Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a sewing workshop at the Women’s Shelter within the King’s Hope Development Foundation, located in the Olievenhoutbosch neighborhood of Tshwane, South Africa, to empower women through vocational training.
The unused space at the King’s Hope Women’s Shelter in Olievenhoutbosch, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Tshwane, was renovated and equipped with sewing machines by TİKA.
Ten female trainees who successfully completed the first training program at the sewing workshop, established by TİKA to empower women in a region struggling with high unemployment, poverty, rising crime rates and limited access to basic services, received their certificates at a ceremony.
The women who participated in the training at the TİKA-established sewing workshop expressed their gratitude for this life-changing opportunity, noting that the skills they gained boosted their self-confidence and made them feel empowered.
The opening ceremony of the workshop was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to South Africa, Ayşegül Kandaş; TİKA Program Coordinator, Abdulkadir Abukan; Olievenhoutbosch Municipal Councilor, Obed Mahloko; King’s Hope General Director, Portia Tshibalo and community leader, Kgomotso Khalushi.
At the opening ceremony; Türkiye’s Ambassador to South Africa, Ayşegül Kandaş emphasized the importance of women’s economic empowerment and expressed her pride in the impact of TİKA’s projects in South Africa.
TİKA Program Coordinator Abdulkadir Abukan reiterated TİKA’s commitment to sustainable development and thanked King’s Hope for their cooperation in making the project a success. He stated that TİKA aims to implement initiatives that provide long-term benefits to communities.
Community leader Kgomotso Khalushi highlighted the positive impact of TİKA’s work and expressed hope for more future projects aimed at supporting young people in Olievenhoutbosch.
In his speech, Olievenhoutbosch Municipal Councilor Obed Mahloko thanked TİKA for its valuable contributions to the community and emphasized the importance of ongoing support for local development initiatives.
Portia Tshibalo, General Director of King’s Hope, emphasized the empowering impact of the project on women in the community and expressed her gratitude to TİKA and the Turkish people for their support.
One of the graduates, Noziwe Banda, shared how the training not only equipped her with sewing skills but also helped her rebuild her life after surviving domestic violence. Banda expressed her confidence in her ability to sew any kind of dress using the skills she acquired.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed school bags and stationery to 500 primary school students in Azerbaijan.
As part of a project carried out in collaboration with TİKA and the Consulate General of Türkiye in Ganja, school bags and stationery were distributed to 500 underprivileged primary school students in rural schools across the Samukh, Goygol, Gadabay, Dashkasan and Goranboy provinces.
The ceremony held in Goygol was attended by Recep Öztop, Consul General of Türkiye in Ganja; Kemale Ibrahimova, Deputy Governor of Ganja; TİKA’s Coordinator in Baku, Hayrettin Özçelik, along with teachers, students and parents.
In his speech at the ceremony, the Consul General of Türkiye in Ganja, Öztop emphasized that Türkiye supports Azerbaijan in the education sector, as it does in many other fields.
TİKA’s Coordinator in Baku, Özçelik highlighted that education is a lifelong process and reaffirmed TİkA’s commitment to supporting all stages of education in Azerbaijan.
Deputy Governor of Goygol, Ibrahimova expressed her gratitude to Türkiye and TİKA for bringing joy to the students ahead of the new academic year.
The second delivery ceremony of the project took place in the village of Seyidler, Samukh province.
Governor of Samukh, Firdovsi Aliyev expressed his gratitude to Türkiye and TİKA for their support to the students and encouraged the students to work harder and excel in their studies.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) supplied essential hardware to orphanages housing 100 children in Afghanistan and provided the children with much-needed personal hygiene products and school supplies.
TİKA supplied hardware equipment to the Baghlan Girls’ and Boys’ Provincial Orphanages, under the Baghlan Directorate of Labor and Social Affairs.
The items delivered to the orphanages included bedding sets, vacuum cleaners, air conditioners, fans and washing machines.
Additionally, stationery, personal hygiene products and clothing were provided for the 100 boys and girls residing in the orphanages.
Baghlan Deputy Governor, Mullah Mohammad Humayun Cihadyar; Baghlan Deputy Director of National Education, Amanullah Hakyar; TİKA’s Coordinator in Mazar-i-Sharif, Mikail Taşdemir; and Baghlan Director of Labor and Social Affairs, Kari Nasratullah Parsa attended the delivery ceremony.
In his speech, Taşdemir emphasized the strong ties of brotherhood between the Turkish and Afghan peoples and affirmed that TİKA will continue supporting orphanages and families in need in Afghanistan. He also noted that aid materials were recently provided to 300 families affected by the recent disaster in Baghlan.
Deputy Governor Cihadyar expressed his gratitude for the support provided by TİKA. Director of Labor and Social Affairs Parsa remarked that this assistance serves as a beacon of hope for children facing challenging circumstances.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) launched the “Breeding Broiler Production Project” to reduce Somalia’s reliance on imported chicken meat.
As part of the Project for Developing Layer Poultry Farming in Somalia, launched in 2020 through a collaboration between TİKA and Zamzam University’s Anatolian Faculty of Agriculture, a poultry house and hatchery facility were constructed within the faculty. Building on this initiative, a Feed Production Center was established in 2023 at City University’s Faculty of Agriculture in the capital, Mogadishu.
In the next phase of the project, the “Breeding Broiler Production Project” was implemented to reduce Somalia’s reliance on imported chicken meat.
Breeding Broiler Chicken Production stages
A total of 5,900 mother and father line eggs of Anadolu-T, Türkiye’s domestic broiler breed, are brought from Türkiye and incubated at the faculty’s facility. After thorough inspections by Turkish experts, the hatched chicks are transferred to breeder poultry houses for further growth and care.
In addition, a training program was organized for the students and lecturers of the Faculty of Agriculture, providing a detailed explanation of the stages of chicken production.
The project aims to make Somalia self-sufficient in broiler production and contribute to the development of the livestock sector.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) organized training sessions on automotive, air conditioning and electrical systems for instructors from vocational education institutions across various regions of Sri Lanka, as part of the Vocational Training and Employment Increase Program (MESİP).
The two-week program was attended by 34 trainees from five different regions of the countryand covered a range of topics, including electric motor winding systems, solar energy systems and PLC systems. The automotive training focused on hybrid and electric vehicles as well as advanced automotive technologies.
At the conclusion of the program, certificates were awarded to the successful trainees at a ceremony attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Colombo, Semih Lutfü Turgut.
During his speech, Ambassador Turgut expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in organizing the program.
Dr. M. T. Ziyad Mohamed, Director of Insight and Iqraa Institutes and Mohamed Rameez, Director of Iqraa, also thanked TİKA for its contributions.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has restored the historic Tripoli Mevlevi Lodge in Tripoli, Lebanon, turning it into a Youth and Cultural Center.
The building, which had fallen into disrepair due to flooding from the Abou Ali River in Tripoli and the civil war in Lebanon, was restored by TİKA and returned to its original appearance.
In 2024, renovation work was completed on the Mevlevi Lodge in Tripoli, which had been declared the Arab Capital of Culture for that year, to prepare it for its new role. After addressing the wear and tear caused by natural conditions, the lodge was handed over to the Mevlevi Trustee to function as a youth and cultural center.
Visited by Evliya Çelebi
Founded in 1619 by Ali Pasha of Samsun as a center of knowledge along the pilgrimage route, the Mevlevi Lodge was visited by the renowned traveler Evliya Çelebi in 1672. He described it as “a delightful structure surrounded by lemon, citrus and rose gardens, with dervish lodgings overlooking the river.”
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) named the library it established in Bamyan province, Afghanistan, after Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga, a private physician who was sent to Afghanistan by Atatürk to contribute to the health sector.
The “Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga Library,” whose construction was initiated by TİKA about four months ago on the Bamyan University campus, covers an area of 220 square meters. It is fully equipped with essential materials such as tables, desks, bookshelves, screens, projectors and computers, providing an environment where 100 university students can simultaneously conduct scientific studies and research.
University opens its first library
The library, named after Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga and with a capacity for 5,000 books, was inaugurated at a ceremony held on the university campus for the benefit of academics and students.
The opening ceremony of the library was attended by Afghanistan’s Minister of Higher Education, Sheikh Neda Mohammad Nadeem; Deputy Minister of Economy, Dr. Abdul Latif Nazari; TİKA’s Coordinator in Kabul, Fazıl Akın Erdoğan; Director of the Yunus Emre Institute, Gündüz Pulat; Governor of Bamyan, Mullah Abdullah Sarhadi; Rector of Bamyan University, Mufti Hazrat Mohammad Burhani, and various media representatives.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Higher Education Nadeem expressed his gratitude to Türkiye and TİKA for their support.
Atatürk’s doctor Urga’s legacy preserved
TİKA’s Kabul Office Coordinator Fazıl Akın Erdoğan stated that TİKA will continue its support for the Afghan people. Erdoğan expressed his hope that the library will be beneficial for the university students, who represent the future of Afghanistan. He remarked, “I hope that the library will contribute to your academic growth.”
Erdoğan noted that the university previously lacked a library, leaving thousands of students without this essential resource. He highlighted that the library was completed in just 3-4 months and is now available for use.
Erdoğan noted that Bamyan, a city known for its tourism, places a high value on reading and writing, with many young people aspiring to attend university. He said, “We established our library at Bamyan University to reflect the city’s appreciation for learning. We named the library after Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga and were pleased to open it alongside Afghanistan’s Minister of Higher Education.”
Erdoğan explained that Urga spent 17 years of his life in Afghanistan saying, “Even before TİKA was established or perhaps even before the idea was conceived, he worked here as a voluntary collaborator, helping to establish Afghanistan’s first medical faculty. We decided to honor his legacy by naming this library, which we built at the university after him.”
“An important opportunity provided for Bamyan University students”
Asıf Ekberi, a fourth-year student in the Department of Tourism, mentioned that for the past four years, they had faced difficulties with book availability and study conditions due to the lack of a library on campus.
Stating his satisfaction with the establishment of the library, Ekberi said, “This library provides an important opportunity for Bamyan University students. They now have a place to study and access to numerous resources.”
Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga
Born in Çankırı in 1880, Dr. Rıfkı Kamil Urga served as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s personal physician. At the request of King Amanullah Khan of Afghanistan, who was visiting Türkiye, and on Atatürk’s appointment, Urga spent 17 years in Afghanistan.
During his time there, Urga made substantial contributions to the field of health and played a key role in establishing the Kabul Medical Faculty, Afghanistan’s first medical school.
In Zigetvar, Hungary, “Turkish Day” events were organized with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) as part of the annual “Kanuni-Zrínyi Commemoration Days,” held every September in honor of Suleiman the Magnificent and Miklós Zrínyi.
In 2024, designated as the “Turkish-Hungarian Cultural Year” to mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Hungary, TİKA organized “Turkish Day” events in Zigetvar as part of the annual “Kanuni-Zrínyi Commemoration Days,” held each September in memory of Suleiman the Magnificent and Miklós Zrínyi.
The “Turkish Day” events, held in Yunus Emre Square where the Zigetvar Turkish House—restored by TİKA—is located, were attended by Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Budapest; Ahmet Metin Genç, Mayor of Trabzon; Birol Akgün, President of the Turkish Maarif Foundation, as well as accompanying delegations and local residents.
At the event, where the Ottoman Mehter Band of Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality performed, guests were treated to Turkish delicacies such as baklava, börek, Turkish delight and Turkish coffee.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has set up pastry, welding and sewing workshops for individuals with disabilities in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
The welding workshop, established with the support of TİKA, enables people with disabilities to produce their own wheelchairs. The pastry and sewing departments will also help them generate additional income and empower them to build a more stable livelihood.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Norman Yulian, President of the Indonesian Association of Persons with Disabilities (PPDI), expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation with TİKA and shared their readiness to expand the project to other cities.
In Indonesia, there are nearly 24 million people with disabilities, representing approximately 8.5% of the population. According to the 2022 report by the Indonesian Central Statistics Agency, only about 3% of this disabled population participates in the workforce.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided equipment and medical supplies to strengthen the practical training capabilities of Dakar Municipality’s Health Vocational School (EMPS).
To facilitate student research in the field of health, 20 new computers were installed in the school’s library, along with a laser printer. Additionally, 5 video projectors were provided to enhance the quality of visual training for midwifery and nursing students.
The opening ceremony for the project was attended by Nur Sağman, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Dakar; Barthélémy Dias, Mayor of Dakar; Mouhamed Diop, Secretary General of Dakar Municipality; and Dr. Rokhaya Seck, Director of the Vocational School of Health.
About the Health Vocational School
Established in 2006, the Health Vocational School offers free three-year education to approximately 200 financially disadvantaged midwife and nurse candidates each year. Currently, 202 students, including 169 girls, are enrolled in the school. Upon graduation, students are evaluated by the Ministry of Health for placement based on the demand for healthcare personnel in Senegal.
With support from Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), musicians and philharmonic orchestra artists received foundational training in Turkish music at the Institute of Fine Arts at Quindío University in Armenia, Colombia.
The workshops were conducted by Turkish musician Serkan Yılmaz, who provided participants with an immersive cultural experience through his lectures on Turkish music theory. Participants remarked that exploring Turkish music felt like learning a new language and that they had developed a mini Turkish repertoire by the end of the course.
Sebastián Martínez Castro, Director of the Institute of Fine Arts, noted that the event provided a new perspective on music and offered a closer insight into Turkish culture. “Through this workshop, we discovered that Western music is not the sole source of musical inspiration and that diverse musical traditions should be preserved,” Castro said.
Commenting on the impact of cultural diversity on music, Yılmaz emphasized that exploring various musical traditions enhances musicians’ creativity. “Turkish music offers a unique approach to thinking, composing and writing. This new perspective will enrich the work of every musician here,” Yılmaz said.
Concert featuring Turkish compositions held
At the conclusion of the workshop, Colombian artists attended a concert by Serkan Yılmaz at Quindío University. The performance, which featured Colombian musicians playing Turkish compositions, was highly praised by the audience.
Rector Luis Fernando Polanía Obando, Vice Rector Alejandra María Giraldo García, Director of the International Relations Office Eduardo Perafán Del Campo and TİKA officials attended the concert.
David Gómez Ramírez, concertmaster of the Uniquindío Philharmonic Orchestra, commented on the training: “These workshops introduced us to the fundamentals of Eastern music. We learned a great deal in just one week. It was both enjoyable and enriching to have this opportunity provided by TİKA.”
Quindío University’s Institute of Fine Arts is a prestigious arts education center with a 30-year history, and it is home to the region’s only philharmonic orchestra. With branches across the country, the Institute offers music education to approximately 2,000 people annually.
The capacity of the “Village-to-City Sales Center,” established in Baku in 2020 through a collaboration between Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and Agro Procurement and Supply JSC, affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has been expanded. The center allows producers to directly offer agricultural products and village crops to city residents.
The sales center, set up in a tent structure covering 960 square meters next to the centrally located “Gençlik” metro station in Baku, offers agricultural and livestock products from over a hundred farmers to consumers, particularly on weekends and holidays.
In addition, beekeeping products from various regions of the country are sold to the residents of Baku at the national beekeeping and honey exhibitions, which are held annually and last for about a month.
Additional sales points established
As part of the project carried out by TİKA at the request of the Agro Procurement and Supply Joint Stock Company of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Village-to-City Sales Center was expanded by 180 m2 and an additional 60 sales points were added. This expansion was undertaken to accommodate the increased demand from producer farmers, particularly during honey exhibitions and other sales events.
The sales center, now expanded to a total area of 1,140 square meters, enables more farmers to bring their products directly to urban consumers.
“Producers gained market access”
At the handover ceremony of the Village-to-City Sales Center to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, TİKA’s Coordinator in Baku Hayrettin Özçelik emphasized that TİKA supports projects that enhance the livelihoods and employment opportunities of those involved in agriculture and animal husbandry in Azerbaijan. He highlighted that the Village-to-City Sales Center, which provides small-scale producers with access to the market through an institutional framework, aligns with this mission.
The Village-to-City Sales Center, expanded through TİKA’s efforts, will connect the people of Baku with over 200 beekeepers at the National Beekeeping and Honey Exhibition, scheduled to take place from September 9 to 29, 2024.
