The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has renovated the dialysis center at Bokhtar Central Hospital, which serves a population of 3.5 million in the Hatlon Region.
Within the scope of the project, new dialysis machines were provided, and a modern water purification system was installed at the center, which had long been out of service due to a lack of equipment. The opening ceremony was attended by Gafur Muhsinzoda, First Deputy Minister of Health of Tajikistan, Anzurat Abdusalomzoda, Deputy Governor of Hatlon, and İbrahim Ethem Ünal, TİKA’s Dushanbe Coordinator.
Due to transportation difficulties caused by Tajikistan’s geographical conditions, patients seeking dialysis treatment had long been forced to travel to Dushanbe. However, thanks to the renovated center, patients will now be able to access these services within their own region. The center will be able to respond not only to the needs of chronic kidney patients but also to cases of acute kidney failure, birth complications, and poisoning.
Aiming to reinforce the healthcare infrastructure of Hatlon and enhance the quality of patient care, the project also strives to upgrade general healthcare standards. Thanks to the newly operational center, dialysis patients can now receive treatment in a secure and modern facility without facing exhausting journeys.
In cooperation with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Hands Giving Lives Association, a wide range of healthcare services, from outpatient consultations to surgical operations, was provided at Mnazi Mmoja and Kiwunge Hospitals in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
During the healthcare organization carried out with the participation of a volunteer medical team, approximately 200 patients underwent surgical procedures in the fields of ophthalmology, gynecology, gynecologic oncology, urology, and general surgery.
As part of the organization, medical interventions were carried out in cooperation with local healthcare workers.
The volunteer academic staff provided training in relevant fields, contributing to strengthening local capacity. After evaluating the patients’ conditions and providing necessary information, the organization was completed.
Local authorities expressed their gratitude to the Hands Giving Lives Association and TİKA for their contributions to the activities carried out in the region.
With the support of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the OECD Urban Development Days were held in Paris, brought together global leaders with a vision for sustainable cities.
More than 150 mayors, urban planning experts, and innovators participated in the event, where the future of cities was discussed in line with the principles of inclusivity, circularity, and resilience.
During the event, OECD’s latest data was shared with the public, and key topics such as the construction of livable cities, solutions to the housing crisis, efficient resource use, resilient structures against climate change, and development goals beyond 2030 were discussed.
Participants exchanged ideas on innovative solutions to make cities more inclusive and sustainable, while emphasizing the importance of international cooperation.
At the conclusion of the three-day event, the “Resilience for Cities and Regions” action call was published, emphasizing the will of local and regional actors to unlock the potential of cities by working together with the public, private sector, and civil society. It was highlighted that local solutions must be developed in areas such as digital and green transformation, climate change mitigation, housing issues, water management, and regional inequalities.
Additionally, it was stated that concrete steps must be taken regarding multi-level governance, inclusive services, the use of digital tools, and alternative financing models, while calling on the OECD to contribute to this process with its information and analysis support.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided digital archiving equipment to the Institute for the Development of the Crimean Tatar Language, established under the Crimean Tatar National Assembly.
In February 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted the “Strategy for the Development and Dissemination of the Crimean Tatar Language 2022–2032”. To implement this strategy, the Institute for the Development of the Crimean Tatar Language was founded in 2023. The Institute conducts research and leads efforts to preserve, develop, and promote the social, structural, historical, and cultural dimensions of the Crimean Tatar language.
To support these efforts effectively, TİKA provided technical assistance to the Institute to help preserve the Crimean Tatar language, which is classified as “Seriously Endangered” by UNESCO. With the book and document scanning equipment supplied by TİKA, the Institute’s digital archive infrastructure was significantly strengthened.
This support made it possible to digitize and archive scientific, educational, literary, and media works written in the Crimean Tatar language. The aim is to preserve the written heritage of the language, pass it on to future generations and ensure global accessibility. The digital library established with TİKA’s contribution fills a critical gap and represents a sustainable step toward the survival and revitalization of the language.
Speaking at the equipment handover ceremony, Mustafa Ametov, Director of the Institute for the Development of the Crimean Tatar Language, stated that the infrastructure established with the equipment provided by TİKA has made it possible to digitize many hard-to-access works. This development, he noted, will not only enrich the resources available for research on the Crimean Tatar language but also ensure that Crimean Tatar literature is preserved for future generations—a step that is expected to raise global interest. Ametov expressed his gratitude to TİKA, Türkiye, and the Turkish people for their support.
Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, emphasized that TİKA’s equipment support is of great importance for the thousands of Crimean Tatars who were forced to leave their homeland following the 2014 occupation. He noted that digitizing valuable books, documents, and publications brought abroad by Crimean Tatars will play a crucial role in preserving their language and culture for future generations. Chubarov added that these efforts will create a lasting source to communicate the just cause of the Crimean Tatar people to the world, and he thanked TİKA and the Republic of Türkiye for their continued support.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) contributed to regional education by establishing classrooms for four-year-olds as part of an early childhood education project in Bucaramanga, Colombia.
The classrooms, created through a joint project between TİKA and the Municipality of Bucaramanga, were inaugurated with the participation of Beste Pehlivan Sun, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Bogotá; Jaime Andrés Beltrán, Mayor of Bucaramanga; officials from TİKA’s Bogotá office; Martha Cecilia Guarín Lizcano, Secretary of Education of the Municipality of Bucaramanga; Julian Diaz Zambrano, Secretary of International Relations; as well as parents, teachers, school administrators, and representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Colombia.
In line with the criteria set by the Ministry of National Education, a total of 10 early childhood classrooms were established in 10 different public schools across the city. For the first time in Bucaramanga, four-year-old children have been included in public school education. The project will provide education to 200 children per semester with the goal of reaching more than 1,000 families over a five-year period.
This initiative by TİKA is a pilot project that lays the foundation for opening additional classrooms throughout the city. Expanding public support for parents, particularly those who wish to enter the workforce but lack childcare options, is crucial. In this regard, the project aims to improve overall social welfare by enhancing the quality of life for both children and their families.
By facilitating the participation of parents in the workforce, especially those without access to childcare, the project also contributes to broader societal well-being. In addition to the direct educational benefits for children, it seeks to support the quality of life of families.
“Hope not only to children but also to their families”
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jaime Andrés Beltrán, Mayor of Bucaramanga, emphasized the importance of providing safe and high-quality educational environments for children. He stated, “These classrooms have brought hope not only to children but also to their families. I thank the Republic of Türkiye and TİKA for this valuable contribution.”
Martha Cecilia Guarín Lizcano, Secretary of Education, highlighted the project’s social impact and remarked, “Thanks to these classrooms, families no longer need to turn to the private sector or leave their children with unqualified caregivers. We are grateful to TİKA.”
Alessandro Cacciapuoti, Regional Director of IOM Cúcuta, stated that the initiative carried out under the slogan “Together we are much more!” has become a tangible success thanks to the support of TİKA.
In Bucaramanga, where the Venezuelan migrant population is significant, the project holds great importance for migrant families as well. IOM provides technical support to the classrooms established with TİKA’s assistance. As a result, a comprehensive development process has been launched, including the implementation of social, and psychological support programs in schools.
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) contributes to young people’s access to technological opportunities through the Cezeri Lab project implemented in Moldova.
As part of the project, a two-week training program was organized for 20 participants, including 15 academics and 5 students, to ensure the effective use of the Cezeri Laboratory equipped with advanced technological devices. Participants received both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in 3D design and printing, robotic applications, and mechatronics projects.
The certificate ceremony organized at the end of the program was attended by Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Chișinău, Uygar Mustafa Sertel, TİKA Chișinău Coordinator Tarık Mete, and Vice-Rector of Moldova State University, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Dolghi.
The Cezeri Laboratories are equipped with devices produced in Türkiye
Through its Cezeri Laboratories set up in various countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Algeria, and South Africa, TİKA is offering young people the opportunity to access advanced technology. These laboratories, equipped with 3D printers, CNC router devices, laser cutters, and robotic sets made in Türkiye, have become centers of innovation for engineering students and academic researchers.
With the support of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the Emergency and Disaster Response Training Program (ADAMEP) was successfully completed in Tanzania.
Organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Home Affairs of Tanzania, TİKA, and Konya Metropolitan Municipality (KMM), the training program was carried out by the expert staff of the KMM Fire Department between April 7 and 17, 2025.
The training was attended by 35 personnel from the Fire and Rescue Force operating under the Tanzanian Ministry of Home Affairs. The participants were trained both theoretically and practically in basic firefighting, fire response, first aid, traffic accident rescue, urban search and rescue, debris safety, and rope-based rescue techniques.
Simultaneously with the training, TİKA provided the Dar es Salaam Fire Department with search and rescue equipment, including generators, rescue stretchers, personal protective equipment, fall arrest devices, and specialized cutting tools.
As part of the program, the ceremony for the equipment handover was attended by the Turkish Ambassador to Tanzania, Bekir Gezer, the General Commissioner of the Tanzanian Fire and Rescue Force, John William Masunga, the Fire Department Head of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, Ibrahim Navruz, and the TİKA Dar es Salaam Coordinator, Filiz Şahinci.
General Commissioner Masunga expressed gratitude to Türkiye for the contribution of the training to the disaster management approach and for TİKA’s equipment support. Fire Department Head Navruz emphasized that the program has turned into not only a transfer of knowledge but also a sustainable bridge of brotherhood.
TİKA Dar es Salaam Coordinator Şahinci, in her speech, stated that the second phase of the program will be held in Türkiye in the format of a “Training of Trainers”, contributing to the dissemination of the acquired knowledge by the Tanzanian personnel in their country.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has renovated and equipped the Rehabilitation Center for People with Disabilities in the city of Girón, located in Colombia’s Santander Department. With this support, the center has resumed operations at full capacity.
The project, implemented by TİKA, aims to enhance the life skills of individuals with disabilities and their caregivers, improve access to healthcare services, and promote entrepreneurship among them.
The opening ceremony of the center was attended by Beste Pehlivan Sun, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Bogotá; Campo Elías Ramírez, Mayor of Girón; representatives from TİKA and the International Organization for Migration (IOM); as well as individuals with disabilities registered at the center and their families. During the event, some of the center’s care recipients gave short performances.
In his speech at the ceremony, Mayor Ramírez emphasized the center’s importance for the local community and described Türkiye’s support as “a model example of international solidarity”. He noted that the center represents an investment not only in the present but also in the future.
Previously, the center operated under the Social Development Secretariat of the Municipality of Girón with limited capacity, offering only examination and counseling services. Due to the lack of physical therapy facilities, medical care, and specialized educational materials, it was unable to provide comprehensive support.
TİKA provided the center with physiotherapy and rehabilitation devices, special education classroom equipment, and machinery for skill development courses. With this support, the center was fully equipped to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.
In Girón, approximately 10,140 people with disabilities are registered. The renovated center now addresses the long-standing challenges these individuals have faced in accessing physiotherapy, psychological support, and educational services.
By serving not only local residents but also vulnerable groups who have migrated from Venezuela, the center stands as a model of social inclusion. The project contributes to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the areas of “reducing inequalities”, “access to healthcare”, and “inclusive education”.
The sustainability of the center is supported by the IOM, while expert staffing is ensured through partnerships with local universities and educational institutions.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has established a tailoring workshop at the Central Prison in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The workshop aims to equip formerly incarcerated women with vocational skills, empowering them to produce and contribute economically after their release.
As part of the project, which seeks to support social reintegration and reduce the risk of reoffending, former inmates will receive vocational training in tailoring. The initiative is designed to help them adapt to economic life post-release and rejoin society as skilled, self-sufficient individuals.
Somali Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hassan Moallin Mohamud Sheikh Ali; Türkiye’s Ambassador to Mogadishu, Alper Aktaş; TİKA officials and representatives from the Prisons Administration attended the opening ceremony of the project.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Aktaş emphasized that every individual deserves a second chance and that the workshop was designed to serve this purpose. Minister Moallin expressed his belief that the initiative would help prevent reoffending and extended his gratitude to TİKA and Türkiye for their support.
The project also aims to play a key role in social rehabilitation, as the textile products manufactured in the workshop will contribute to the local market and offer participants the opportunity to generate income.
The 7.7 and 6.4 magnitude earthquakes that struck on March 28, 2025, with epicenters in the Sagaing Region of central Myanmar, caused widespread devastation—particularly in Mandalay State. Affecting tens of thousands of people, the disaster prompted an immediate response from Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), which stood in solidarity with the people of Myanmar from the very first moment.
Responding swiftly to the Myanmar government’s call for international assistance, TİKA delivered aid packages containing essential supplies to 1,000 families in the heavily affected regions of Mandalay, Sagaing, and the capital Naypyidaw.
In addition, TİKA set up tents to provide temporary shelter in the disaster-affected areas and placed garbage bins to support waste management and protect public health. Solar-powered lighting equipment was also made available to help disaster victims cope with power outages.
TİKA distributed hot meals to 1,000 people daily for three consecutive days across Mandalay State. The solidarity demonstrated by Türkiye during this difficult time was warmly received by the people of Myanmar. Earthquake victims expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Turkish people and TİKA.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) continues its efforts to strengthen the health infrastructure in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. In this context, extensive medical equipment support was provided to De Martino Hospital, the largest public hospital in Mogadishu.
The official handover ceremony was attended by Somalia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Hajiadam Abubakar, along with TİKA representatives and administrators from De Martino Hospital.
Within the scope of the project, the hospital received a range of essential medical equipment, including neonatal incubators, hospital beds, stretchers, patient monitors, defibrillators, and other vital devices. These will primarily serve the neonatal care unit, inpatient departments, and intensive care units.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Abubakar expressed his sincere appreciation to the Republic of Türkiye, the Turkish people, and TİKA, emphasizing that the support marks a significant contribution to the advancement of Somalia’s healthcare infrastructure.
The support is expected to significantly improve the treatment capacity for critical and neonatal patients, while also enhancing the overall service quality and operational efficiency of the hospital.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) renovated and equipped the working hall of the Baščaršija Cultural Artistic Association, based in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Through this support to the Baščaršija Cultural Artistic Association—which has been working for nearly 80 years to preserve traditional folk dances and provide education in various branches of art and music—the aim is to safeguard cultural heritage and pass it on to future generations.
Within the scope of the project carried out by TİKA, the study hall used by the Sarajevo Baščaršija Cultural Artistic Association was renovated and equipped to help preserve traditional folk dances and continue training in music and art. The association, which has approximately 200 members, will now be able to pursue its cultural activities in more modern facilities with 13 different training and performance groups operating within its own halls.
The Baščaršija Cultural Artistic Association, which continued its activities even during the war in the 1990s—organizing 49 programs during that period—remains committed to promoting the country’s cultural heritage both within Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad.
An opening ceremony was held
The opening ceremony of the renovated hall was held with the participation of TİKA’s President, Serkan Kayalar; Mirela Bećirović, wife of Denis Bećirović, the Bosniak Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Mayor of Stari Grad, Irfan Čengić; TİKA’s Coordinator in Sarajevo, Erdinç Işık, and local officials.
Speaking at the ceremony, TİKA President Mr. Kayalar recalled the words of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye: “A nation deprived of art has lost one of its life veins,” and emphasized the importance of communities working in the fields of culture and the arts.
Stating that TİKA has carried out more than 1,100 projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past 30 years, Kayalar said, “We are pleased to have renovated the working hall of the Baščaršija Cultural Artistic Association to help them continue their activities under better conditions and to contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage.”
Following the ceremony, President Kayalar watched a performance of Bosnian folk dances by the young members of the association.
