Gagauz Cartoons Supported by TİKA Now Airing

Gagauz-language cartoons, developed with the support of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) to preserve the Gagauz language and pass it on to future generations, have started airing.

Sixteen cartoons produced in the Gagauz language with the support of TİKA have started airing on Gagauz Radio Television, a Moldovan channel. Additionally, with the support of the Gagauz Education Directorate, these cartoons are being shown to children in nurseries across the country.

The cartoon series, featuring entirely original characters, music and scripts in the Gagauz language, marks a historic first for the Gagauz people.

The cartoon series “Güneşä Karşı,” which has been highly praised by children, highlights Gagauz customs and traditions, helping children and young people gain a deeper understanding of their own culture.

Previously, cartoons aired in the Gagauz language were imported from other countries and broadcast with dubbed audio.

Gagauz voice-over, Romanian subtitles

Since 2020, a bilingual language learning program in Gagauzia has been implemented in preschool education institutions, focusing on both Gagauz and Romanian. To support this initiative, the newly produced cartoons feature Gagauz voice-over with Romanian subtitles.

This approach not only fosters children’s interest in the Gagauz language but also helps them learn Romanian, the official language of Moldova.

TİKA supports the preservation of the Gagauz language

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has classified the Gagauz language, part of the Oghuz branch of Turkic languages and known as the closest relative to Turkish, as endangered.

In response, since 1994, when TİKA began its activities in Moldova, the agency has supported numerous projects and initiatives aimed at preserving the Gagauz language and ensuring its transmission to future generations.