Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a biochemistry laboratory at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Sarajevo.
The faculty educates more than 1,000 students annually across seven different programs. With the addition of the new biochemistry laboratory, it has expanded its capacity for hands-on education and accelerated its academic activities, particularly for graduate programs.
TİKA’s President, Serkan Kayalar; Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sarajevo, Arzija Pašalić; TİKA’s Coordinator in Sarajevo, Erdinç Işık; along with university faculty members and students, attended the opening ceremony held on the faculty’s campus in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In his speech, Kayalar emphasized that the University of Sarajevo is one of the country’s most established educational institutions, and that among its distinguished alumni is the first President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegović.
Noting that TİKA has been implementing projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 30 years, Kayalar said “I hope this project will be beneficial for our professors and students. We are confident that with the addition of the biochemistry laboratory—which will contribute to the biological analysis and interpretation of tests in the diagnosis and treatment processes—our brothers and sisters graduating from here will make significant contributions that touch human lives.”
After inaugurating the laboratory, Kayalar spent time speaking with the students studying there and received information about their education.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a physical therapy and rehabilitation center at the Sarajevo Social and Health Care Accommodation Center for Persons with Disabilities and Other Persons, located in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
With the support provided to the center, which operates under the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Labor, Social Policy, Displaced Persons and Refugees, and hosts approximately 180 mentally and physically disabled adults, the rehabilitation opportunities for elderly individuals, and those with special needs have been significantly enhanced.
The center offers services across five different areas: the paraplegic section, palliative care section, dementia section, and mobile sections for men and women. Thanks to the furnishing and equipment support provided by TİKA, the center has become the health institution with the most comprehensive physical therapy and rehabilitation facilities in Sarajevo Canton.
An opening ceremony was held
The physical therapy and rehabilitation center was inaugurated with the participation of Serkan Kayalar, TİKA’s President; and Miralem Dedović, Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Policy, Displaced Persons, and Refugees of Sarajevo Canton.
Speaking at the ceremony, TİKA President Serkan Kayalar emphasized that anyone may find themselves in need of care at some point in their lives due to illness or old age, and expressed his gratitude to the healthcare personnel working with great dedication in these institutions.
Kayalar expressed his satisfaction with the improvement in the quality of physical therapy and rehabilitation services at the center, made possible through TİKA’s support.
Following the opening ceremony, Kayalar spoke with individuals receiving treatment at the center and exchanged Eid al-Fitr greetings with the residents.
As part of the “Emergency and Disaster Response Training Program (ADAMEP)” carried out by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), advanced “Urban Search and Rescue Training” programs for Moldovan National Search and Rescue personnel are ongoing.
Moldovan experts, who received basic-level training during the first phase held from 21 to 25 October 2024, participated in the advanced “Urban Search and Rescue Training” organized between 24 and 28 March 2025.
The training sessions were conducted by five expert trainers from the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), in cooperation with TİKA and the Moldovan General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU).
The program, attended by 30 experts from the Moldovan National Search and Rescue team, aimed to enhance the teams’ knowledge and skills.
Certificate ceremony organized
The certificate ceremony held at the end of the training sessions was attended by Alexandru Oprea, Director General of the Moldovan General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations; Gözde Dilektaşlı, First Türkiye’s Secretary of the Embassy in Chișinău; Ali Abbas Eyüpoğlu, Interior Counselor; and Tarık Mete, TİKA’s Program Coordinator in Chișinău.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director General Oprea thanked the Republic of Türkiye, TİKA, and AFAD, saying: “Thanks to these training programs, we are gaining valuable experience from highly qualified Turkish experts. We place great importance on experience sharing and hope that this cooperation will continue for many years to come.”
Noting that Moldova is in the process of obtaining international certification for its National Search and Rescue team, Oprea emphasized that such training programs make a significant contribution to the process.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Chișinău Tarık Mete stated that sharing Türkiye’s experience in disaster and emergency management with friendly and brotherly countries is among TİKA’s priorities. He added, “We are planning to organize additional training programs in this field in the coming period.”
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to the participants.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) delivered live broadcast vehicles equipped with modern technology to the Tuzla Canton Radio Television Institution and BİR TV, part of the Media Center of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
TİKA, which carried out dozens of projects over the years in capacity building, training, and experience sharing for the media sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, supported Tuzla Canton Radio Television Institution—one of the country’s most-watched media organizations—and the Media Center of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. With this initiative, both institutions are now equipped with modern live broadcast vehicles, enabling them to deliver real-time, high-resolution broadcasts directly from the field.
TİKA’s President, Serkan Kayalar; Türkiye’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sadık Babür Girgin; President of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein ef. Kavazović; TİKA’s Coordinator in Sarajevo, Erdinç Işık; Tuzla Canton Radio and Television Director, Eldar Ibrišimović; Director of the Media Center of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Muamer Tinjak, and other officials attended the ceremony.
TİKA’s President Serkan Kayalar, speaking at the delivery ceremony of the live broadcast vehicles, expressed his satisfaction with the realization of this project, which will contribute concretely to the further development of the media sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kayalar emphasized that TİKA places great importance on the media sector and affirmed that TİKA will continue to support media projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the future.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed food packages to 6,600 families in need as part of its Ramadan program across Palestine. In addition, food support was provided to soup kitchens, nursing homes, and orphanages.
While technical development projects implemented by TİKA continue in Palestine, where unemployment and poverty rates have reached historic levels following the Gaza war, humanitarian aid for the month of Ramadan is also being delivered to those in need.
As part of the 17 projects and activities planned for the 2025 Palestine Ramadan Program, TİKA Ramadan Kitchen established in Gaza continues to distribute iftar meals throughout the month of Ramadan. Food packages were also provided to 2,500 families living in tents in the central and northern regions of Gaza.
In total, 4,100 families received support, including those in refugee camps, Bedouin communities, Palestinian Turkmens, and individuals with disabilities. The program, which covers a wide area including the West Bank cities of Jericho, Nablus, Hebron, and Jenin, continues to provide essential aid.
Soup kitchens were not forgotten
TİKA did not forget the soup kitchens, which are an integral part of the region’s historical and cultural heritage. Basic food supplies were provided to the Prophet Abraham Sufi Lodge Soup Kitchen in Hebron, the Haseki Sultan Soup Kitchen in Jerusalem—serving for 500 years—, the Abu Ayyub al-Ansari Soup Kitchen, and the Prophet Noah Sufi Lodge Soup Kitchen in South Hebron, enabling them to prepare iftar meals. In addition, aid was provided to the nursing home in Jenin and the kitchen of the Kufr Nima Children’s Association, which serves orphans.
As part of the TİKA 2025 Ramadan program, a total of over 100 tons (6,600 packages) of food were distributed across Palestine. Moreover, the food provided to soup kitchens, nursing homes, and other facilities will help distribute approximately 120,000 iftar meals by the end of Ramadan.
TİKA continues its efforts to ensure that the Palestinian people can observe the month of Ramadan in peace.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) supported the “Joint Iftar and Solidarity Day with Orphans” program in Ghana during Ramadan, uniting Turkish citizens and orphans in a spirit of togetherness.
Ghana, a West African nation with a population of 36 million, has a significant Muslim community and is home to many active Turkish citizens and institutions. In this context, TİKA, in collaboration with the Turkish Embassy in Accra and the Ghana Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Foundation, organized an iftar program under the theme “Joint Iftar and Solidarity Day with Orphans”.
Approximately 1,000 people, including Turkish citizens residing in Ghana, Ghanaian stakeholders of Turkish missions, officials from the Ghana Presidency of Religious Affairs, and orphans, attended the program. The event was hosted at the Ghana National Mosque, which was built by the Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Foundation.
During the program, Turkish Ambassador to Accra, Hüseyin Güngör; TİKA’s Deputy Coordinator in Niamey, Serdar Uyan; and Remzi Şeker from the Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Foundation delivered speeches, sharing their heartfelt wishes for the month of Ramadan.
Through this meaningful initiative, TİKA extended its support to both the Turkish community in Ghana and the local population, fostering a spirit of unity and solidarity in West Africa.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided food assistance to disadvantaged families and the Muslim minority in Mexico. Similar humanitarian aid efforts were also carried out in Guatemala, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic during the month of Ramadan.
As part of its Ramadan initiatives, TİKA distributed food packages to the Muslim minority and families in need living in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.
As part of the program implemented by TİKA, food packages were distributed to 300 families living in the municipalities of Iztapalapa, Gustavo A. Madero, and Azcapotzalco. Additionally, gift packages containing stationery supplies were provided to 100 children in the region.
The distribution ceremony was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Mexico, Murat Salim Esenli; TİKA’s Coordinator in Mexico, Fatih Abdi Çetin; local Muslim community leaders, and approximately 300 beneficiary families.
In his speech, Ambassador Esenli expressed his hope that the month of Ramadan would bring peace and well-being to Mexico and the world.
Food parcels delivered to those in need in San Cristóbal de las Casas
TİKA extended its Ramadan aid beyond Mexico City, reaching the Muslim community in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas.
In this region, food parcels were distributed to those in need, along with special Ramadan packages prepared for children.
Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to solidarity during Ramadan, TİKA carried out similar humanitarian aid efforts not only in Mexico but also in Guatemala, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic throughout the holy month in 2025.
As part of its Ramadan program, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed specially prepared food packages to 750 families in need across five major cities in Kazakhstan.
The aid was delivered to families in the capital, Astana; Aktau in the far west of the country; Almaty, the former capital; Turkistan, the spiritual capital of the Turkic world; and Shymkent.
The distributions in Astana were carried out in cooperation with the Can Yuva Family Center, an institution affiliated with the Astana Governorship that provides support to disabled children, orphans, and low-income families. In Aktau, located in the western part of the country, the aid was delivered to families in need through the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Aktau.
The aid distribution in Almaty was organized through two separate collaborations. In addition to the distribution coordinated by the Almaty Consulate General, assistance was also provided to those in need in partnership with the Ahıska Association and the TİKA’s Liaison Office in Almaty.
In Turkistan, recognized as the spiritual capital of the Turkic World, support was extended to both families and students in need through cooperation with Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University. Meanwhile, in Shymkent, the aid efforts were carried out with contributions from the Ihlas Foundation.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), in collaboration with the Turkish Maarif Foundation’s Togo Representative Office, organized an iftar program to bring the joy of Ramadan to orphaned children in Togo.
In Togo, a West African country where a significant portion of the population is Muslim, Ramadan events serve as essential gatherings that foster social solidarity. Orphaned children, in particular, eagerly anticipate these events, as they provide a sense of belonging and joy through shared experiences of unity and support.
As part of this initiative, TİKA organized a “Joint Iftar and Solidarity Program with Orphans” in the capital, Lomé, in cooperation with the Turkish Maarif Foundation’s Togo Representative Office. The event, held at the Maarif Foundation Togo Schools campus, brought together more than 500 attendees, including Turkish citizens in Togo, local partners of Turkish institutions, senior Togolese officials, and many orphaned children.
To ensure the children had an enjoyable experience, special playgrounds were set up for them to have fun.
In an atmosphere of unity and solidarity that embodied the spirit of Ramadan, Muteber Kılıç, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Lomé; Hasan Taşçı, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Turkish Maarif Foundation; and Serdar Uyan, TİKA’s Deputy Coordinator in Niamey, shared their Ramadan greetings with the participants and expressed their hopes for stronger Türkiye-Togo relations.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) launched an important project to increase access to psychological counseling services in Mongolia. The first Psychological Counseling Center, which aims to set an example in the country, has been established at Otgontenger University in the capital, Ulaanbaatar in cooperation with the Mongolian Psychologists Association.
The newly established center is designed to support the applied education of psychology students while strengthening the mental health of both academics and the general public by offering individual and group counseling services.
This project, implemented with the support of TİKA, aims not only to provide counseling services but also to contribute to the training of qualified human resources in the field of psychology in Mongolia. The project is expected to help prevent mental illnesses, reduce suicide rates, and promote a culture of psychological support within society.
Equipped to international standards, the center offers the necessary infrastructure for professionals working in the field of psychology to continue their work. It will provide services for students and academic staff, as well as for all individuals in need of psychological support.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided food aid to those in need in Colombia during the month of Ramadan.
As part of its Ramadan program in and around the capital, Bogotá, TİKA distributed food packages to a total of 500 families. The aid was delivered at key locations, including the Córdoba Mosque, the Istanbul Mosque, and the Abou Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque.
During the distributions, Muslim community leaders and beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to TİKA, emphasizing that Türkiye’s support reassured them that they were not alone.
TİKA’s efforts in Colombia extend beyond Ramadan aid. In recent years, the walls and ceilings of the Abou Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in Bogotá have been adorned with traditional Turkish designs, and parts of the mosque have been renovated to provide a cleaner and more comfortable prayer environment.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed 3,500 food parcels to families in need across Bangladesh as part of its aid programs during the month of Ramadan.
The assistance was provided to low-income families, students in orphanages, individuals with disabilities, and Rohingya Muslim refugees.
The distribution of food parcels took place in various regions of Bangladesh, including Khulna, Pabna, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Koira, Feni, Rangpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka, Saidpur, Nilfamari, Narsingdi, Srimangal, and Bhola. Local politicians, municipal authorities, and civil society organizations attended the distribution ceremonies of the 3,500 parcels in total.
During Ramadan, TİKA also continued to distribute hot iftar meals to refugees living in camps in Cox’s Bazar, who had been displaced due to the civil war and acts of violence in Myanmar.
