for the development of member countries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Alicia Bárcena expressed Mexico’s interest in mobilizing financing and cooperation for Central America, addressing the structural causes of migration and developing productive projects.
The Turkish delegation, led by Uğur Tanyeli, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations and Partnerships at TİKA, included Turkish Ambassador to Mexico İlhan Kemal Tuğ and Fatih Abdi Çetin, TİKA’s Coordinator in the Mexico City Program Coordination Office.
At the end of the MIKTA meeting, TİKA and AMEXCID signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the Sembrando Vida Program, aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Cuba.
In her speech at the signing ceremony, AMEXCID Executive Director Gloria Sandoval Salas said, “Our sister country Türkiye has become an important actor with the development projects it has implemented in the region through TİKA.” Sandoval Salas emphasized that this cooperation for the development of third countries in the Americas is very important for Türkiye-Mexico relations.
Speaking on behalf of TİKA, Tanyeli stated that the agreement will strengthen the relations between the parties and is an important step for both countries in transforming the partnership ties established between TİKA and AMEXCID into concrete regional development projects. Tanyeli also emphasized that the agricultural development cooperation programs supported by TİKA within the scope of the Sembrando Vida Program will make significant contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
İlhan Kemal Tuğ, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Mexico, stated that TİKA has carried out significant development projects in the region and around the world. He also noted that AMEXCID has implemented a successful development model in Central America with Sembrando Vida. Tuğ expressed his belief that Türkiye-Mexico relations will advance further with this agreement.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided technical equipment to the Vocational Training Center of Insight Institute of Management and Technology in Mawanella, Sri Lanka.
TİKA provided technical equipment to the Vocational Training Center of Insight Institute of Management and Technology, a non-profit organization in Mawanella that offers vocational training to address the country’s shortage of qualified personnel in the fields of automobile, electricity, air conditioning and construction.
As part of the support, the automotive technician department received various training materials, including driving and training simulators, hydraulic systems, general hand tools and electronic measuring devices.
Speaking at the delivery ceremony of the training materials, Abdul Kuddoos Muhammad Fawzan, one of the directors of the institute, said, “We find it very valuable that Türkiye came thousands of kilometers away to support our institution. Our students and teachers will never forget this support.”
Vocational training in different fields
Each year, the institute offers full-time courses lasting 12 to 18 months to around 350 students. It also provides scholarships to more than half of the trainees who come from families in need. The institute is run by a council of academics and professionals with teachers working on a voluntary basis. The center also offers short-term certificate programs in computers, English language, and sewing and embroidery.
About Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, home to many different cultures, languages and ethnic backgrounds with a population of 22 million people, has made important regulations in the field of education in recent years and has taken measurements that will increase the quality of vocational education. However, most of the young population do not have the chance to go to university.
While more than 300,000 students take the university entrance exam each year, only 20% are admitted to universities and other higher education institutions. The remaining students lack adequate educational opportunities and remain unemployed or seek education abroad. This leads to a decline in the country’s productive young population.
TİKA’s support aims to help these young people receive vocational training and contribute to the country’s development.
The opening ceremony of the Turkish Language Teaching Center, established within Tashkent State Transport University with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), was held.
The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Tashkent, Olgan Bekar; TİKA’s Coordinator in Tashkent, Ali Rıza Tezcan; Rector and Senator of Tashkent State Transport University, Prof. Dr. Odil Abdurakhmanov, embassy staff and faculty members.
In the speeches by the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tashkent, Olgan Bekar and the Rector of Tashkent State Transport University, Prof. Dr. Odil Abdurakhmanov, the speakers highlighted the purpose of establishing the Turkish Language Teaching Center, the importance of education, the Turkish-Uzbek brotherhood and the contributions to cultural and academic cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Bekar emphasized the importance of the project stating, “Education plays an important role in strengthening relations and brotherhood among nations. We believe that this center will strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between our peoples and significantly contribute to promoting our shared cultural values.”
In his speech, Rector Abdurakhmanov said, “The opening of the Turkish Language Teaching Center is a great source of pride for our university. This center will provide our students with the opportunity to learn Turkish and contribute to their linguistic and cultural enrichment. This project, realized with the support of TİKA, is a fine example of the friendship and cooperation between our two countries.”
Abdurakhmanov noted that the Turkish-Uzbek Technical Cooperation Center, established within the university, is the first official institution in the country to provide consultancy services to students who wish to study at Turkish universities.
TİKA’s Tashkent Coordinator Tezcan said, “As TİKA, we carry out various projects to promote Turkish language and culture around the world. This center, established within the university, is an important part of our efforts. We hope that this project will provide an accessible educational environment and opportunities for students who wish to learn Turkish.”
Ankara University, Turkish and Foreign Languages Application and Research Center (TÖMER) courses and the YÖS exam are planned to be held at the center established by TİKA. With the opening of the Turkish Language Teaching Center, TİKA, which carries out various projects to promote Turkish language and culture worldwide, aims to provide a favorable educational environment for students in Uzbekistan who wish to learn Turkish.
The opening ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting and a tour of the center.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Association of the Friends of Africa (TADD) organized an oral and dental health initiative in Burundi.
Volunteer Turkish physicians provided free dental treatment to over 900 patients in the cities of Gitega and Bujumbura.
As part of the program, free toothbrushes and toothpaste were distributed to patients, especially children. Patients also received training on oral and dental care.
Burundian dentists and nurses had the opportunity to enhance their experience and update their knowledge by participating in the activities conducted by Turkish doctors.
“GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO BURUNDI HEALTH SYSTEM”
At the program’s closing, a press conference was held with significant participation from Burundian media, including Burundian National Radio and Television (RTNB). Speaking at the meeting, Bonne Action Foundation Coordinator Aimable Nsindayikengera thanked TİKA, the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Bujumbura and TADD, emphasizing that the organization has made a substantial contribution to the Burundian health system. He noted that this effort is especially meaningful for impoverished individuals who otherwise have no hope of receiving treatment.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad organized an Ashura Day event.
During the event held in the Al-Wazireya neighborhood of Baghdad, ashura was distributed to approximately two thousand people. Giving a speech at the event, Turkish Ambassador to Baghdad Anıl Bora İnan said, “We wanted to hold an Ashura event with our neighbors on the street where our old embassy compound in Baghdad, which has been our home for many years, is located. We are very happy to share the Ashura, which is a symbol of abundance and fertility, with our neighbors. We organized this event together with TİKA’s Iraq office. I wish that the sacred month of Muharram and our Ashura event will bring abundance, prosperity and stability to the people of the region and the two countries.”
TİKA’s Iraq Coordinator Oğuzhan Dinler said, “On the occasion of 10 Muharram, the anniversary of the martyrdom of prophet Muhammad’s grandson Husayn ibn Ali and his household, forty days of marches from many parts of Iraq to Karbala begin, drawing 22 million visitors last year. Many tents are set up along the road, especially in Baghdad, where free treats are served. As TİKA, we wanted to be a partner in this process to some extent. On this occasion, we remember Husayn ibn Ali and the martyrs of Karbala with mercy.”
The Children’s Cultural Centre, located in the historical old city of Nablus, one of the largest cities in Palestine, has been organizing cultural activities for children and young people since 1987. Recently, it was renovated with the contributions of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
TİKA added an additional floor to increase the centre’s capacity. The new floor was equipped with essential materials such as bookshelves, projectors, sound systems, air conditioners, tables and chairs to be used as a multi-purpose centre. The centre is open every day of the week, serving approximately 30,000 children and young people annually in areas such as music, painting, handicrafts, reading and personal development.
The opening ceremony of the hall, named the “Nablus July 15 Children’s Cultural Centre” to honor the memories of our July 15th martyrs, was attended by Nablus Governor, Ghassan Daghlas; Nablus Mayor, Dr. Husam Shakshir; Nablus Mufti, Ahmed Shubash; Nablus Provincial Health Director, Ramiz Duwekat; Palestine Yunus Emre Institute Director, Cengiz Eroğlu; TİKA’s Coordinator in Palestine, Orhan Aydın; former President of the Palestinian Turkish Alumni Association, Prof. Dr. Mahmud Matar; Turkish alumni and officials from the Nablus Chamber of Commerce and the Cultural Centre.
After the prayers for the July 15th martyrs and Palestinian martyrs and the singing of national anthems, Nablus Governor Daghlas made a speech. He stated that his grandfather, Bekir Abu Bakr, was martyred in Diyarbakır during World War I, highlighting that Palestine and Türkiye share many common historical values and a connected future.
In his speech, Nablus Mayor Shakshir emphasized that the relationship between the two peoples is one of brotherhood and noted that the Ottoman artifacts in Nablus bear witness to this connection. Shakshir also praised the Turkish nation’s resistance on July 15, saying “Just as the Turkish people triumphed on July 15, our people will also triumph.”
Matar, the former President of the Palestinian Turkish Alumni Association, remarked that the will of the people triumphed over cannons and rifles on the night of July 15th. He noted that all Palestinians stayed up until the morning, praying in front of their televisions that night and said, “May Allah never let this calamity happen again.”
In his speech, TİKA’s Coordinator in Palestine Orhan Aydın referred to the events of the night of July 15, 2016 and its aftermath. He stated that FETÖ poses a threat not only to Türkiye but also to all states within its reach and emphasized that the fight against this terrorist organization will continue in every field.
After the speeches, a film about July 15 was screened.
With the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Turkish and Mongolian experts conducted photogrammetric documentation, restitution, restoration and maintenance of damaged and at-risk monuments from the Göktürk period in the Arkhangai, Övörkhangai and Töv provinces of Mongolia.
The human figure stones (stone fathers) discovered so far in Mongolia are significant sources that provide insight into the religion, culture, art, life and beliefs of the nomads during the period they were created. To date, 785 stone fathers related to five periods —starting from the Bronze Age and including the Göktürk, Uyghur, Khitan and Mongolian periods— have been discovered in Mongolia, with most belonging to the Göktürk period.
A significant number of the stone fathers, which are parts of the tombs or tomb complexes, have not been moved to museums to preserve the contextual significance of their original locations, leaving them vulnerable to destruction in nature.
TİKA has initiated a restoration project for the 10 most damaged human figure stones, which are considered to be at high risk.
The restoration work was conducted using the mobile laboratory previously provided by TİKA to the Mongolian Cultural Heritage Center. Prof. Dr. Şaban Doğan, Director of the İKÇÜ-MUIS Turkology Research Institute Türkiye Office, who oversaw the restoration work, along with experts from the Mongolian Cultural Heritage Center, traveled approximately 4000 kilometers during the project. They examined damages on Göktürk period human figure stones, including those at the Ongi River complex, Ongud complex, Altan Sandal Mountain complex, Honiçiyn Gol and Godron Tolgoy. The process involved photogrammetric documentation, restitution, restoration and maintenance of the monuments.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has established the July 15 Translation and Digitalization Workshop at the Dositej Obradović Public Library in Novi Pazar, the most populous city in the Sandžak Region of Serbia.
TİKA provided the necessary equipment for the workshop, which aims to translate, publish and digitize literary and cultural works to support the promotion of both the region and Türkiye.
An opening ceremony was held
The opening ceremony of the workshop drew significant interest from the local community and was attended by Hami Aksoy, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Belgrade; Osman Peşmen, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Novi Pazar and Nihat Biševac, Mayor of Novi Pazar.
In his speech during the opening ceremony, Mayor Biševac highlighted the projects carried out by TİKA in Serbia and the Sandžak region, expressing his gratitude for the establishment of the translation and digitalization workshop at the public library in Novi Pazar, which was inaugurated on July 15.
In his speech, Ambassador Aksoy of the Republic of Türkiye in Belgrade emphasized the significance of equipping and naming the translation and digitalization workshop at the Dositej Obradović Public Library after July 15. He noted that the solidarity shown by the Sandžak people with the Turkish nation against the treacherous coup attempt on July 15, exactly eight years ago, will never be forgotten.
A photography exhibition and a video depicting the background of the treacherous coup attempt on July 15 and the nation’s resistance were also presented at the opening.
About the project
The July 15 Translation and Digitalization Workshop, which will significantly contribute to sharing the rich cultural heritage of the Sandžak region with the world, will also serve other nearby cities.
Additionally, beyond libraries, museums and archives, the workshop aims to uncover and make accessible the rich sources of local cultural heritage found in household libraries.
Founded 100 years ago, the Dositej Obradović Public Library provides cultural and educational services to the citizens of Novi Pazar and the surrounding areas. Serving over five thousand students, the library aims to enhance its service quality by focusing on digitalization activities.
