Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has renovated the sports fields at Rizal Technological University, which continues to provide quality education in the Philippines.
Rizal Technological University, known for its excellence in sports, offers scholarships to students from various regions of the country, allowing them to pursue both academic education and athletic careers.
As part of the project carried out by TİKA, the flooring of the sports fields at the university—home to 18,000 students in the capital, Manila—was upgraded, and a modern lighting system was installed for both indoor and outdoor facilities. Additionally, TİKA provided equipment for the university’s teams competing in sports such as basketball, volleyball, futsal, table tennis, baseball, and sepak takraw.
The newly installed lighting system will allow athletes to train uninterruptedly, day and night, while the renovated sports fields and upgraded equipment will enable them to prepare more effectively for national and international competitions.
Rizal Technological University to host inter-university sports competitions
Donata Estocada, Director of the International Cooperation Department at Rizal Technological University, announced that the university will host this year’s inter-university sports competitions, which are held annually in the Philippines.
Estocada stated, “With the support provided by TİKA, we will be able to host the competitions in a much better way. We sincerely thank the Republic of Türkiye and TİKA for this meaningful and valuable contribution.”
“We are proud to support young athletes”
TİKA’s Coordinator in Manila, İbrahim Katırcı said, “At TİKA, we enhanced the sports infrastructure of Rizal Technological University, allowing young athletes to train and compete in improved conditions. We take great pride in supporting young people from different regions of the Philippines who come to Manila with the dream of becoming professional athletes and work tirelessly to achieve their goals. Through projects like this, we will continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two countries.”
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a fully equipped operating room at the Dr. Juan Manuel Jijena Durán Maternity and Children’s Hospital in Tarija, Bolivia.
Implemented as part of TİKA’s Program for the Development of Health Services and Infrastructure in South American Regional Countries, the project will serve not only patients from Tarija but also those from surrounding regions and the Argentinian border. As the only operating room dedicated to gynecological surgery in the department of Tarija, which has a population of 550,000, it fulfills a critical healthcare need.
The operating room was inaugurated with a ceremony attended by Bolivian Foreign Minister, Celinda Sosa Lunda; Minister of Internal Affairs, Carlos Eduardo Del Castillo Del Carpio; Türkiye’s Ambassador, Ertan Yalçın; Tarija Governor, Oscar Montes; TİKA officials and hospital staff.
In her speech at the opening ceremony, Foreign Minister Lunda expressed gratitude to TİKA for its support, stating “This operating room fulfills a long-standing need in our region. Türkiye’s cooperation with Bolivia reflects the strength of our bilateral relations and the solidarity between our countries.”
Governor Montes of Tarija also conveyed his appreciation to Türkiye, emphasizing that the operating room will serve not only the Tarija region but also surrounding areas and patients from Argentina.
About the Hospital
Opened in 2022 with a capacity of 270 beds, the hospital was previously unable to perform complex surgical procedures due to infrastructure limitations. With the support of TİKA, a fully equipped operating room was established, enabling surgeries in gynecology and orthopedics. It is expected that 3–4 surgeries will be performed daily.
TİKA’s Program for the Development of Health Services and Infrastructure in South American Regional Countries aims to address infrastructure deficiencies in essential healthcare services. By improving access to medical care, the program supports regional development strategies and contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of ‘Good Health and Well-Being’.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) renovated the Gulbutta Neighborhood Health Center in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, and equipped it with modern medical devices.
Originally built in 1973, the health center had become inadequate due to population growth and infrastructure deficiencies. Through TİKA’s comprehensive renovation project, the facility has been upgraded to provide more efficient and higher-quality healthcare services to the local community.
The newly renovated health center was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by Dushanbe Deputy Mayor, Dilbar Odilzoda; Dushanbe Provincial Health Director, Khosvakt Sharafzoda; Türkiye’s Ambassador to Dushanbe, Umut Acar; and TİKA’s Coordinator in Dushanbe, İbrahim Ethem Ünal.
Expressing her appreciation for TİKA’s contributions to the healthcare sector and conveying her gratitude on behalf of the Dushanbe Municipality, Deputy Mayor Odilzoda emphasized the critical importance of equipping primary healthcare centers with modern and high-quality infrastructure. She also expressed hope that this productive collaboration would continue.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Dushanbe Ünal highlighted that, alongside strengthening healthcare infrastructure, various training programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives could also be implemented for healthcare personnel. He expressed his satisfaction in sharing Türkiye’s expertise in this field with Tajikistan.
With the completion of the project, the Gulbutta Neighborhood Health Center is expected to serve approximately 29,500 residents with its modernized design, increased number of rooms and upgraded medical equipment, enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare services.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has provided desks and educational materials to a school in Herat, Afghanistan.
As part of the project, which aims to create a safer and more modern learning environment at Herat Inkılap High School—one of the largest high schools in the city, serving approximately 4,000 students—500 desks for students and teachers, along with 25 teacher desks and chairs, were delivered to the school administration in an official ceremony.
Local Authorities Express Gratitude to Türkiye
The Herat Director of Education and high school administrators who attended the delivery ceremony expressed their deep appreciation to TİKA, extending their gratitude to both the Turkish nation and the agency.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established an audiovisual production studio within the National Center for Children and Youth Informatics, operating under the Tunisian Ministry of Family, Women, Children and the Elderly.
Founded in 1996, the National Center for Children and Youth Informatics has branches in 24 provinces and serves 1,500 students annually. As part of the project, the center completed the installation of a state-of-the-art studio and provided training for instructors on media and communication technologies.
The opening ceremony was attended by Tunisian Minister of Family, Women, Children and the Elderly, Asma Jebri; Turkish Ambassador to Tunisia, Ahmet Misbah Demircan; and TİKA’s Coordinator in Tunis, Muhammed Enes Hancıoğlu.
Ambassador Demircan, who participated in a broadcast produced by children as part of the opening program, emphasized that media content has both positive and negative aspects. He highlighted the importance of teaching children to recognize these differences, encouraging them to embrace the positive while developing the skills to identify and address the negative. Demircan also reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to supporting Tunisia.
Minister Jebri noted that this media hall, which will produce engaging content designed to spark children’s curiosity, is a significant investment in their development. She called on all institutions and organizations to support similar initiatives that promote innovation among younger generations.
The project aims to foster creativity and enhance digital content production skills by providing children and young people with training in photography, videography, editing, short film production and media communication. Additionally, it seeks to contribute to the development of Tunisia’s human capital by equipping future generations with the skills and competencies required in the modern era.
A youth center has been established in Syria’s Bizaah region with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
Children and young people are among the groups most affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria. The war has led to the disintegration of families and severely disrupted the social fabric, resulting in profound and lasting consequences for these vulnerable groups. To address these challenges and support the healthy development of young people, a new youth center has been set up in a building rented by the local council in Bizaah. This initiative was carried out in collaboration with TİKA, the Gaziantep Governorship, the Gaziantep Youth and Sports Directorate and the Bizaah Local Council.
The center was equipped with a variety of sports activities and brain games to support the physical and mental development of young people. Additionally, an IT classroom was set up to provide access to digital learning and information technologies.
The project is expected to benefit the healthy development of approximately 14,000 children and young people in the region, protecting them from adverse environmental influences.
By offering young people opportunities to enhance their social cohesion and develop personal skills, the youth center aims to contribute to the revitalization of the region’s social fabric.
The digitization of the Diplomatic Archives of Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
TİKA has provided high-capacity scanners and computers to facilitate the digitization of 70,000 paper-based diplomatic documents that make up Mongolia’s foreign affairs history, currently preserved by the Directorate of Diplomatic Archives.
The project aims to safeguard Mongolia’s diplomatic records by digitizing centuries-old documents while enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of public services.
Gaadarmaa Ulziibat, Director of the Diplomatic Archives at Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the importance of preserving these documents in a secure environment. He stated: “Thanks to TİKA’s valuable support, historical materials that serve as an open resource for diplomats, researchers, scientists, students, and citizens can now be preserved in a digital format. We extend our gratitude to the Turkish people and TİKA for this support.”
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has provided prosthetics to 24 individuals with disabilities in need by supporting the National Association of Amputees and Physically Disabled Persons for Hope in Life, based in Tirana, the capital of Albania.
Tayyar Kağan Atay, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tirana; Mustafa Ata, TİKA’s Coordinator in Tirana; Tsuboi Kohei, Director of the Economic Cooperation Department at the Embassy of Japan in Albania; and İzet Onuzi, President of the Association, held a meeting at the Association’s Tirana office with the participation of individuals with disabilities who received prosthetic support.
Mr. Atay, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tirana, stated that they live with the awareness that anyone can become disabled and that they are pleased to see the support provided helping improve the lives of individuals with disabilities, even in a small way.
Mr. Onuzi, President of the Association, expressed his gratitude to TİKA, stating that the prosthetics provided would make the lives of individuals with disabilities much easier.
‘For Hope in Life’
Formally established in 2011, the National Association of Amputees and Physically Disabled Persons ‘For Hope in Life’ has set up a prosthetics manufacturing center, operating under the Association. With support from international aid organizations, foundations, and volunteers, the center produces prosthetics in its workshops for individuals in need.
With the support provided by TİKA, the Association has helped 150 individuals receive prosthetics so far.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) renovated the computer laboratory of the Department of Business Administration at the Faculty of Economics, University of Montenegro in Bijelo Polje, and equipped it with modern technology. The upgraded laboratory was inaugurated with a ceremony.
The opening ceremony was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Montenegro, Barış Kalkavan; Mayor of Bijelo Polje, Petar Smolović; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University of Montenegro, Milivoje Radović; Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Mijat Jocović; TİKA’s Coordinator in Podgorica, Nihal Ersoy; and students from the department.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Kalkavan stated that projects like this further strengthen the cooperation between Türkiye and Montenegro. He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to supporting the development of Montenegro’s educational infrastructure and expressed his hope that the laboratory would be beneficial for both students and faculty members.
Mayor of Bijelo Polje, Petar Smolović, emphasized that TİKA’s support for education will have a positive impact not only on the university but also on the entire region.
The computer laboratory, fully equipped with modern furniture and technical infrastructure, aims to provide students with an enhanced learning environment.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) signed a cooperation protocol to enhance women’s health and improve access to healthcare services for people with disabilities in Georgia.
The protocol, signed by Zeynep Bayrak, TİKA’s Coordinator in Tbilisi, and Mariam Bandzeladze, Head of the UNFPA Country Office in Georgia, aims to expand access to cervical cancer screening services and improve reproductive health services overall.
As part of the protocol, TİKA will provide equipment to gynecological cancer screening centers to improve access to healthcare services for women with disabilities in Georgia. This initiative aims to enhance early diagnosis opportunities, particularly for women with disabilities, and ensure faster and easier access to medical care.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Zeynep Bayrak highlighted that the protocol strengthens cooperation between the two countries and emphasized the importance of improving healthcare access for women with disabilities. She stated that women’s health is fundamental to social well-being and that this cooperation will contribute to sustainable development and the principle of equality.
In her speech, Bandzeladze highlighted that the protocol represents a significant step toward ensuring that no one is left behind in the development process and that everyone has equal access to quality healthcare services.
The “Mama Jasiri” Education and Production Workshop, a development project supported by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), was inaugurated with a ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Implemented in collaboration with the African Culture House Association, the project aims to empower women to play a more active role in economic and social life.
Through the “Mama Jasiri” Project, women are gaining both education and employment opportunities by transforming the abundantly growing sisal plant into value-added products, advancing their journey toward economic independence.
The opening ceremony was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr. Mehmet Güllüoğlu; TİKA’s Vice President, Dr. Rahman Nurdun; Kinondoni Regional Commissioner, Saad Mtambule; African Culture House Association President, Zeliha Sağlam; and many other distinguished guests.
In his speech, Ambassador Güllüoğlu emphasized the project’s sustainability, stating: “The Mama Jasiri Project represents new hope for Tanzanian women. This investment in their lives will contribute to strengthening both our nation and our future. Sustainability is the cornerstone of this success.”
TİKA Vice President Nurdun highlighted the crucial role of women in driving social change, remarking: “This project will open doors to a hopeful future for young women who lack access to formal education. The efforts of these women will spark a significant transformation, not only in their individual lives but also in society as a whole.”
Kinondoni Regional Commissioner Saad Mtambule described the project as a significant opportunity for women who lack access to education and employment. Mtambule remarked, “This project will empower women to contribute to social development through the skills they acquire, marking an important step toward transformation in the region.”
African Culture House Association President Zeliha Sağlam emphasized their belief in the strength of African women and affirmed their commitment to supporting women in becoming productive and value-adding members of society.
A brighter future for women
The “Mama Jasiri” Project not only offers economic opportunities to women in Tanzania but also serves as a powerful model for societal transformation. It is seen as a significant step toward improving the lives of local communities and empowering women.
TİKA’s development initiatives in Africa continue to enhance the social and economic well-being of local populations while fostering stronger bonds of friendship between Türkiye and Tanzania.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), in collaboration with the National Education Directorate of Afghanistan’s Kunduz province, provided essential furniture and educational materials to two schools in the Kale-i Zal district.
As part of the project, which aims to create a safer and more modern learning environment for approximately 2,500 students, various items were delivered to the schools. These included desks for students and teachers, classroom blackboards, library shelves, children’s chairs, file cabinets, and cleaning supplies.
The delivery ceremony, held in the Kale-i Zal district, was attended by Kunduz Deputy Director of National Education, Kari Salih Muhammed Nikmel; Kale-i Zal Education Director, Mevlavi Gül Rahman Muaviye; TİKA’s Coordinator in Mazar-i-Sharif, Mikail Taşdemir; Mazar-i-Sharif Desk Officer, Dr. Ahmet Çanga, as well as teachers, students, parents, and local community leaders.
Local authorities express gratitude to Türkiye
Speaking at the ceremony, Kunduz Deputy Director of National Education Kari Salih Muhammed Nikmel expressed his gratitude for TİKA’s provision of desks and other equipment, in addition to the renovations and repairs previously carried out in these schools. Nikmel highlighted that Türkiye, through TİKA, has consistently demonstrated its support for the Afghan people by contributing to education in Afghanistan over many years. He thanked the Turkish people and TİKA, emphasizing that such projects play a vital role in preparing young generations for a brighter future.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Mazar-i-Sharif Mikail Taşdemir noted that this project addressed the missing equipment needs following the renovations and repairs of Halil Saadet Primary School and Martyr Abdul Samet Mahdum Secondary School, which were originally constructed in 2007. Taşdemir underscored TİKA’s commitment to improving the quality of education across Afghanistan and supporting children, adding that similar initiatives will continue in the future.
Local residents and education officials expressed their satisfaction with the project and pledged to ensure the preservation of the schools’ physical condition while maintaining the quality of education. Local authorities extended their thanks to Türkiye, noting that such initiatives strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries.
