A project aimed at promoting qualified beekeeping was launched in Tunisia to provide a sustainable source of income for women, persons with disabilities, and unemployed youth.
Within the scope of the project, 20 members of a local cooperative—composed predominantly of women—received donations of modern beekeeping equipment, including beehives, production and extraction tools, and packaging materials. In addition, both theoretical and practical training sessions on honey production were provided to strengthen the members’ technical capacity.
In Tunisia, the lack of knowledge regarding the nutritional value and authenticity of locally produced honey limits its market potential and increases demand for imported alternatives. In response to this, the cooperative has been implementing a model project in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries of Tunisia and the National Institute for Research and Physico-Chemical Analysis (INRAP), aiming to analyze and certify the nutritional content and authenticity of the honey produced. This analysis and certification process not only enhances consumer confidence in local honey but also sets an example for other local producers.
Through the establishment of a packaging and sales unit within the cooperative, the project aims to bring certified and nutritionally analyzed honey to market with greater added value. In addition to strengthening the economic participation of women, youth, and persons with special needs, the project is also expected to contribute to the wider adoption of qualified and professional honey production in the country.
TİKA continues to support the active participation of vulnerable groups in economic life through projects that prioritize local development and promote sustainable production.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has renovated the health center at the Teresa Carreño Theater in Venezuela as part of its Program for the Development of Health Services and Infrastructure in South America.
TİKA has renovated and reopened the health center on the Teresa Carreño Theater campus in Caracas, Venezuela, the second-largest cultural complex in Latin America.
The fully renovated center, equipped with modern medical equipment, serves theater workers and their families, as well as audiences attending events. Serving approximately 300 employees, the center’s contemporary design and new medical equipment have raised healthcare standards and enabled effective emergency response.
The two renovated areas have been outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment, along with upgraded painting, air conditioning and lighting systems. Additionally, the center now offers physiotherapy, internal medicine, gynecology, ultrasonography, occupational medicine, nutrition and dietetics, psychology and traumatology services.
The opening ceremony was attended by Turkish Ambassador to Caracas, Naci Aydan Karamanoğlu; President of the Teatro Teresa Carreño Foundation, Gustavo Arreaza; Theater Director General, Irvin Peña; Embassy staff and health center personnel.
In his speech, Ambassador Karamanoğlu stated that TİKA has completed more than 30 projects across Venezuela in the fields of culture, health, education and social services, seven of which are in the health sector. Emphasizing the symbolic value of the project in integrating culture and health, he said, “It is an honor for us to contribute to the lives of the artists, directors and their families at the Teresa Carreño Theater, the second-largest cultural complex in Latin America.”
In his speech, Arreaza, President of the Teatro Teresa Carreño Foundation, expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from Türkiye, stating, “As Chávez also noted, culture is one of the most important elements that enables the transformation and development of societies. This contribution from Türkiye is very meaningful to us.”
The project was implemented as part of TİKA’s Health Services and Infrastructure Development Program in South America. This program directly contributes to the “Health and Quality of Life” goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, supporting the development strategies of countries in the region and providing improved healthcare standards to thousands of people each year.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) organized a cultural tour to Türkiye for 50 students of Turkish and Tatar descent who won a quiz competition in Constanța, Romania.
The students, who excelled in the “Turkish Language Knowledge”, “History and Traditions of the Turks in Romania”, “Islam”, and “My Beautiful Language Turkish” competitions, coordinated by the Constanța Provincial Education Inspectorate of the Romanian Ministry of Education, visited Türkiye as part of the “Dobruja-Türkiye Heart Bridge” project.
During the five-day program in Istanbul and Ankara, the students visited cultural sites such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, the Basilica Cistern, the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, the Rami Library, Miniatürk, Taksim Square, Istiklal Avenue, the Cinema Museum and the Galata Tower. They also stayed at the Adile Sultan Pavilion, where the film Hababam Sınıfı (The Chaos Class) was filmed.
In Ankara, the students visited Anıtkabir and the TİKA headquarters, where they met with TİKA’s President Abdullah Eren. They also participated in horseback riding and archery activities at the Traditional Sports Club and had the opportunity to learn more about Turkish culture.
After the invitation, TİKA President Abdullah Eren shared on social media: “The determination, effort and success of our young people in these competitions illuminate not only the present but also the future of our culture. We’re so glad you came, young people; TİKA is always with you.”
The knowledge competitions, organized annually under the coordination of the Constanța Provincial Education Inspectorate, encourage young people of Turkish and Tatar descent to learn about their language, religion and culture. Successful students receive scholarships from the Romanian Ministry of Education and awards from the Romanian Democratic Turkish Union and TİKA. This year, TİKA awarded tablet computers to 32 students who won first place in the four competition categories.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) renovated the Diplomatic Academy building of the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Ecuador.
The building, notable for its neo-colonial architecture and built in the 1940s, was once the residence of Galo Plaza Lasso, a former president of Ecuador, and was later converted into a diplomatic training center. As part of the project carried out by TİKA, the academy’s historic building was renovated. The interior spaces, previously used by Ecuadorian diplomats as auditoriums, libraries and classrooms, were completely refurbished and made available to the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The historic building, which served as the residence of Galo Plaza Lasso, the President of Ecuador, when diplomatic relations were established in 1950, was re-inaugurated in a ceremony attended by M. Başak Yalçın, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Quito and Gabriela Sommerfeld, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador.
The project’s opening ceremony was the first in a series of celebratory events planned in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Speaking at the opening, Ambassador Alejandro Suárez, Director of the Ecuadorian Diplomatic Academy, stated that this renovation, carried out with the support of TİKA, symbolizes the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Suárez thanked the Turkish government, the Turkish Embassy in Quito and TİKA, emphasizing that the renovated space will make a significant contribution to the training of young diplomats.
“A gift from Turkish diplomacy to Ecuadorian diplomacy”
Speaking at the ceremony, Turkish Ambassador to Quito M. Başak Yalçın expressed her honor at celebrating such a meaningful anniversary in this historic building, the year diplomatic relations were established in 1950. She emphasized that this project, implemented with TİKA’s world-renowned technical expertise and generous financial contribution, is not only a development cooperation initiative but also a gift from Turkish diplomacy to the Ecuadorian diplomatic community.
Ambassador Yalçın also highlighted the cultural and diplomatic significance of the 75th-anniversary commemorative hand-painted İznik tile plaque placed on the building’s façade, as well as the tile works featuring çintemani and lalezar motifs displayed in the main hall, presented to the academy by TİKA as a reflection of Turkish culture.
In her speech, Yalçın further stated that the Diplomacy Academies Memorandum of Understanding, signed in 2022, will be advanced through an online training program to be held in October for young diplomats from both countries.
“The heart of the academy has been renewed, and our relations are deepening”
Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld expressed her great pleasure in celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Türkiye in such a meaningful way. Describing the Diplomatic Academy as the heart of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sommerfeld noted that young diplomats will benefit from these new spaces and expressed her gratitude to TİKA and the Turkish government.
Following the ceremony, Minister Sommerfeld and the Ambassador toured the renovated areas. Sommerfeld, noting that she was familiar with the building’s previous condition, stated that the extensive renovations have completely transformed the Diplomatic Academy’s appearance, and that not only new diplomats but also various departments across the Ministry will benefit from these modern spaces.
Cultural and institutional impact
Thanks to the restoration work carried out as part of the project, the Diplomatic Academy has not only been physically renovated but also created a platform for cultural interaction, featuring works of Turkish handicrafts such as İznik tiles.
Turkish coffee and traditional sweets were served to guests at a reception following the opening. Additionally, souvenir envelopes bearing the logo, specially printed by PTT to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Türkiye-Ecuador diplomatic relations, were launched and distributed to attendees.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has illuminated the square and main roads of Tıllıf Turkmen, a village in Syria, with solar-powered lamps.
TİKA installed 220 solar-powered lighting fixtures in the village square and along the main roads of Tıllıf Turkmen, in Hama province, to help strengthen local infrastructure.
Due to Syria’s 14-year civil war and limited investment, the country’s electricity supply has become inadequate to meet demand. Power is often available only sporadically and for short periods of time. This has created serious challenges for Tıllıf Turkmen, where post-war repatriation has been accelerating.
The village’s population, which had declined to 5,000 before the war, has now risen to 13,000 with the return of displaced residents. It is projected to reach 20,000 in the near future. However, despite this rapid growth, the lack of street lighting has posed significant security risks at night.
The solar-powered lighting system provided by TİKA has improved living conditions in the village and created a safer environment for residents after dark.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has provided equipment to the microbiology laboratory of the Beekeeping Research and Development Institute, affiliated with the Romanian Beekeepers Association, which represents more than 10,000 beekeepers across Romania.
The institute conducts scientific research on beekeeping in Romania, facilitates beekeepers’ access to advanced technologies, provides certification services for product marketing, and promotes good beekeeping practices.
With the modern laboratory equipment supplied by TİKA, the laboratory’s analysis capacity has been significantly enhanced. This upgrade enables research in various areas, including bee genetics and breeding, bee diseases, the chemistry and technology of bee products and apitherapy.
The support aims to diagnose and prevent diseases that negatively affect beekeeping, promote healthy practices and contribute to the sustainable development of the sector.
Operating since 1974, the institute has supported the industry through research, testing and technical assistance for beekeepers. In the coming period, training programs for beekeepers and the provision of beekeeping equipment are also planned within the framework of the collaboration between TİKA and the Romanian Beekeepers Association.
Zanzibar’s rich musical heritage is being preserved and promoted through a project implemented by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA). The new international-standard recording studio at the Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA) will both safeguard traditional taarab music and provide modern music production training to young people.
Founded in 2002, DCMA is one of the most important institutions representing taarab music, which draws from the musical traditions of Africa, North Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. It is also the only non-profit music school in Zanzibar. To date, the academy has trained more than 1,500 students and plays a key role in passing Zanzibar’s living oral heritage on to future generations.
The studio, established by TİKA, has been equipped with a full professional setup, including a digital sound mixer, professional microphone sets, a sound-insulated booth and dedicated software. This will allow students to gain practical skills in contemporary music production, while the academy records Zanzibar’s cultural memory by digitally preserving works that have never before been recorded.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, TİKA’s Coordinator in Dar es Salaam, Filiz Şahinci, emphasized that the project is more than just an investment in technical infrastructure:
“This studio will provide a safe educational space for children and young people while also serving to preserve and promote taarab music, one of Zanzibar’s most valuable cultural heritages. Our project directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by offering quality educational opportunities for young people, supporting cultural industries, safeguarding intangible heritage and strengthening inter-institutional cooperation. Moreover, taarab music holds a unique place within UNESCO’s framework for the preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Therefore, our project creates lasting value at both the local and global levels.”
The newly established studio will be open not only to DCMA students but also to the Zanzibar Ministry of Culture and other relevant institutions.
With the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the “Public Order Risk Analysis Training” was organized for personnel of the Colombian National Police.
The training, conducted in collaboration with TİKA and the Turkish General Directorate of Security, took place in Colombia. Twenty-five police officers from various regions of the country participated in the program, held at the Colombian National Police Academy (ESPOL) campus in the capital, Bogotá.
During the five-day course, police experts from Türkiye provided theoretical and practical training on identifying public order risks, suspect profiling, document control, body language, body searches and vehicle analysis. Participants also gained valuable insights into criminal intervention, distinguishing between the guilty and the innocent and crime prevention.
The closing and certificate ceremony was attended by Beste Pehlivan Sun, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Bogotá; Brigadier General Susana Blanco Romero, representing the Colombian National Police; Merve Zengin, TİKA’s Coordinator in Colombia; and representatives from the security institutions of both countries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Brigadier General Romero said, “Türkiye’s support demonstrates the importance of international cooperation. I express my gratitude for the valuable partnership provided through TİKA.” Ambassador Pehlivan Sun stated that the project contributes to the dissemination of international standards in police practices, adding, “I thank TİKA for its dedicated work in Colombia.”
Zengin, TİKA’s Coordinator in Bogotá, emphasized that the program not only facilitates the transfer of technical knowledge but also fosters the building of lasting bridges of friendship between the two countries. She also announced that 10 Colombian police officers will be invited to Türkiye as a continuation of the training.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of plaques by Turkish and Colombian law enforcement officials.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has contributed to the maintenance and functionality of the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Islamic Cultural Center in Croatia.
TİKA provided support to the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Islamic Cultural Center in Sisak, Croatia.
The center, which was inaugurated on September 8, 2022, with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, serves as an important meeting point for Muslims in the region. Covering approximately 7,000 square meters, including 2,626 square meters of indoor space, the center stands out for its growing number of visitors in Sisak, home to nearly 2,000 Muslims. It offers various facilities such as prayer areas, a conference hall, and a restaurant.
In response to the center’s increasing needs due to its size and frequent use, TİKA provided a lawn mower tractor, indoor and outdoor pressure cleaners, vacuum cleaners, concrete trash bins with ashtrays and a bicycle stand. The equipment was delivered during a program held to mark the third anniversary of the center’s opening.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) supported a project by establishing a ceramic and modeling workshop for children in need of special education in Romania.
TİKA set up the workshop at the Maria Montessori Inclusive Training Center in Constanța, Romania, which serves children requiring special education.
The workshop, established for around 140 students of different age groups, from preparatory class to 10th grade, coming from Constanța and its surroundings, aims to develop two- and three-dimensional imagination, nurture creativity and strengthen students’ perception of their environment.
It will also contribute to the development of children’s hand-eye coordination and motor skills, enable them to express their feelings and thoughts through the works they create, build self-confidence and increase curiosity.
The project is designed to support the physical, emotional and cognitive development of children with disabilities, help integrate them into society as productive individuals and enable them to earn their own livelihoods in the future.
The Travel Document Counterfeiting Training Program, organized in Uganda with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), has been successfully completed.
The five-day Basic Travel Document Counterfeiting Course, held at the Police Senior Command and Staff College in Bwebajja, Uganda, was conducted in cooperation with TİKA, the Turkish General Directorate of Security and the Uganda Police Force. The program concluded with a closing ceremony, where a total of 20 police officers graduated.
The ceremony, attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Kampala, Mehmet Fatih Ak, marked an important step in capacity-building efforts within the Ugandan police force. Fourteen male and six female officers from the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), Forensic Medicine and Border Posts units participated in the training. They received practical instruction on detecting counterfeit travel documents and investigating identity theft cases.
Speaking on behalf of the College Commander, SSP Dr. Edson Muganzi encouraged the graduates to apply their newly acquired expertise in the field and underlined the importance of such capacity-building initiatives for professional development and improving service quality.
The Travel Document Counterfeiting Training Program was successfully completed thanks to TİKA’s collaboration with the Turkish General Directorate of Security and the Uganda Police Force.
The “Journalism for Juniors” program, organized in collaboration with Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) and the Arakan Humanitarian Association, concluded at the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
A total of 70 students received certificates during the training, held at the TİKA Multi-Purpose Training and Culture Center in Camp 16. During the program, groups of young journalists produced 18 short films, demonstrating the knowledge and skills they had acquired in practice.
As part of the program, participants received intensive, hands-on training on topics such as the fundamental principles of journalism, ethical values, news writing, visual media techniques, mobile filming, mobile video editing and mobile journalism. The courses, conducted by TRT’s expert instructors, aimed to enhance young people’s media knowledge and skills, develop their critical thinking and encourage active participation in the news production process.
The curriculum covered core journalism topics as well as storytelling, creative writing, visual presentation, interviewing techniques, teamwork, presentation and translation skills. Participants also gained skills essential for the digital age, including video shooting and editing with mobile devices, digital storytelling on social media platforms and audience engagement.
The closing ceremony, held at the end of the training, was attended by TİKA’s Program Coordinator in Dhaka, Muhammed Ali Armağan; Deputy Secretary General of the Bangladesh Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Muhammed Salih Ubeydullah; Camp 16 official, Rintu Vikas Chakma; officials from the field hospital of the Turkish Ministry of Health; as well as invited Rohingya refugees and students. Certificates were presented to participants who successfully completed the training at the conclusion of the ceremony.
The TİKA Multi-Purpose Education and Culture Center, where the training took place, opened in Camp 16 in 2023. The center, which includes a library, a conference hall and a music classroom, continues to host various cultural activities and training sessions. The Burmese-language books provided to the library are a first for the camps. The conference hall accommodates training sessions as well as meetings of civil society organizations and official authorities.
The Cox’s Bazar district, located near the Myanmar border, currently hosts one of the world’s largest refugee populations. Following the violence in Myanmar in 2017, approximately 750,000 Rohingya Muslims sought refuge in Bangladesh. Combined with previous and subsequent migrations, the number of refugees living in the region today has surpassed 1 million. These camps, concentrated in the Ukhiya and Teknaf districts, consist primarily of temporary shelters made of bamboo and tarpaulin. Living conditions in the camps are extremely difficult due to overcrowding, insufficient infrastructure and the risk of natural disasters. Access to clean water, healthcare, education and food security continues to depend heavily on international aid.
