With support from Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the “5th International Cultural Polyphonics: Turkish Language, Culture and Civilization Worldwide Conference” took place at Ovidius University Of Constanta in Romania.
The conference, organized with contributions of the Romanian Democratic Turkish Union (RDTB), was completed in 5 sessions and attended by 70 scientists from 7 countries.
The opening of the conference in Constanta was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Bucharest, Özgür Kıvanç Altan; TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Mahmut Çevik; Türkiye’s Consul General in Constanta, Emre Yurdakul; TİKA’s Coordinator in Romania, Hasan Burak Ceran; Embassy of Bucharest Education Counsellor, Prof. Dr. Serpil Murtezaoğlu; Mufti of Romania, Yusuf Murat; Vice Governor of Constanta, Şenol Ali; Yunus Emre Institute’s Coordinator in Romania, Mustafa Yıldız; Turkish Maarif Foundation’ Representative in Romania, Alpaslan Ateş; President of RDTB, Osman Fedbi; Lecturer in ODTU (Middle East Technical University), Dr. Ömer Turan; Lecturer in the University of Bucharest, Prof. Dr. Liviu Franga; Dean of Faculty of Literature, Prof. Dr. Alina Buzatu; Rector of Ovidius University, Prof. Dr. Dan Marcel Iliescu, lecturers, students, and many cognates.
In his speech during the opening, Ambassador Altan emphasized that the conference is of extra importance because it is taking place on the 100th anniversary of the republic, and he spoke about the attention the Turkish language gets.
TİKA’s Vice President, Çevik, stated that the program, in which scientific approaches about Türkiye and the Balkans in the last century to be expressed, will be eye-opening and guiding and will help people to comprehend clearer the relationship between the Balkans and Türkiye built with unbreakable bonds.
Stating that interactions between Turkish and Balkan languages inspected in many scientific works, Çevik said that in these scientific works, they observed that there are 3 thousand Turkish words in Greek, 9 thousand in Serbian, and 5 thousand in Bulgarian and that one in three words in Albanian is of Turkish origin.
Çevik stated that the contribution of the Balkans to Turkish culture and civilization, as it reached its peak, cannot be ignored, and it achieved an astonishing specialty as it traveled from Central Asia with its local elements, Islamic values, and beliefs, along with Western influences. Çevik also said that the matter of Turkish language, culture and civilization is of global importance.
After that, a Turkish Day was organized under the auspices of the Consulate General in Constanta, hosted by Ovidius University. During the event, TİKA’s Office in Bucharest, Yunus Emre Institute, Maarif School, RDTB, and the Democratic Union of Turkish-Muslim Tatars of Romania organized several activities.
With the cooperation of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Hands Giving Lives Foundation, health screenings in various branches at TİKA Health Center in Adjohoun, Benin.
TİKA continues its activities, which have the aim of increasing the capacity of health care in the continent of Africa, doing the necessary health operations voluntarily, transferring information to the local health care workers, teaching the new techniques used in the field of health, and developing the friendly relations between the countries.
Within this scope, with the cooperation of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Hands Giving Lives Foundation, general examinations and treatments in the fields of “Gynecology and Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Urology, and Oral and Dental Health” took place at TİKA Health Center, which is in Adjohoun town, a district of Porto Novo, capital of Benin.
During the 5-day health screening, 230 patients in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic, 230 patients in the Paediatrics Polyclinic, 186 patients in the Dental Polyclinic, and 6 patients in the Urology Polyclinic were given treatment. 333 children underwent circumcision, and 49 patients were given laboratory services. In total, 1039 people were provided with health care services. The medical interventions were done in cooperation with the local doctors and with information transfer. Healthcare workers from Benin were given training in laboratory examinations and oral and dental health.
Local authorities thanked Hands Giving Lives Foundation and TİKA for their contribution to the organizations in the region.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided 50 farmers who live in Dragash, located in the south of Kosovo, with machines used in milk production.
The distribution ceremony was attended by TİKA’s Coordinator in Pristina, Fulya Aslan, Turkish soldiers serving in the region within NATO’s Kosovo Peacekeeping Force (KFOR), representatives of the Kosovo Association of Milk Producers and milk producers.
TİKA Coordinator Aslan stated that they distributed milking machines, milk-carrying containers, and hygiene supply kits to 50 farmers within the scope of the project.
Stating that the agency has been carrying out many projects to support agriculture and livestock in Kosovo since 2004, Aslan said:
“Within the scope of the project, our goal is to enable our milk-producing farmers to produce under sanitary conditions, to increase the quality of milk production, and to ensure food safety. Also, we will enable the income of milk producers to increase. After our distribution here today, training will be provided to our farmers by the Kosovo Association of Milk Producers as well. With the provided training, our goal is to maximize the benefit we will get from this project.”
The farmers who received the machines thanked the people of Türkiye and TİKA.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) renewed the desolate conference hall of Şehit Müftü Hasan Halid Public High School in Beirut, turning it into a conference hall with a 100-person capacity.
The school was built in 1888, during the reign of Abdülhamid II, under the name of Askeri Rüştiye Mektebi (Military Middle School). It has been serving as an educational establishment for many years. The desolate conference hall of the school, which is active under the name of Şehit Müftü Hasan Halid Public High School today, was renewed by TİKA.
“100th Anniversary Conference Hall”
After the renovation process of the construction, considered one of the best examples of Turkish-Levant architecture, was completed, the hall was named “100th Anniversary Conference Hall” as a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.
Contributions were made to the project in memory of famous people who had graduated from this school and had important roles in political and cultural life in Lebanon as well.
A solar energy system was installed in the school to enable it to produce its own electricity. Also, a school canteen was formed to contribute to the students and school administration.
With the cooperation of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and Podujevo Municipality, rotary tillers (rotavator) were provided to 50 farmers in the town of Podujevo, located in the northeast of Kosovo.
The opening ceremony, which took place in the area owned by the Podujevo Municipality, was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pristina, Sabri Tunç Angılı; TİKA’s Coordinator in Pristina, Fulya Aslan; Mayor of Podujevo, Shpejtim Bulliqi and the farmers.
In his speech during the ceremony, Ambassador Angılı stated that the farmers from Podujevo can fulfill the goal of increasing the export of agricultural products to Türkiye with their new equipment.
Stating that the project, carried out by co-financing, is an example of meeting the farmers’ needs, Angılı said: “God willing, this project will contribute to increasing your production and developing Kosovo’s economy.”
Mayor Bulliqi notified that the municipality will make more investments according to the farmers’ needs, directly or through the support of donators.
Upon receiving the machines, the farmers thanked the people of Türkiye and TİKA.
Within the scope of the “Supporting the Farmers on Podujevo Municipality” project, the distribution of the 50 rotary tillers (rotavators) aims at modernizing agricultural production technology, decreasing the cost of production, enlarging cultivated fields, and increasing production and employment.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) inaugurated the gastronomy laboratory and house for mothers and children exposed to violence in Constanța, a city in Romania.
TİKA held the opening ceremony of the gastronomy laboratory at Gheorghe Miron Costin Technology High School, which is in Constanța.
The opening ceremony was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Bucharest, Özgür Kıvanç Altan; TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Mahmut Çevik; Türkiye’s Consul General to Constanța, Emre Yurdakul; TİKA’s Coordinator in Romania, Hasan Burak Ceran; Mufti of the Romanian Muslim Community, Yusuf Murat; Vice Governor of Constanța, Şenol Ali; President of Democratic Turkish Union of Romania, Fedbi Osman; and President of Democratic Union of Turkic-Muslim Tatars of Romania, Celil Eserghep as well as many cognate and Romanian students.
In his speech during the opening, Ambassador Altan stated that seeing the crowd of young people made him excited and hopeful of Türkiye and Romania’s friendship.
Altan thanked TİKA, who carried out the gastronomy laboratory project, and Romanian authorities who supported this project.
TİKA’s 169th Project in Romania
In his speech, TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Mahmut Çevik, stated that they have been carrying out their projects and activities in every sector for 8 years with permission given by the state of Romania.
Stating that this is the 169th project in Romania, Çevik said that this is the first time they carried out a project like this in the field of gastronomy.
Stating that the industrial and modern equipment in the school will allow the students to study in better conditions, Çevik also said that with the “Turkish Cuisine Week”, which was organized in Romania this year under the patronage of distinguished Madam Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Hatay cuisine was promoted and the process, which started with the training given by the instructors, inspired a project like this to be carried out.
Also stating that culinary education will be given with industrial kitchen equipment and modern conditions and standards, Çevik said: “Gastronomy is a branch of science which studies cultures’ diet as well, and countries’ food, agriculture, economy, culture, and philosophy are directly related to gastronomy. This laboratory will develop our students’ analytical thinking as well. Culinary is a form of art; by enabling the equivalent schools in our country to cooperate, we will contribute to the comprise of new projects.”
After the ribbon cutting, 17 students who studied in the gastronomy laboratory and 6 teachers were presented with their diplomas.
House for Mothers and Children Who Are Exposed to Violence
Afterwards, the committee inaugurated the “House for Mothers and Children Who Are Exposed to Violence”, which was renewed in cooperation with Constanța Directorate of Social Services and Child Protection.
After the inauguration of the center, which is home to 31 children, TİKA’s Vice President Çevik stated in his speech that this project is a social project and the aim is to enable the children to be brought up in better physical conditions and their capacity to be increased.
Ambassador Altan stated that this year is important because it is the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye and the 145th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Türkiye-Romania.
Altan stated that during each one of these 145 years, the mutual relation of friendship and cooperation has developed.
General Director of Social Services and Child Protection of Constanța, Danila George, emphasized that there is a proverb in Romania that goes: “A friend in need is a friend indeed”.
George said “It does not matter where you are born in, what your social status is, people create bonds of friendship between themselves, and the evidence of the friendship can be seen here today.”
After the opening ceremony, gift packs were distributed to the children.
2 healthcare centers, which were built in Natore, a city in Bangladesh, and given equipment support by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), were put into service with the organized ceremonies.
The opening ceremonies were organized in the villages of Chattardighi and Kalam, in the Singra province of the city Natore, which is 5 hours away from the capital city, Dacca, on the land route. The healthcare centers will meet the needs of approximately 40,000 local people living on agriculture and livestock, and struggling against poverty.
The opening ceremonies were attended by the People's Republic of Bangladesh Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Authorities from TİKA Bangladesh Program Coordination Office, authorities from the Ministry, and health officers of the city and province.
In his speech, TİKA’s Program Coordinator in Dacca, Şevki Mert Barış, gave information about TİKA and examples of the organization’s activities in all regions of Bangladesh. Expressing his gratitude for the help Bangladesh provided during the period of earthquakes that took place in Türkiye in February, Barış stated that the 18 healthcare centers TİKA has built since 2014 are a sign of the friendship between Türkiye – Bangladesh. He mentioned that TİKA will continue to support Bangladesh in the future.
Minister Palak, who spoke during both ceremonies, stated that the health support provided by TİKA to this region, which has inefficient transport facilities, is very valuable for the people of Bangladesh. Emphasizing that a friend in need is a friend indeed, Palak expressed his gratitude to the people of Türkiye for supporting Bangladesh from the start in solving the Rohingya Crisis and to Emine Erdoğan, who came to the region when the crisis started. Sending his message of condolences for those who lost their lives during the earthquakes that took place in Türkiye this year, Palak reminded the audience that they shared the sorrow of the Turkish nation by sending 10,000 tents as the state in addition to the aid given by the people of Bangladesh.
Even though Bangladesh has leapt forward significantly in the health field, the health sector still suffers from serious setbacks because of the crowded population and limited economic possibilities of the country. Being one of the countries with the highest population density in the world, with a population of nearly 170 million, Bangladesh is a country with a high infant mortality rate, according to the United Nations data. Underbudget healthcare and the lack of several qualified healthcare workers restrain the people of Bangladesh from considerably benefitting from healthcare services.
Within the scope of the “Asia Anew Initiative”, which was started in 2019 in Turkish foreign affairs policy, the TİKA committee made working visits to Laos and Cambodia to review the projects planned and carried on by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
Within the scope of the visit in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, the TİKA committee viewed the projects TİKA carried out in the country on the spot and made several contacts. With the participation of the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Vientiane, Orhan Işık, the committee discussed possible fields of cooperation with the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos, Dr. Phet Phomphiphak, President of Lao Women's Union, Inlavanh Keobounphanh, and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative, Dr. Bakhtiyor Kadyrov.
Also, the TİKA committee discussed the possibility of new cooperation projects with the Rector of the National University of Laos, Dr. Oudom Phonekhampheng, authorities of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Mittaphab Hospital, Lao Disabled Womens Development Center, Islamic Union of Laos and The Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE).
The committee joined the Development Partners Consultative Forum, organized by the United Nations (UN) in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, and made a presentation about the projects and activities of TİKA on a global scale and in the region. The program, in which examples of the projects TİKA carried out in Cambodia were included, was attended by resident representatives of the United Nations (UN), International Labour Organization (ILO), The International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO) Embassy vice chiefs of mission, and development cooperation organizations’ country representatives in Thailand, Sweden, Japan, France, Czechia, Australia, Switzerland, and USA.
The operating room, installed and equipped with modern equipment by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) within the National Institute of Child Health, the largest child hospital in Pakistan and the only child hospital in Sindh province, was put into service.
Government of Sindh’s Minister of Health, Dr. Saad Khalid Niaz; Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Mehmet Paçacı; Republic of Türkiye’s Consul General to Karachi, Cemal Sangu and TİKA’s Coordinator in Karachi, Halil İbrahim Başaran attended the opening ceremony of the operating room.
In his speech during the ceremony, the Government of Sindh’s Minister of Health, Niaz, thanked TİKA for its steady activities towards developing the health sector of Sindh province, the capital of which is Karachi.
Emphasizing the long-lasting friendship between the two countries, Ambassador Paçacı stated that both countries showed each other “unwavering support” during hard times.
Mentioning that he appreciates TİKA's activities in over 150 countries, Paçacı stated that projects also carried out by the Turkish Maarif Foundation and Yunus Emre Institute are strengthening the relationship with Pakistan.
After the speeches, the operating room installed by TİKA was put into service, with Minister Niaz and Ambassador Paçacı cutting the ribbon.
After the opening, Minister Niaz and Ambassador Paçacı visited the intensive care unit with the accompanying committee and distributed the gifts that were prepared by TİKA to the children.
About TİKA’s Health Projects
With its offices in Islamabad and Karachi, TİKA has carried out over 80 health projects all across Pakistan since 2010. With the projects for the treatment of diseases such as thalassemia, cataracts, and cleft lip and cleft palate, TİKA carried out 7 important health projects in Sindh province. The latest project, which took place this year, was carried out in cooperation with Koohi Goth Women Hospital, and TİKA provided training in the field of newborn hearing screening to 100 healthcare workers. TİKA also provided newborn hearing screening equipment to 5 hospitals in Karachi and Hyderabad.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed fruit seedlings to 98 schools in Embu and Meru counties of Kenya.
The population in Embu and Meru counties of Kenya is over 1.5 million, and they are facing difficulties such as drought and poverty. Agriculture is the essential livelihood of the people in these regions.
Within the scope of the “Fruit Gardening for Amplified School Meals Project” carried out by TİKA in these counties, fruit seedlings were distributed to 98 schools, in which 40,000 students are receiving education. Seedlings of fruits such as avocado, citrus, papaya, passion fruit, mango, and macadamia nuts were delivered to authorities to be planted.
Within the scope of the project carried out with the cooperation of TİKA and Mama Doing Good Organisation, founded by Rachel Ruto, wife of the President of Kenya, 22,800 fruit seedlings were distributed in total.
The project aims to amplify the students' school meals by enabling schools to produce fruits and increase their income by selling extra products.
The opening ceremony, which took place at Rukira Elementary School, was attended by Vice Governor of Embu, Kinyua Mugo; TİKA’s Coordinator in Nairobi, Yasemin Cansuz Kurt; CEO of Mama Doing Good Organisation, John Chumo; representatives of national ministries and establishments in Embu, and teachers and students of cooperating schools.
Teachers stated that projects that support school meals such as this are increasing the attendance rate of the students.
In her opening speech, TİKA’s Coordinator in Nairobi, Kurt, gave information about TİKA’s projects in Embu and all across Kenya.
During the opening, which received great interest from the local and national press, a puppet show which aimed to raise awareness of the environment was demonstrated to the students.
Political representatives, who were present at the opening thanks to TİKA’s project, committed to supporting the schools' agriculture and farming clubs.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) renewed the classrooms and offices of the academic staff at Szeged University – Altaic Studies in Hungary.
The classrooms and offices of the academic staff at Szeged University – Altaic Studies, home to the second oldest Turkic Studies department in Hungary and one of the few Turkic Studies departments in the world, were renewed by TİKA. The renewed classrooms and offices within the project will enable the improvement of the department's educational activities.
Many Turkologists received education in this department, which has been home to Turkic Studies for 130 years.
A ceremony was held for the project opening and attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Budapest, Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, Vice-Rector of the University, Prof. Péter Zakar, and Head of Department, Prof. Dr. Sándor Papp, as well as authorities from Diplomatic Mission of TRNC, Turkish Embassy in Budapest, Organization of Turkic States, and Azerbaijan’s Embassy.
“100th Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye: Atatürk’s Era Symposium”
Within the scope of the program, the proceedings book, the “100th Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye: Atatürk’s Era Symposium”, which was organized by TİKA on May 10, 2023, was promoted as well. The proceedings book of the symposium, which took place in Budapest Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), was also published by TİKA.
The book, published as a gift for the 100th anniversary of the republic, has statements from Turkish and Hungarian historians in it. That the book will be an essential reference for those working in this field is predicted.The book also has a statement from the recently deceased, distinguished Turkologist, Hungary’s former Ambassador to Ankara and Hungary’s Representative in the Organization of Turkic States, Janos Hovari.
Continuing to support works on the Turkish language and history in Hungary, TİKA also had renewed the Turkic Studies classroom at ELTE University, home to the oldest Turkic Studies department in the world, in 2022.
40 women from Chad were provided with consumables used in soap and cosmetics production by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
TİKA works towards increasing income and employment in Chad through its projects on vocational training.
A vocational training project oriented for 40 women from Chad was carried out to solve the unemployment issue Chad faces and economically empower women, who are one of the disadvantageous groups in Africa.
With this project, the participants were given vocational training in soap and cosmetics production. Also, pieces of training that intend to improve women entrepreneurs’ skills in production, marketing and entrepreneurship were organized.
The participants were presented with their certificates after the pieces of training was completed.
During the certificate ceremony, all the female participants were provided with the necessary products and consumables to start their own businesses.
