A Tailoring and Fashion Design department was established at Isra Girls High School, located in the Sinjel district of Palestine, with support from Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
Sinjel, a town of 6,000 residents situated north of Ramallah, has increasingly been subjected to attacks by Israeli forces and illegal settlers, while the socio-economic conditions in the area continue to deteriorate.
The ongoing attacks by Israel in the Gaza Strip have also led to a sharp rise in unemployment rates in Sinjel, as in many other regions of Palestine.
Girls learning “Tailoring and Fashion Design”
Established in 1996, Isra Girls High School with 277 students launched a Tailoring and Fashion Design department through support from TİKA, aimed at equipping students with vocational skills and creating job opportunities.
As part of the project, the school was provided with equipment such as integrated sewing machines, overlock machines, steam irons, mannequins and cutting tables.
The opening ceremony of the project was attended by the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Jerusalem, Ambassador İsmail Çobanoğlu; TİKA’s Coordinator in Palestine, Orhan Aydın; Deputy Minister of Education of Palestine, Dr. Nafi Assaf; Sinjel Mayor, Mutaz Abdurrahman; Birzeit Education Director, Luay Rimawi; Ministry of Education Vocational Education Department Director, Cihad Draidi, along with school administrators and students.
“The only department in the region”
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister Assaf emphasized that Türkiye’s support during these challenging times for Palestine holds great significance for them.
Stating that they have consistently received strong support, particularly political backing, from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Deputy Minister Assaf expressed his gratitude to TİKA and Türkiye for establishing the first and only department in the Birzeit region. He highlighted that TİKA has supported the Palestinian people through such projects for many years.
The Consul General of Türkiye in Jerusalem, Ambassador Çobanoğlu, also emphasized that Türkiye and the Turkish people have always stood in solidarity with Palestine. He noted that TİKA has implemented numerous projects in Palestine, particularly in vocational training, employment and income generation, and expressed pride in these efforts.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) supported a visit program organized by Croatian high school and university students to the Srebrenica Memorial Center in Potočari, marking the 29th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide.
The visit, named the “Never Forget Convoy,” was organized by the Bosniak National Minority Council of the City of Zagreb and took place on October 11-12, 2024 with the support of TİKA.
The project aims to help young people from different regions of Croatia gain awareness of the historical events in the region and broaden their perspectives by meeting one-on-one with witnesses of the genocide.
The program seeks to raise awareness and prevent similar tragedies in the future by giving participants the opportunity to study these historical events on-site.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), in collaboration with the FOREM Association, established a “Mushroom Production Farm” for educational purposes at the Education and Innovation Center in the Bordj El Kiffan region of Algeria.
The farm, established through the cooperation of TİKA and the FOREM Association, was inaugurated with a ceremony attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Algeria, M. Mücahit Küçükyılmaz; TİKA’s Coordinator in Algeria, Gökçen Kalkan; FOREM Association President, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hiyati; and other distinguished guests.
At the opening, Ambassador Küçükyılmaz emphasized that mushroom production in Algeria is almost non-existent and noted that this project, initiated by TİKA, will serve as a pioneering effort in advancing mushroom cultivation in the country. He highlighted that Türkiye is eager to share its expertise in testing and developing new agricultural products with Algeria and mentioned that the project will focus on training young people in mushroom cultivation. Ambassador Küçükyılmaz expressed his gratitude to TİKA for its significant contributions to the project’s realization.
At the opening, FOREM Association President Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hiyati noted that mushroom production in Algeria is currently only a few hundred tons and emphasized that this project presents a valuable opportunity to boost production and promote wider consumption. He also expressed his gratitude to TİKA for their support.
After the opening ceremony, mushroom cultivation training commenced with the participation of 30 people.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has implemented a support project for Qalqilya Kindergarten, the first preschool in the city, located in the Qalqilya region of Palestine.
The poor physical conditions of the school, which is managed by the Al Murabitat Charitable Society—founded in 1960 and run by women—were improved, creating a modern educational environment.
As part of the project, various materials such as furniture, toys, televisions, air conditioning and camera systems were provided to the kindergarten. The capacity of the newly renovated kindergarten increased from 70 to 165 students.
The project also contributed to women’s employment. In addition to the existing staff, five more women were hired at the upgraded school.
Qalqilya Kindergarten, one of TİKA’s projects supporting sustainable development in education, production and employment in Palestine, now aims to offer quality education to more children with its enhanced facilities and expanded capacity.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a Reusable Sanitary Pad Production Workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, to improve women’s access to hygienic products and support their participation in social life.
The fact that 75% of women, particularly in rural areas, lack access to sanitary pads contributes to the spread of infectious diseases and disrupts girls’ education. To address this issue, TİKA collaborated with the Orphan Child Care Center to establish and operationalize the Reusable Sanitary Pad Production Workshop.
The necessary production materials were supplied, and 15 women were employed.
Ethiopian Minister of Women and Social Affairs Visits Workshop
Ethiopian Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Dr. Ergogie Tesfaye, visited the workshop and expressed gratitude to Türkiye for TİKA’s sustainable projects.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Berk Baran highlighted that TİKA has implemented over 200 projects in Ethiopia to date, further strengthening the cooperation between the two countries.
In addition to producing sanitary pads, the project creates job opportunities for women in need, particularly those caring for orphans, offering both economic support and contributing to girls’ education.
The workshop plays a crucial role, especially in the social empowerment of women.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided equipment for water evacuation to help Senegalese citizens whose homes and workplaces were affected by severe flooding in Senegal.
To facilitate the return of 1,600 families displaced by the flood disaster in the city of Touba, Senegal TİKA provided 3 high-capacity water pumps, along with water pipes, hoses and 200 sets of boots, raincoats and safety vests.
The equipment was handed over to officials from the Touba Municipality for distribution to affected families.
Heavy rainfall on September 17-18, 2024, caused significant damage in the city, where the inadequate sewage infrastructure contributed to severe flooding, resulting in the loss of three lives.
Abdoul Lahad Ka, the mayor of Touba, a city with a population of approximately one million, expressed his gratitude to TİKA and the Turkish people for their swift response to the community’s urgent needs.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS), donated 2,000 saplings to Lesotho’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry to support environmental protection efforts in the Kingdom of Lesotho. A ceremony was held at Fatima Primary School in rural Ha Ramabanta, where 200 of the saplings were planted on the eve of Lesotho’s Independence Day.
The climate crisis has emerged as one of Africa’s greatest challenges, resulting in floods and drought-induced food crises across the continent. As part of its efforts to combat this issue, the IFRC aimed to plant 10 million trees in Africa, starting at the end of 2021 and continuing through 2030. Meanwhile, King Letsie III of Lesotho has announced a target of planting 1 million trees in his country by early 2024. To support this initiative, TİKA has provided grape, apple, peach and pine saplings, along with equipment and fertilizer, to the Lesotho Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
The 100 apple and 100 peach saplings delivered by TİKA were planted with the participation of students at Fatima Primary School in Ha Ramabanta. School Principal Matumelo Ramanamane expressed his gratitude, highlighting the project’s contribution to the health and well-being of the students. He also stated that the school would take excellent care of the saplings, which are a gift from the Republic of Türkiye.
Harry Nkhetse, President of the Lesotho Red Cross Society, emphasized the importance of long-term partnerships in the fight against climate change and expressed his commitment to strengthening cooperation with TİKA and other stakeholders.
TİKA Pretoria Program Coordinator Abdulkadir Abukan provided examples of TİKA’s projects focused on global food security and combating the climate crisis, highlighting the significance of this initiative in addressing landslides and food security in Lesotho. He expressed his gratitude to the IFRC, the Lesotho Red Cross Society and the Government of Lesotho for their cooperation.
Kopano Masilo, Head of Operations of the IFRC Pretoria Cluster, thanked TİKA for its support and emphasized the project’s importance in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. He stated that this initiative, which commemorates Lesotho’s 200th anniversary by planting 2,000 trees, will significantly contribute to environmental sustainability and food security in the country.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pretoria, Ms. Ayşegül Kandaş, commended the collaboration between TİKA, the IFRC and the Lesotho Red Cross Society, noting that the tree-planting initiative will contribute to long-term food security and climate resilience in the region.
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Lesotho, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry reiterated the government’s support for environmental protection projects. He emphasized that such initiatives play a crucial role in safeguarding Lesotho’s natural resources and promoting sustainable development.
Kingdom of Lesotho
Lesotho is a landlocked country entirely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. Often referred to as the “Kingdom in the Sky” and the “Mountain Kingdom,” the country has a population of approximately 2 million. With an altitude of 1,400 meters even at its lowest point, Lesotho’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, and it faces challenges from natural disasters such as floods and landslides. The saplings donated by TİKA are expected to play a significant role in addressing these issues.
TİKA supplied technical equipment to the largest and only vocational training school in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire that specializes in jewelry education.
The support included 3D printers, laser welding machines and other equipment used in jewelry production for the Vocational Training School.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Burhanettin Duran; Minister of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Apprenticeship of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Koffi N’Guessan; Türkiye’s Ambassador to Abidjan, Deniz Erdoğan Barım, along with many guests, attended the ceremony held at the school in Abidjan, the commercial capital of Côte d’Ivoire.
During his meeting with Minister N’Guessan at the ceremony, Deputy Minister Duran highlighted that one of Türkiye’s main priorities in Africa is supporting youth education, employment and the sustainable development of nations. He emphasized that Türkiye will continue its development projects through TİKA in the coming period.
Minister N’Guessan expressed his gratitude for Türkiye’s support for the people and youth of Côte d’Ivoire, noting that Türkiye’s development projects make significant contributions to the future of the country’s youth.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has established a digital learning center in the Wadi al-Joz region, where Palestinian women will receive training in digital marketing, graphic design and project management.
Thanks to the initiatives of the Young Muslim Women’s Association, established in 1979, vocational training is being offered to Palestinian women and youth in the Wadi al-Joz region in areas such as fashion design, tailoring and hairdressing.
In addition to these training programs, TİKA converted an unused hall within the association into a digital training space, allowing for courses in digital marketing, graphic design and project management.
The opening ceremony of the center was attended by İsmail Çobanoğlu, the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Jerusalem; Orhan Aydın, TİKA’s Coordinator in Palestine; Nadine Ghawanmeh, President of the Young Muslim Women’s Association; Louay Al-Husseini, General Manager of the Jerusalem Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and members of the association’s board.
100 women to participate in a 260-hour training program
In the first stage, three different training courses will be organized for 100 women, including 70 hours of digital marketing, 70 hours of graphic design and 120 hours of project management. These programs aim to equip participants with the essential knowledge and practical skills needed for success in the business environment.
Training programs will be offered in digital marketing for 70 hours, graphic design for 70 hours and project management for 120 hours.
A total of 100 women will have the opportunity to participate in these courses to acquire the essential knowledge and skills needed for success in the business environment.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) extended Türkiye’s helping hand to the Turkish and Tatar communities who were impacted by the flood disaster in Amzacea, Constanta, Romania.
Romania is continuing its efforts to recover from the flood disaster that struck the town of Amzacea in Constanta on August 31, impacting around 60 households.
Due to excessive rainfall, the water channel in the town of Amzacea overflowed, leading to a regional flood disaster. Although there was no loss of life in the town, which saw 300 liters of rainfall per square meter within 48 hours, material damage affected approximately 40 households, including those of the Turkish and Tatar communities.
Families affected by the flood disaster in Amzacea, where Turks and Tatars make up approximately 15% of the population, were visited by TİKA officials. The agency replaced the damaged white goods and furniture of 15 families with new items. Additionally, construction materials were provided to assist with repairing their homes.
A total of 20 tons of construction materials, along with 11 washing machines, 4 refrigerators, 21 beds and 14 cabinets, were provided.
The delivery program in Amzacea was attended by current Mayor Romică Stan, incoming Mayor Adrian Gobeaja, who will assume office in November, and the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye, Ozan Çakır.
800 aid packages delivered to those in need
Romania, which experienced its heaviest rainfall in 20 years, was hit by a devastating flood on September 15. The disaster claimed seven lives and affected more than 20,000 people.
In response, TİKA provided 800 aid packages containing food and hygiene supplies to the affected families.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has initiated emergency aid efforts in response to the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon following the airstrikes that began on September 23, 2024.
As a wave of migration occurs, particularly from the southern cities of Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley to Beirut and the northern regions, the Lebanese government has declared a state of emergency and decided to utilize schools and public facilities to accommodate the sheltering needs of displaced citizens.
TİKA continues to support regions in need during this challenging time. In this context, 4,000 beds, blankets and 5 tons of hygiene supplies have been distributed.
TİKA, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Beirut and more than 30 Lebanese public institutions and civil society organizations, jointly distributed humanitarian aid materials across various regions of the country.
TİKA’s assistance also reached Turkmens living in Northern Lebanon, Syrian Turkmens in Lebanon, Mardin-origin compatriots in Beirut and Palestinian refugees residing in camps.
TİKA did not forget its stakeholders with whom it had previously collaborated on projects. In this context, humanitarian aid supplies were provided to the Bir Hassan Tourism Vocational High School, which has been converted into a shelter center, and to the Beirut Hassan Khaled High School, which continues its educational activities in the building of the Ottoman-era Beirut Military Middle School.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed school supplies to 600 students attending rural village schools in Iloilo Province, Philippines.
In an event organized in collaboration with TİKA and the Philippine Ministry of Education, school bags and essential stationery were distributed to 600 students at Libo-o and Tabugan Elementary Schools to mark the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year.
The ceremony at Libo-o and Tabugan Elementary Schools was attended by Dingle Municipality representatives, Arlena Relator and Janet Vestido; TİKA’s Coordinator in Manila, İbrahim Katırcı along with school principals, teachers and students.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dingle Municipality Representative Arlena Relator emphasized that TİKA’s support was significant for underprivileged students and their families stating, “On behalf of the people of the Philippines, I would like to thank the Republic of Türkiye.”
TİKA‘s Coordinator İbrahim Katırcı highlighted that one of TİKA’s primary goals in the Philippines is to reduce inequality of opportunity in education. He noted that the support provided today serves this purpose and announced that they will be implementing more educational projects in different regions of the country in the near future.
