Within the “Ramadan Program” supported by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), 400 food packages were distributed in two cities in Colombia.
In cooperation between TİKA, the Abou Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in Bogotá, the Islamic Center of Santa Fe de Bogotá/the Istanbul Mosque, the Al-Qurtubi Center for Islamic Studies and the Mosque of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab in Maicao, 400 food packages were distributed to families in need in the cities of Bogotá and Maicao. In consequence of the aid program, Ramadan food parcels were delivered to approximately 1,600 people.
Carlos Sánchez, the Head and Legal Representative of the Istanbul Mosque, played a significant role in the success of the aid program.
Sánchez expressed his feelings as follows,
“I would like to express our gratitude to TİKA on behalf of myself, the board of directors and the society, for the precious support they provided”.
Within the Ramadan Aid Program, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed food parcels to 1,600 families in need in 20 different areas in Serbia.
As is customary every Ramadan, TİKA distributed food packages to families in need in Serbia this Ramadan as well. Food packages were distributed to families in need in the capital Belgrade, central Serbia, the region of Vojvodina in the north, and especially in the regions of Sandžak and Preševo in southern Serbia, and their joy during Ramadan was shared.
The distribution of food packages, which were delivered to those in need in the regions of Sandžak, Preševo, Vojvodina and in the cities of Belgrade, Novi Sad, Mladenovac, Smederevo, Kostolac, Prokuplje, was initiated in Novi Pazar.
Following the distributions in various regions of Serbia, the last food package distribution ceremony was held in the district of Zemun, in Belgrade, with the participation of the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Belgrade, Hami Aksoy.
Ambassador Aksoy, who came together with Muslim families at the ceremony held in Belgrade, expressed that he is fully pleased to extend our country’s aid to families in need through TİKA’s support and to share the abundance of Ramadan with these people.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) continues to serve hot meals to 2,000 people per day in Gaza, as planned for the duration of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
In consequence of the Gaza war that started last October, 32,500 Palestinians have lost their lives, 75,000 Palestinians have been injured, and 1.9 million people have been displaced. There has been a massive food crisis in the city as aid material flows to Gaza are far below the necessary amounts because of the attacks and restrictions imposed by Israeli. It has also been reported that child deaths, especially due to hunger, are increasing according to OCHA data.
Within the “Gaza Ramadan Kitchen” project implemented by TİKA, food aid was provided to the soup kitchen established in cooperation between the Palestinian Prime Ministry and NGOs in the region of Deir al-Balah in Gaza. As part of the program, which is held during Ramadan and will continue through Eid al-Fitr, hot meals are being prepared for 2,000 people every day and served to war victims.
TİKA also continues to distribute Ramadan food packages, which contain products such as rice, pasta, lentils, oil, canned meat, broad beans, fish and halva, to 2,500 families residing in the regions of Rafah, Deir al-Balah and Az-Zawayda within the scope of the Gaza Ramadan Aid program.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) organized an iftar dinner program in Afghanistan with the participation of orphans.
As part of its Ramadan programs, TİKA has been delivering food aid to low-income families in Afghanistan.
An iftar dinner for 1,500 people was organized across 4 orphanages located in the capital Kabul, Kapisa and Nuristan.
Officials from TİKA Kabul Office, the Chargé d’Affaires and Head of Mission of the Embassy of Türkiye in Kabul, Cenk Ünal and embassy staff attended the iftar dinner program held at the Teyi Mesken Orphanage in Kabul.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Kabul, Fazıl Akın Erdoğan stated that they have not forgotten Afghan orphans and they will continue their aid throughout Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided Biology and Chemistry Laboratory equipment to “Sami Frashëri” High School, in Tirana.
The Minister of Education and Sports of the Republic of Albania, Ogerta Manastirliu; the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tirana, Tayyar Kağan Atay; TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Mahmut Çevik; the Deputy Mayor of Tirana, Andi Seferi; TİKA’s Coordinator in Tirana, Mustafa Ata, administrators of “Sami Frashëri” High School, teachers and students attended the ceremony held at “Sami Frashëri” High School in Tirana.
Through the project implemented by TİKA aimed at improving the physical infrastructure of science laboratories (biology and chemistry), and enhancing theoretical knowledge through analytical thinking, the standards of biology and chemistry laboratories were raised.
Minister Manastirliu thanked TİKA
Speaking at the ceremony to press members, the Minister of Education and Sports of the Republic of Albania, Manastirliu, who also completed her education at this high school, expressed her gratitude to TİKA for all their contributions in the education field regarding infrastructure, technology and innovation of schools, and stated that she would be pleased to implement new projects in the education field.
“You may have the ability to contribute to something, but you cannot achieve it unless there are necessary conditions”
The Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tirana, Atay, expressed his gratitude to Minister Manastirliu for providing an opportunity for cooperation in this project, and said, “You may have the ability or the opportunity to contribute to something, but you cannot do so unless there are necessary conditions. Our experience with the Dear Minister provides us with every opportunity to develop cooperation between the two countries in the education field, and in every other field.”
Çevik: The 131st project in the field of education in Albania
Noting that TİKA has been carrying out activities in Albania for 28 years, TİKA’s Vice President Çevik stated that they have been implementing projects in every field.
Announcing that they have carried out 600 projects so far and that the establishment of laboratories is the 131st project in the education field, Çevik stated, “We have implemented various projects, such as the establishment of schools, establishment, renovation and maintenance of preschools and dormitories. The laboratory projects are well-qualified projects designed to support the education of disadvantaged groups specifically contributing to the development of children with autism spectrum disorder. We have carried out these projects to support Albania’s development efforts in these fields”.
About “Sami Frashëri” High School
“Sami Frashëri” High School, which has been offering education since 1962 and is currently one of the most successful high schools in Tirana, was rebuilt following the heavy damage caused by the earthquake that struck Albania on November 26, 2019. At “Sami Frashëri” High School, a total of 1,423 students, comprising 810 female and 613 male students, study in the 2023-2024 academic year.
With the modern biology and chemistry laboratory equipment provided to “Sami Frashëri” High School, from which important politicians, bureaucrats, artists, athletes and other notable figures of Albania graduated, there has been a significant improvement in the standards of the high school and the quality of education.
Over the past twelve years, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has successfully implemented 208 projects and activities in Tunisia spanning a diverse range of areas from education to healthcare, from agriculture and animal husbandry to administrative and civil infrastructure.
TİKA, which began its activities in the country in 2012 to carry out technical cooperation and development activities between the Republic of Türkiye and Tunisia and opened its Program Coordination Office in Tunisia in 2013, has implemented dozens of projects and activities across various regions of the country in the fields such as education and vocational training, healthcare, the development of administrative units, support for agriculture and animal husbandry, contributions to cultural life and emergency humanitarian aid.
Türkiye conveys its experience to Tunisia through TİKA
TİKA has carried out various projects to strengthen the administrative and civil infrastructure in Tunisia. Within this scope, a total of 600 motor vehicles were provided and delivered to local administrations and ministries. The vehicles include garbage trucks, street sweepers, tractors, combine harvesters, graders and fire trucks.
Within the Center of Innovation in Carpet and Weaving affiliated with the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts of Tunisia, the country’s first carpet maintenance and restoration center was established by installing machines manufactured in Türkiye.
As a result of cooperation with TAP News Agency, a fully-equipped TV studio was established within the agency.
The necessary technical equipment for digitizing manuscripts within the Laboratory for the Preservation of Manuscripts in Raqqada was provided.
The dining hall and bathrooms of the Hafsia Children’s Complex, which provides social and psychological support to children from low-income families in need of special care and support, were renovated.
As part of the “International Police Cooperation Project,” implemented in cooperation between TİKA and the Directorate General of Security of the Republic of Türkiye, technical courses were provided to 922 Tunisian police officers in Türkiye and Tunisia. These trainings are still ongoing.
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Projects
The necessary laboratory materials and equipment to establish the department of “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants” within the Manouba Professional Agricultural Training Center affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries of Tunisia were provided.
Within the project of Tunisia’s National Gene Bank aiming to identify local olive species in the country, measure their productivity and distribute olives to farmers by reproducing them, the necessary equipment and materials were provided by TİKA.
A tractor to support farmers whose source of income is agriculture and animal husbandry in Béni Khalled, the necessary equipment, and a total of 6,000 fig tree seedlings were distributed to 150 farmers who are members of the Al-Baraka cooperative.
Education Projects
TİKA, which implemented 25 education projects between 2012 and 2023, provided educational materials, equipment and stationery to a total of 12 schools in different regions of Tunisia.
Also supporting Turkish language learning in Tunisia, TİKA established Turkish Language and Multimedia Classes at the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of the University of Tunis in 2016, and at the Pilot High School of Sousse, Sadiki College established by Hayreddin Pasha and the School of Foreign Languages of the Tunisian Ministry of Defence in 2019.
The library of the University of Ez-Zitouna, one of the most long-established higher education institutions in Tunisia and the Islamic world, was supported with digital infrastructure.
The Monastir Science Palace, affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Tunisia was equipped with interactive kiosks, 3D models and appropriate software, and decorated to provide modern services.
Information technology classes were established at two training centers affiliated with the Tunisian Training Agency for Tourism Professions.
At the studio established within the National Children and Youth Informatics Center, trainings were provided to children and young people in the fields of photography, video recording and editing, short film shooting, press and communication.
Healthcare Projects
A fully-equipped ambulance was delivered to the Tunisian Ministry of Health as part of the fight against COVID-19.
Medical imagining system support was provided to the Abderrahmen Mami Pneumo-Phthisiology Hospital.
Vocational Training Projects
A laboratory was established at Sfax International Training School where 100 students can receive training on solar energy systems annually.
Diagnostic equipment necessary for repair of diesel engines and models for application were provided to the Jebeniana Vocational Training Center in the city of Sfax, and the quality of vocational training was enhanced.
Social Projects
Pedagogical materials necessary for psychomotor development, toys and equipment were provided to Local Korba Association for Disabled Individuals and the Nabil Assistance Association for Individuals with Intellectual Disability.
The bathroom and kitchen areas of the Orphanage of Diar Essebil Mother and Children Protection Association, which offers services to babies in need of care, were renovated, and brought up to modern standards.
Thanks to the pastry workshop established within the Education Center of Menzel Bouzelfa Assistance Association for Individuals with Intellectual Disability, individuals with mild intellectual disability will have the opportunity to participate in production and earn income by receiving vocational training.
Apart from contributing to the social and economic development of the country, TİKA’s projects in Tunisia hold a significant importance in terms of enhancing educational and vocational skills.
As part of the “Ramadan Programs,” Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) delivered approximately 30 tons of food aid to a total of 1,000 families across three different regions in the Sindh province of Pakistan.
Within the “Ramadan Programs,” which initiated with an iftar dinner for 1,000 people organized through cooperation between TİKA and Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal in the province of Sindh, at the first stage essential food packages were distributed to 300 families living in challenging conditions in the Surjani garbage dump area in Karachi, Pakistan.
On the second day of the food aid program, Ramadan packages were distributed in the Mehar district of Dadu, the city most affected by floods in 2022 in Pakistan, and a total of 700 families were reached across two different regions.
During the food package distribution organization held in cooperation between Bait-ul-Mal, Pakistan’s social welfare institution, and the Al-Khair Foundation, operating in the field of humanitarian aid, Pakistanis expressed their love for Türkiye by offering prayers for the country and the Turkish people.
The activities of TİKA, which contribute to experiencing the abundance of Ramadan and building bridges of brotherhood through the “Ramadan Programs” held in the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan on the occasion of Ramadan, will continue with iftar dinner programs and the distribution of Eid gift packages for orphans and disabled children throughout Ramadan.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has started to distribute food packages intended for 1,200 families in Mongolia, as part of its Ramadan program.
TİKA, which implemented nearly 900 projects in Mongolia across various fields such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, production, agriculture and animal husbandry, did not leave those in need alone this Ramadan.
The distribution of food packages which will reach a total of 1,200 families across the country has commenced in Ulaanbaatar. At the first stage, 600 food packages were delivered to people in need residing in the districts of Ulaanbaatar in cooperation with the Cooperation Association, the Domestic Violence Victim Children’s and Women’s Shelter affiliated with Minii Yörtönts Association, Narhan Child Protection Institute and the Personal Development Support Association.
Speaking at the food package distribution ceremony, the Ambassador to Ulaanbaatar, Zafer Ateş expressed, “Every year, during the month of Ramadan, TİKA implements food aid projects for families in need in collaboration with NGOs operating in this field. And today, we are here to distribute this food aid, one of the meaningful activities of TİKA. Mongolia is a friendly and brother country for us. TİKA has significantly contributed to the development and enhancement of relations between the two countries through its projects and activities in other fields.”
The President of the Domestic Violence Victim Children’s and Women’s Shelter, Nominhüü Bayanzul, stated, “First of all, I would like to congratulate the Turkish people on Eid al-Fitr. Since 2018, we have been delivering TİKA’s food aid to women and children victims of violence, to low-income families affiliated with our association, and have been sharing the happiness of these people. We would like to express our gratitude to the Turkish people and TİKA, who always support us and make this possible.”
TİKA continues to distribute food packages in the provinces of Khovd, Uvs, Khövsgöl and Bayan-Ölgii in Mongolia.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a recycling unit in Agadez, where environmental pollution is intense, enabling the reuse of accumulated plastic waste and glass bottles.
Within the project, one of the existing hangars of the Municipality of Agadez has been transformed into a recycling workshop. The workshop has been equipped with machines, devices and other consumables, and a 2-week training program has been conducted on the use of these devices.
Speaking at the delivery ceremony, the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Niamey, Özgür Çınar, expressed that the project complements the efforts of the Municipality of Agadez, and such projects contributing positively to the daily life of the people will continue.
The Mayor of Agadez, Abdourrahmane Aboubacar Touraoura stated that the equipment provided marks a significant step for the recycling initiative launched by the Municipality of Agadez, which will create job opportunities for a total of 4,500 people. He also expressed his gratitude to the brother Turkish nation.
Through the project, it is aimed to prevent the negative effects of environmental pollution, create new employment opportunities, transform the city into a clean and spacious place and contribute to the preservation of national wealth in Agadez. Agadez is not only one of the cultural capitals of Niamey but also one of the important centers of historical Turkish-African cooperation.
Within the “Ramadan Programs” organized by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), food packages consisting of basic necessities were delivered to 500 families in need residing in Lesotho, a country in Southern Africa.
Within the scope of the theme “Access to Safe Food in Lesotho,” organized by TİKA on the occasion of Ramadan, food packages containing basic necessities were delivered to 500 families in need residing in Mokhotlong, the mountainous region of the country where access to safe food is most challenging.
At the opening ceremony of the program held with the participation of the Deputy of the National Assembly of Lesotho, Bolala Khesa, Deputy Khesa said, “This aid provided by the generous Turkish nation holds significant meaning for us, the people of Lesotho. We are grateful to Türkiye and TİKA for their assistance”.
Being classified among the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Lesotho has been heavily affected by climate challenges caused by global warming, and economic vulnerabilities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic experienced globally. Highly affected by food security risks caused by the Russia-Ukraine War, Lesotho strives to mitigate these climatic, economic and humanitarian risks in the short and medium term.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) delivered food parcels to 1,000 families on the occasion of Ramadan to help the Ukrainian people.
While the effects of the war that started in 2022 continue to impact Ukraine, millions of Ukrainian people have been forced to leave their homelands and have faced many losses. Living conditions have become quite challenging for those who have lost their homes, lands, jobs and family bonds.
TİKA continues its support for the Ukrainian people through various projects and activities. With the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, TİKA delivered food parcels to a total of 1,000 families across Ukraine.
Through activities held in cooperation between the Kyiv Governorate, the Crimean National Welfare Fund, the Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea, the Gagauz Union of Ukraine, the Meskhetian Turks Association and TİKA, food parcels were delivered to the Crimean Tatars, Gagauz and Meskhetian Turks living in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Lutsk, Vinnytsia, Sumy, Poltava, as well as to families in need in the Bucha region of Kyiv, which suffered great damage during the siege.
The Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov and the National Leader of the Crimean Tatar People, Mustafa Abdülcemil Kırımoğlu expressed their thoughts regarding the aid, and emphasized that TİKA’s support for their Muslim brothers carries profound spiritual meaning.
Mykyta Herashchenko, the Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Kyiv Regional Governorate, expressed gratitude for the heartfelt support of the Turkish nation.
Denys Gaydarlı, the Representative of the Gagauz Union of Ukraine, highlighted the importance of the support, benefiting also the Gagauz living in the Odesa region, and extended appreciation to Türkiye and TİKA.
Within the “Ramadan Programs” organized by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), 3,000 food parcels totaling nearly 36 tons in weight were distributed to families in need across 50 villages in North Macedonia.
As part of TİKA’s “Ramadan Programs” and in cooperation with the Union of Turkic Non-Governmental Organizations of Macedonia (MATÜSİTEB), the umbrella organization of 52 Turkish associations operating in North Macedonia, and local NGOs, a total of 3,000 food parcels were delivered. These packages were distributed to our compatriots and families in need residing in 50 villages located in rural areas of North Macedonia within the borders of Karbinci, Štip, Veles, Lozovo, Strumica, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Gostivar, Kičevo, Struga, Pehčevo, Tetovo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Studeničani and Skopje municipalities.
Through the distribution of food parcels in North Macedonia on the occasion of Ramadan, the abundance of this holy month was shared with low-income families and those in need who earn their living from agriculture and animal husbandry in rural areas. The food parcels, containing essential food items, also serve as a gift and a greeting of Türkiye to those in need residing in different regions across North Macedonia.
