Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) supported the “Oina Royal Cup Tournament” organized by the Presidency of TİKA to keep alive the sport of “Oina,” which is Romania’s national sport. Dating back to the 14th century, Oina is being revived today.
The King’s Cup and Queen’s Cup competitions, organized by the Romanian Oina Federation, a corporate member of the World Ethnosport Confederation headquartered in Türkiye and patronized by the Romanian royal family, were held at the Arcul de Triumf Stadium in Bucharest with the participation of Prince Radu, a member of the Romanian royal family.
The uniforms for 80 athletes from four different cities in Romania were produced by TİKA.
The President of the Romanian Oina Federation, Nicolae Dobre thanked TİKA for supporting the event and presented a plaque. Prince Radu also expressed his gratitude to TİKA for its generous support. TİKA’s Coordinator in Bucharest Salih Yürç said, “Keeping Oina, Romania’s national sport and an ancient value, alive is a historical duty for Romanians and an honor and privilege for TİKA. Today, as TİKA, we tried to make a small contribution to this meaningful event. We will continue to work to strengthen the strong relations between Romania and Türkiye.”
In the tournament broadcast live on Romania’s national TV channel Prima Sport TV, the women’s Oina teams “C.S. Dacia Mioveni 2012” from Argeş and “C.S.M. Râmnicu Sărat” from Râmnicu Sărat faced each other for the Queen’s Cup. In the men’s King’s Cup, the teams “A.C.S. Frontiera Tomis” from Constanța and “C.S. Izvorul Chiuiești” from Cluj competed.
During the tournament, famous Romanian singer Gheorghe Turda sang the Romanian national anthem and traditional Romanian songs.
The project realized by TİKA strengthens the cultural ties between Türkiye and Romania and reinforces the friendship relations between the two countries.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) renovated and landscaped the country’s only hammer and discus throwing cage used for hammer, discus, shot put and javelin throwing sports, aiming to enhance the infrastructure of the Tajikistan Athletics Federation.
The opening ceremony, held on the campus of the University of Physical Education and Sports, was attended by Turkish Ambassador to Dushanbe, Umut Acar; President of the Tajikistan Athletics Federation, Dilshod Nazarov; Rector of the University, Muhammadsho Abdullozoda; TİKA’s Coordinator in Dushanbe, İbrahim Ethem Ünal and the athletes who received training.
Expressing his satisfaction with TİKA’s support, President of the Athletics Federation, Dilshod Nazarov stated that they are open to all kinds of cooperation to encourage young people to participate in sports in Tajikistan. Umut Acar, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Dushanbe, mentioned that organizing sports competitions between schools in Tajikistan would be beneficial for encouraging young people to engage in sports. He also emphasized that Türkiye, along with TİKA, is ready to provide all kinds of support in this regard.
Among the athletes coached by Tajik athlete Dilshod Nazarov, the world champion in the hammer throw at the 2016 Rio Olympics, is Turkish female athlete Kıvılcım Kaya, who is preparing for the Paris Olympics this year. The athletes are continuing their training at the center renovated by TİKA.
The Tajikistan Athletics Federation carries out its activities with the aim of developing sports and athletics in the country, discovering talented athletes and providing quality infrastructure for them. With the support of TİKA, the Athletics Federation has gained improved infrastructure, playing an important role in encouraging Tajik youth to participate in sports.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Mountain Rescue Service (GSS) Tuzla organized a search and rescue exercise and training program in the city of Tuzla in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The program, also supported by Tuzla Municipality, was held in the Square of Freedom. Basic search and rescue techniques were introduced to the people of Tuzla, especially children and young people. The event, organized by GSS, which has been operating since 2020 and has 25 active members, included basic first aid training and a high-angle rescue drill.
Deputy Mayor of Tuzla Metropolitan Municipality, Zijad Lugavić; TİKA’s Coordinator in Sarajevo, Erdinç Işık; President of GSS, Maja Hadžimehić; search and rescue volunteers and the people of Tuzla attended the program.
Thanks to the personal equipment and advanced search and rescue equipment provided by TİKA, the aim was to enhance rescue operations, train search and rescue volunteers under better conditions and increase the number of volunteers.
GSS, which participated in the search and rescue training organized by TİKA in Bosnia and Herzegovina at both the trainer and trainee levels, aims to increase its current capacity and continue its search and rescue activities both within the country and in neighboring countries as needed.
Participated in search and rescue operations in the catastrophe of the century
Emil Isaković, a member of GSS, reminded that they went to Türkiye and participated in search and rescue activities after the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, which occurred on February 6, 2023 and were described as the ‘disaster of the century’. Isaković stated that GSS acts like a family and that they are always ready to help people.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided medicines and medical supplies to Al-Sahaba Maternity Hospital in northern Gaza.
With the support of TİKA, medicines and medical supplies were provided to the only functioning maternity hospital in Gaza. In addition to general health and laboratory services in central Gaza, TİKA supplied 242 items of medicines and medical supplies needed by the maternity hospital that is still operating in the region.
Due to the attacks in Gaza, thousands of houses, schools, roads and water facilities have been destroyed. Following this devastation, only 14 of the 36 existing hospitals are partially operational. These hospitals are struggling to function under difficult conditions due to shortages of medicines, medical supplies, personnel and energy. Surgical interventions are often performed under primitive conditions, with partial anesthesia or none at all.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has established a sewing workshop to provide vocational training in tailoring within the Union of Muslim Women of Ukraine in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.
The project was implemented to support women who wish to contribute to the family economy under war conditions in Kiev.
As part of the project, a sewing workshop was established to provide vocational training in tailoring. The rooms designated for the workshop were renovated, furnished and equipped with sewing machines and various tools.
Supported by the Crimean National Welfare Fund, the Union of Muslims of Ukraine and the Union of Muslim Women of Ukraine, the workshop project aims to create employment opportunities for women, combat unemployment across the country, support women’s entrepreneurship and promote vocational training.
The sewing workshop will offer comprehensive vocational training for two groups of 30 people over the course of one year in the initial phase.
The opening ceremony of the sewing workshop was attended by Turkish Ambassador to Kiev, Mustafa Levent Bilgen; Crimean Tatars’ national leader, Mustafa Dzhemilev Qırımoğlu; Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov; Chairman of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea, Ayder Rustemov; President of the Union of Muslim Women of Ukraine, Betül Rustemova; Chairman of the Crimean National Welfare Fund, Lenur Mambetov; TİKA’s Program Coordinator in Ukraine, Yahya Kemal Tunca and numerous women.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) renovated and landscaped the physical structure of the Banjul International Airport Police Unit, which serves as the primary line of defense at one of The Gambia’s critical gates.
TİKA renovated the physical structure and landscaped the police unit, which serves as a critical line of defense at Banjul International Airport. The new building, housing 50 police officers who play a pivotal role in airport security, was inaugurated with a ceremony.
Situated within the airport grounds, the renovated police unit building also includes seating areas where officers can relax during their long and demanding shifts.
The opening ceremony was attended by Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Banjul, F. Türker Oba; President of the Gambia Police Organization, Seedy M. Touray; Director of the Banjul International Airport Police Unit, Ousman Mboge; TİKA’s Coordinator in Banjul, Şule Bayar; police officers and members of the press.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Oba stated that Türkiye and Gambia have good relations at all levels and that this project is a prime example of Türkiye’s support for the Gambia Police Force.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Banjul Bayar mentioned that the project aims to enhance the operational efficiency and officer motivation of the Banjul Airport Police Unit.
Touray, the President of the Gambia Police Organization, expressed that thanks to the new arrangements, police officers now have better working and resting opportunities, and he extended his gratitude to TİKA and Türkiye.
During the “6th Ethnosport Culture Festival” held in Istanbul from June 6th to 9th, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established the “Universal Delicacies by TİKA” booth. This booth showcased the local delicacies of 12 countries and exhibited souvenirs and cultural objects.
The sixth edition of the Ethnosport Cultural Festival, which has been held by the World Ethnosport Confederation since 2016 and brings together different cultures and traditional sports at a variety of events, was held in Istanbul this year. More than 1 million visitors attended the festival, which was held from June 6 to 9.
At the festival, delicacies from 12 different countries were served to visitors for four days at the booths called “Universal Delicacies,” set up by TİKA. Not only the local delicacies of each country, but also the clothes, souvenirs and national objects that promote the country’s culture were exhibited.
Visitors showed great interest in the event; had the opportunity to get to know the cultures of Tanzania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia and Sudan, and tasted different delicacies. Young people and children were particularly interested in the booths, where they learned about different countries, the products exhibited and the food, beverages, fruits and snacks served.
TİKA continues to contribute to bringing different cultures together and building bridges of friendship with countries in our geography of hearts through different projects and events.
Turkish Coordination and Cooperation Agency and the South Korea International Cooperation Agency signed a memorandum of understanding in Ankara aiming at cooperating in various fields.
TİKA’s President Serkan Kayalar, KOICA’s President Chang Won Sam, South Korea’s Ambassador to Ankara, Jeong Yeondoo and the accompanying delegations attended the signing ceremony held at TİKA’s headquarters in Ankara.
Speaking at the ceremony, TİKA’s President Kayalar stated that they find the cooperation between development agencies valuable in terms of enhancing the bonds between two countries. He also noted that, within the framework of this agreement signed with KOICA that was established in the same period as TİKA and carries out joint activities with TİKA for third countries, the two institutions will implement joint projects especially in the fields of healthcare, climate change, clean energy, education, digitalization, food safety, agriculture by carrying out more effective and efficient work globally.
Kayalar expressed his belief that the agreement will take the current cooperation and friendship between the two institutions a step further.
KOICA’s President Chang stated that they are glad to renew the cooperation agreement between the two institutions, and they will work together in development cooperation activities like “two brothers”.
The memorandum of understanding aims to unite the knowledge, expertise and communication networks of the institutions in their relevant fields.
The agreement between TİKA and KOICA aims to develop new opportunities between two countries within the framework of South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation, internationally in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2011, TİKA and KOICA had signed a memorandum of understanding to organize joint aid activities for countries Palestine, Cambodia, Myanmar and Pakistan.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) identified, classified, repaired and digitalized 1,500 manuscripts from the Ottoman period in the city of Laghouat, Algeria.
Under the coordination of TİKA and in cooperation with the Manuscript Institution of Türkiye and the Center for Research in Islamic Sciences and Civilization in Algeria, a training program on the identification, classification, repair, preservation, digitalization of Ottoman manuscripts was organized in city of the Laghouat, Algeria. Twenty-two academicians and experts attended the training program.
Throughout the program, 1,500 manuscripts from the Ottoman period were cleaned, maintained and classified. Efforts are still ongoing to publish the manuscripts as a catalog, with most of them already digitalized.
Academicians and staff of the center who attended the training received their certificates at a ceremony held at the Center for Research in Islamic Sciences and Civilization.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Algeria, Gökçen Kalkan; the Director of Konya Regional Directorate of the Manuscript Institution of Türkiye, Bekir Şahin and the Director of the Center for Research in Islamic Sciences and Civilization in Algeria, Ahmet Binsağir attended the certificate ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, TİKA’s Coordinator Kalkan noted that manuscripts were systematically destroyed in all cities of Algeria during the French occupation, and underlined that only a few of them could be preserved in some mosques, zawiyas and houses, reaching the present day.
Kalkan said, “Following TİKA’s project, many individuals from Algeria’s various cities contacted our office to inform us that they also owned manuscripts. This project has brought to the attention of researchers numerous works which will shed light on the shared Turkish-Algerian history and cultural richness by unearthing, preserving and digitizing them. The project has also greatly raised awareness about manuscripts in Algeria.”
The Director of the Center for Research in Islamic Sciences and Civilization in Algeria, Bensağir expressed his gratitude to TİKA, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Algeria, Muhammet Mücahit Küçükyılmaz and the Manuscript Institution of Türkiye for their support of the project.
Bensağir said, “The project raised awareness about manuscripts in Algeria, especially in Laghouat. Many people brought manuscripts that they owned to the center. Thanks to this project, it will be possible to establish a library, where manuscripts from all Sahara cities will be collected, within the Center for Research in Islamic Sciences and Civilization in Laghouat, Algeria.”
The Director of Konya Regional Directorate of the Manuscript Institution of Türkiye, Bekir Şahin noted that the city of Laghouat is a treasure in terms of manuscripts. He said, “I believe we have made significant progress in preserving these works and making them available for researchers. I am very pleased with the interest, concern and sincerity I experienced throughout the project.”
A “Urban Search and Rescue Basic Training” was organized in Montenegro by the search and rescue personnel trained as instructors in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the scope of the “Emergency and Disaster Response Trainings Program (ADAMEP)” carried out by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
The “Montenegro Urban Search and Rescue Basic Training” was held in Montenegro under the guidance of İHH Disaster Academy instructors with the participation of three Bosnian instructors, who became qualified by successfully completing the ADAMEP training in Bosnia and Herzegovina and who are members of the Federal Civil Protection Administration (FUCZ), the GSS Novi Grad Mountain Search and Rescue Team and the Brcko Civil Protection Administration.
32 search and rescue personnel working at the Directorate of Search and Rescue of the Nikšić Municipality attended the training.
As part of the training, theoretical and practical lessons were given to participants in various fields such as disaster awareness, communication during disasters, teamwork in disasters, building damage types, search methods, wreck marking, HAZMAT, patient and injured transportation techniques, safe approaches to wreckage, basic rescue materials and personal protective equipment and GPS usage.
The Culture and Tourism Consultant of the Nikšić Municipality, Miljan Mijušković; TİKA’s Coordinator in Podgorica, Nihal Ersoy; the Coordinator of the İHH Disaster Academy, Ahmet Türkmenoğlu and local authorities attended the certificate ceremony held at the end of the training program.
Expressing his appreciation for the training, the Culture and Tourism Consultant of the Nikšić Municipality, Mijušković expressed his hope that the trainings would continue and conveyed his gratitude to TİKA for their support.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Podgorica, Ersoy noted that our country’s knowledge is transferred to Montenegrin search and rescue personnel through the training held, and this training will strengthen the cooperation between the two countries.
About the Search and Rescue Trainings
Within the scope of the ADAMEP, TİKA organizes trainings on nature search and rescue, urban search and rescue, and water search and rescue.
TİKA has carried out 10 search and rescue training programs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 in Lebanon, 2 in Pakistan and one each in Georgia and Montenegro, and has contributed to increasing the number of qualified personnel in the field of search and rescue. During the February 6 earthquakes in 2023, the search and rescue teams that had previously attended TİKA’s training programs in these countries, were among the first to arrive in our country, and they saved many people from the rubble.
“The Lebanese University Faculty of Law Sample Courtroom Project,” supported by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), was inaugurated in Tripoli, the second most populated city of Lebanon.
The Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Beirut, Ali Barış Ulusoy; the Rector of the Lebanese University, Dr. Bassam Badran; the Dean of the Law Faculty, Dr. Habib Kazzi; the Director of the Tripoli Law Faculty, Dr. Khaled El Kheir; the President of the Northern Lebanon Bar Association, Sami Al-Hassan; the Chief Prosecutors of Northern Lebanon and Tripoli, and many other Turkish and Lebanese officials attended the ceremony.
Giving the opening speech, Ambassador Ulusoy highlighted Türkiye’s support in various sectors in Lebanon.
Ulusoy expressed that Türkiye is excited to support a new project at the Tripoli Law Faculty, in addition to the previous projects implemented with the Lebanese University at the Saida Technology Faculty, the Beirut Faculty of Letters and the Tripoli Faculty of Fine Arts. Underlining that Türkiye and Lebanon are friendly countries with a shared history, Ulusoy stated that Türkiye will continue its development cooperation activities in Lebanon.
The Sample Courtroom Named After Ahmed Cevdet Pasha
Within the scope of the project, students of the Law Faculty at the Lebanese University, the future lawyers, judges and prosecutors, will have the opportunity to experience cases and legal transactions in a realistic courtroom environment.
It is also planned that students selected from the student club, will organize mock trial competitions by being divided into parties (defendant, accuser, claimant, judge, prosecutor etc.) under the supervision of academicians.
The Sample Courtroom was named after Ahmed Cevdet Pasha, a prominent Turkish intellectual and statesman of the 19th century, who holds great importance in the history of both countries and who wrote the “Mecelle”, a civil code still partially in force in the Lebanese legal system.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) opened two Turkish language classes at the Bondhere Orphan Girls Center, where 1,000 students attend primary, secondary and high school, to enhance Turkish education opportunities in Somalia.
The Governor of Bondhere, Abdulahi Hasan Jawhen; the Deputy General Manager of the Somalia Academy of Science, Culture and Arts, Abdifatah Ahmed Abubakar; TİKA’s Coordinator in Mogadishu, Zafer Ekşi; the Headmistress Nuura Mohamed Adow, teachers and students of Yunus Emre Institute attended the opening ceremony held at the school in Mogadishu.
Following the repair and infrastructure works of the two Turkish classrooms, educational materials such as desks, tables and smart boards were provided.
Students will have the opportunity to learn about Turkish culture and history as well as the language through lessons given by Yunus Emre Institute, in classrooms modernly equipped by TİKA. Thus, students learning Turkish in Somalia will not only develop their language skills but also discover Türkiye’s rich cultural heritage.
Thanks to these two Turkish classrooms, the friendship and cultural relations between Türkiye and Somalia are expected to further strengthen. Access to Turkish education in Somalia has been increasing through the joint efforts of TİKA and Yunus Emre Institute. Meanwhile, this initiative is also anticipated to positively impact the future career plans of Somali youth.
