Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed stationery sets and school bags to 1,100 students at Olam Karşigak Secondary School in the Dawlatabad district of Balkh Province.
The distribution ceremony was attended by Kasım Kaban, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Mazar-i-Sharif; Mufti Muhammed Sharif Osmani, Director of National Education for Balkh Province; Kari Muhammed Tahir, District Governor of Devletabad; Mevlevi Zelgeyi Feyzani, District Education Director; Mikail Taşdemir, TİKA’s Coordinator in Mazar-i-Sharif; as well as teachers and students.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Mazar-i-Sharif, Taşdemir, in his speech at the ceremony, highlighted that Olam Karşigak Secondary School was built by TİKA in 2011 and handed over to Afghan authorities.
Taşdemir noted that the renovation and repair of the school, which had sustained damage due to internal conflicts and harsh seasonal conditions, were completed in 2024. Following the reopening of the school, students were provided with stationery sets and school bags to support their educational needs.
He emphasized that TİKA’s commitment to sustainable education initiatives in the region will continue.
Balkh Province National Education Director Mufti Muhammed Sharif Osmani expressed gratitude to TİKA for its contributions to education projects in Afghanistan, underlining that such support significantly enhances the quality of education in the region.
The students shared their joy and appreciation for the gifts that aid their learning journey, while their parents offered prayers for the Turkish state and its people in gratitude for the support provided.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) President Serkan Kayalar conducted bilateral meetings and attended the openings of TİKA projects during his official visit to Azerbaijan.
As part of his program in Azerbaijan, President Kayalar first met with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cahit Bağcı, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Baku. Following this, he visited the Government House with Ambassador Bağcı and met with Adil Kerimli, the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
During his visit, President Kayalar also met with Elmaddin Mehdiyev, President of the Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan; and Orhan Memmedov, President of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency. During the meetings, TİKA’s ongoing projects in the friendly and brotherly country of Azerbaijan, as well as new opportunities for cooperation, were discussed.
Sumgait Gastrotourism Academy Opens
The Gastrotourism Academy, established in Sumgait—the second-largest city in Azerbaijan—with the aim of training qualified professionals and contributing to employment in the tourism and service sectors, was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by TİKA President Serkan Kayalar. The academy was created in collaboration with TİKA and the Azerbaijan Health and Thermal Tourism Support Association.
The academy was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by Sumgait Deputy, Müşfik Memmedli; Azerbaijan Health and Thermal Tourism Support Association President, Ruslan Guliyev; TiKA’s Central Asia and Caucasus Department Head, Ali Özgün Öztürk; and TİKA’s Coordinator in Baku, Hayrettin Özçelik. The academy aims to provide practical training to more than 4,000 trainees annually across various fields, including waiter services, cooking, barista skills, housekeeping, front office management, tourism agency operations, software development, English language proficiency, and tour guiding.
After completing the opening ceremonies, Kayalar visited TİKA’s Baku Program Coordination Office, where he received a briefing on the office’s operations from TİKA’s Coordinator in Baku, Hayrettin Özçelik.
On the second day of his visit to Azerbaijan, TİKA President Kayalar paid homage to one of Azerbaijan’s greatest literary figures, poet, and thinker Nizami Ganjavi by visiting his mausoleum. He also toured the house of the Şeyhzamanlı family, where Nuri Pasha, the commander of the Caucasian Islamic Army, once stayed, receiving detailed information from the authorities.
Following these visits, Kayalar traveled to Ganja to attend the opening ceremonies of TİKA projects. While in Ganja, he met with Recep Öztop, the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye, to discuss potential steps for enhancing cooperation between institutions within the Turkic World.
Ganja Medical College Youth Center Opened by TİKA President Serkan Kayalar
On the second day of his visit to Azerbaijan, TİKA President Serkan Kayalar inaugurated the Youth Center established by TİKA at Ganja Medical College.
The Youth Center, set up by TİKA within Ganja Medical College—the first health vocational school in Azerbaijan, founded in 1931—features a modern computer infrastructure to provide students with access to electronic libraries. It is also equipped with a sound system and musical instruments for use in music and performing arts, as well as cafeteria and kitchen facilities designed to support students during their studies.
Speaking at the opening, TİKA President Serkan Kayalar remarked, “Nizami Ganjavi once said, ‘Let us be ready to burn like a candle to do something useful for others.’ At TİKA, we strive to reach people wherever they are and bring smiles to their faces. We entrust this center to you, the youth. We hope you will use it to learn, research, have fun, and rest as you wish.”
Following the opening ceremony, students of the college organized music and dance performances at the Youth Center. During the program, Fatima Gocayeva, the winner of the Azerbaijan Ministry of National Education College and Inter-University Song Competition, sang “Çırpınırdı Karadeniz”. As Karabakh War veterans unfurled Turkish and Azerbaijani flags, the audience experienced deeply emotional moments in the hall.
TİKA President Serkan Kayalar Attends World Turkish Coffee Day Event in Ganja
TİKA’s President Serkan Kayalar participated in the World Turkish Coffee Day event organized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Ganja as part of his Azerbaijan program. During the event, participants enjoyed various presentations followed by the serving of traditional Turkish coffee.
TİKA Replaces Flags at Turkish Martyrs’ Cemeteries in Azerbaijan
Through a project carried out in collaboration with TİKA and the Azerbaijan-Türkiye Graduate Businessmen and Intellectuals Platform, the worn-out flags at the Turkish Martyrs’ Cemeteries of the Caucasian Islamic Army in Azerbaijan are being replaced. As part of this initiative, TİKA’s President Serkan Kayalar, who was in Azerbaijan for official engagements and project inaugurations, visited the Shamakhi Turkish Martyrs’ Cemetery. During his visit, he personally replaced the Turkish and Azerbaijani flags and offered prayers for the heroic martyrs of the Caucasian Islamic Army.
TİKA Establishes Education Center for Alban-Udi Christian Community in Azerbaijan
On the third day of his Azerbaijan program, TİKA’s President Serkan Kayalar inaugurated the education center used by the Alban-Udi Christian Community, one of the ancient peoples of the Caucasus. The center, renovated and furnished by TİKA, was officially opened in a ceremony held at the site.
Located in the garden of the Chotari Church in the town of Nic, Gabala Province, the education center was fully renovated by TİKA and equipped with computers, smart boards, and modern furniture. It will serve as a hub for various activities, including educational programs for Udi youth and summer camps.
Speaking to the press after the ceremony, Alban-Udi Christian Community President Robert Mobili expressed his gratitude saying, “The establishment of this much-needed education center by TİKA is incredibly valuable to us. We thank Türkiye and TİKA for their support.”
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has opened clean water wells in five districts of Govi-Altai Province, which is battling desertification in Mongolia.
Located approximately 1,100 km from the capital Ulaanbaatar, Govi-Altai Province lies in the Gobi Desert region. The province, which has been severely impacted by the effects of global warming in recent years, faces water scarcity in 79% of its area due to desertification. As a result, local nomadic populations, who rely on animal husbandry for their livelihoods, struggle to find clean water.
To address the drinking water shortage in Govi-Altai Province and provide access to clean water for both people and animals in rural areas, TİKA opened water wells in the Biger, Tsogt, Hohmorit, Chandmani, and Erdene districts. These wells now provide access to clean water for local communities.
Arildiibaatar Geleg, a shepherd who brought his animals to the newly opened well in Chandmani district, shared his experience: “I used to travel long distances to water my animals. Sometimes, when we went too far, some of my animals could not handle the journey and would fall ill or die. Now, with this well, we no longer have to travel such long distances. I would like to thank the Turkish people.”
With this project, approximately 13,000 people in the Biger, Tsogt, Hohmorit, Chandmani, and Erdene districts will have access to clean water from wells that reach a depth of 150 meters. Additionally, 2.5 million animals will benefit from these water wells, alongside the local population.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) continues its initiatives to support farming families involved in agriculture and livestock in the rural areas of North Macedonia.
In regions such as Lozova, Štip, Karbintsi, Radoviš, Konče, Vasilevo, Valandovo, Demir Kapija, Gradsko, Resen, Plasnica, Gostivar, and Centar Župa, where Turkish compatriots form a significant portion of the population, TİKA provided equipment to farmers to enhance milk production.
Milking machines, milk transport canisters, and hygiene materials were distributed to 90 farming families who rely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods.
The delivery ceremony was attended by TİKA’s Coordinator in Skopje, F. Şeyma Babayiğit; local farmers, and members of the community.
Speaking at the ceremony, TİKA’s Coordinator in Skopje, Babayiğit highlighted that TİKA Skopje Program Coordination Office has been implementing projects across various sectors with a particular focus on agriculture and livestock, in different regions of North Macedonia since 2005.
Babayiğit stated, “Through our projects aimed at farmers in rural areas, we hope families can both consume the dairy products they produce and increase their household incomes by selling them in the local market. In doing so, we also contribute to rural development.”
The farmers who received the equipment expressed their gratitude for the project and thanked Türkiye and TİKA.
The project is designed to raise the income levels of farming families in rural areas by enhancing their infrastructure and technical capabilities, preventing rural depopulation, and supporting the production of high-quality food.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a 2-hectare Vegetable and Moringa Production Garden in Niger’s Diffa region. The project is equipped with water wells, solar energy systems, and modern farming equipment, designed to assist farmers affected by terrorism and drought.
Communities residing in the rural areas of Diffa, one of Niger’s regions most impacted by acute drought, rely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods but face significant challenges due to climate-related events. Additionally, the region suffers from the effects of terrorism and its associated demographic impacts. Given its large population, situated near Lake Chad and bordering Nigeria, Diffa has been designated as a priority area for aid and development initiatives.
In this context, TİKA implemented the “Vegetable and Moringa Production Garden” project in Diffa, a rural area of Niger with significant agricultural potential. This initiative, which had previously been successfully executed in Tillabéri, Zinder, and Dosso, was carried out in collaboration with the Niger Ministry of Agriculture and OADEP (Organization for Support to Development and Peace) in the town of N’Gourti, located 300 kilometers north of Diffa’s city center.
The 2-hectare garden was established to support farmers engaged in agricultural activities in N’Gourti, a region characterized by a challenging desert climate and accessible only via a three-day land journey from Niamey. The garden was equipped with essential irrigation and processing infrastructure. As part of the project, it was supplied with two water wells, water tanks, solar energy systems, California-type irrigation systems, seeds, fertilizers, and complementary agricultural tools.
The garden, designed to benefit approximately 100 families and support five women’s cooperatives, was officially handed over to the N’Gourti Municipality. The delivery ceremony was attended by N’Gourti Mayor, Abba Mamane; OADEP President, Djibrin Issa Bana; TİKA’s Representative, Chetima Moustapha Laouel; the N’Gourti Provincial Director of Agriculture and local residents.
During the ceremony, officials highlighted the positive contributions the project would bring to the local community and expressed their gratitude to Türkiye and its people through TİKA. The project aims to enhance food security in the region, diversify agricultural production, enable year-round cultivation beyond the rainy season, provide employment opportunities for women, and address the water needs of surrounding villages.
With the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), 13 emergency first aid teams have been established in Palestine. These teams, operating across 13 regions of the West Bank, consist of 65 members including one doctor, two nurses, and two volunteers per team.
In response to the increasing attacks by Israeli forces and settlers in Palestine, TİKA collaborated with the Palestinian Women’s Union, established in 1965, to create 13 teams. The initiative aims to strengthen the role of Palestinian women in society while enabling more effective responses to emergencies.
As part of the project launched under the slogan “Be Prepared, Save Lives,” 13 teams were established to operate in various regions of the West Bank. These teams consist of 65 members in total, including one doctor, two nurses, and two volunteers per team.
In the cities of Nablus, Ramallah, and Hebron, volunteer women received training in first aid, basic life support, and advanced cardiac life support. Following the training sessions, professional first aid kits, provided by TİKA, were distributed to the doctors, nurses, and volunteers.
Certificates were awarded to the volunteer women who successfully completed the training during a formal ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Jerusalem, Ambassador İsmail Çobanoğlu; TİKA’s Coordinator in Palestine, Orhan Aydın; Palestinian Women’s Union President, and former Minister of Social Affairs, Intissar al-Wazir; as well as union members and volunteers.
In her speech at the ceremony, Union President al-Wazir expressed her gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish people for their support for Palestine. Al-Wazir remarked, “This project is of vital importance in the face of increasing attacks and harassment. It will empower Palestinian women to play a stronger role in society.”
Ambassador Çobanoğlu highlighted Türkiye’s leading role in providing aid to Gaza and stated, “Supporting the Palestinian people during this challenging period is both a legal and moral duty. TİKA effectively identifies the needs in Palestine and stands out, particularly with its projects focused on empowering women.”
Through this initiative, TİKA aims not only to equip Palestinian women with skills in the healthcare field but also to enhance their socioeconomic and cultural roles within society.
The Keleçek Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children, established by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, has officially commenced operations with an opening ceremony.
Initiated at the request of Kyrgyz President Sadır Caparov, the center is the first state-run rehabilitation facility in the country to apply modern methods. It also serves as a pilot project for replicating similar initiatives nationwide.
The opening ceremony was attended by Kyrgyz Republic Minister of Labor, Social Security and Migration, Cıldız Polotova; TİKA’s Coordinator in Bishkek, Mehmet Bodur; and Director of the Keleçek Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children, Çınara Tumenbaeva.
Minister Polotova highlighted the center’s critical role in enhancing the quality of life for children with disabilities, stating “Centers like this are essential for our children with special needs. We sincerely thank TİKA for this valuable contribution.”
Model project for advancing social services
TİKA’s Coordinator in Bishkek, Mehmet Bodur highlighted that the center serves as a model for the advancement of social services in Kyrgyzstan.
Bodur elaborated on the support provided to enhance the center’s effectiveness, stating: “We contributed significantly by supplying essential equipment for a dental treatment room, sensory rooms to aid sensory development, and security systems. This center offers comprehensive services designed to empower children with special needs, encouraging their active participation in social life.”
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has set up toy corners equipped with educational games and toys in 50 schools throughout Bangladesh. The project aims to support the education of approximately 23,262 children, including those with special needs.
As part of the Toy Library Project, developed in collaboration with Build Bangladesh—a social development organization operating in the country—a pioneering concept has been introduced. The project promotes learning, creativity, and social development by providing children access to toys and educational resources across Bangladesh.
The project, aimed at addressing the shortage of educational resources for groups with special needs and enhancing the variety of educational materials, was implemented in 50 schools across the Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rangpur, and Mymensingh regions of Bangladesh. As a result, 23,262 students gained access to resources that support their learning processes.
Aligned with the Bangladesh government’s National Child Policy 2011 and UNICEF’s principles recognizing children’s rights to recreation, play, and cultural activities, the Toy Library Project promotes equality in education, particularly for children in socio-economically disadvantaged areas.
About the Toy Library Project: “Fun and Educational”
The Toy Library Project provides a carefully curated selection of toys designed to support children’s cognitive and physical development. These toys include English and Bengali block letters, puzzles, sports equipment, and strategy games. Each toy plays a role in enhancing children’s language skills, problem-solving abilities, social interactions, and physical activities.
Turkish Education and Teaching Center (TTEÖMER), established within the Faculty of Philology at Kyrgyz National University with support from Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), was inaugurated with a ceremony.
The event was attended by Kyrgyz National University Rector, Dogdurbek Çontoev; Education Counselor of the Turkish Embassy in Bishkek, Kürşat Dulkadir; TİKA’s Coordinator in Bishkek, Mehmet Bodur, as well as teachers and students.
The Rector of Kyrgyz National University, Çontoev, expressed that the center would further strengthen the bonds of friendship between Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye, extending his gratitude to TİKA for establishing this valuable facility. Education Counselor Dulkadir highlighted that the center would enhance the cultural ties between the two nations.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Bishkek, Bodur underscored the significance and scope of the center, stating “This is not merely a Turkish language teaching center, it is also a platform to reinforce our shared culture, historical connections, and friendships. As TİKA, we are proud to have implemented such a meaningful project.”
Bodur further remarked that the center would enhance the relationship between the two countries through Turkish language courses, cultural events, and academic collaborations.
The center provides students with a modern learning environment with classrooms named after Istanbul, Ankara, Şanlıurfa, and Çanakkale.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has enhanced the digital education infrastructure of Jerusalem Open University in Palestine by establishing a next-generation education studio.
Founded in 1991 and serving over 30,000 students, Jerusalem Open University offers a blended education model through its online platform and campuses across five cities. The university provides undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. However, challenges in transportation and the growing demand for online education, particularly following the restrictions imposed after the Gaza War, highlighted the need to enhance its digital infrastructure.
To address this need, TİKA supported the establishment of a new education studio designed to offer students more interactive and innovative learning opportunities. The studio is outfitted with advanced technologies, including AI-powered cameras, smart boards, professional lighting and sound systems, high-performance computers, and software for video editing and lecture recording.
The project aims to enhance students’ digital literacy, better equip them for their future careers and offer personalized educational experiences beyond merely improving technological infrastructure.
By leveraging artificial intelligence applications, the initiative seeks to make education more engaging and effective, offering a tailored learning process for each student.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a workshop to create a sustainable income source for women in Guinea by processing ginger and chili pepper, two of the country’s most widely consumed food products.
To promote the economic independence of women in Guinea, a workshop was established through a collaboration between TİKA and the AREMA Women’s Union to process ginger and chili pepper, two of the country’s most widely consumed food products.
In the workshop, which provides a sustainable income model for women engaged in traditional agricultural practices, raw ginger and chili pepper are processed and transformed into powdered forms.
This process enhances the value of the products, which are typically sold in the market for 1-2 euros per kilogram in their raw state, effectively doubling the earnings for the women.
The powdered ginger, ginger tea, and powdered chili pepper produced are meticulously packaged and made available to the market following inspection by food safety controllers. This process not only boosts women’s economic earnings but also contributes to regional development.
In addition to supporting Guinea’s local economy, the workshop empowers women to play a more active role in both social and economic spheres.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has provided essential hardware and equipment to schools across the provinces of Balkh, Jowzjan and Faryab.
As part of a project implemented in collaboration with TİKA and the National Education Directorates of Afghanistan’s northern provinces, 950 desk sets were distributed to 11 schools in these regions to support the improvement of their educational infrastructure.
It has contributed to providing thousands of students with better learning conditions.
The Director of National Education for Jowzjan Province, Elhac Mevlevi Seyid Hafizullah Mutesim Billah; the Director of National Education for Balkh Province, Muhammed Sharif Osmani, and education officials from Faryab Province attended the delivery ceremony for the project. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Turkish state and people for the support provided through TİKA.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Mazar-i-Sharif, Mikail Taşdemir emphasized the importance of enhancing Afghanistan’s educational infrastructure for the country’s development and stability.
Taşdemir noted that investments in the education system—severely impacted by prolonged conflicts and economic challenges—go beyond physical improvements. They also focus on teacher training, the provision of modern educational materials, and ensuring girls have access to education.
