TİKA Enhances Educational Opportunities for Students with Special Needs in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) established a state-of-the-art “Sensory Perception Room” at a primary school catering to students with special needs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The facility, located at Safvet-beg Bašagić Primary School in Sarajevo, the nation’s capital, is designed to enhance the sensory development of students with special needs. The room focuses on improving their senses of touch, movement, balance, vision, hearing, smell, and taste.

On December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Sarajevo, Sadık Babür Girgin; Minister of Education of Sarajevo Canton, Naida Hota Muminović; TİKA’s Coordinator in Sarajevo, Erdinç Işık; along with school administrators, teachers and students, participated in the opening ceremony of the Sensory Perception Room.

In his remarks, Ambassador Girgin expressed his happiness with the project undertaken between the two brotherly nations and extended his gratitude to TİKA and all contributors.

Minister Muminović highlighted that the initiative has further strengthened the bond between Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

She noted the importance of efforts to assist children with special needs in integrating into social life, saying

“The resilience of children living with challenges as they work to reintegrate into daily life inspires others. In Sarajevo Canton, we have focused on training teachers to work with children with special needs. However, creating sensory perception rooms requires both equipment and support. The contribution from our friends at TİKA has brought immense value to education here, and we are deeply grateful.”

TİKA’s Coordinator in Sarajevo, Işık explained that the materials provided in the sensory room are designed to improve students’ motor skills and support their rehabilitation.

He added, “We have implemented numerous education-focused projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the past two years alone, we have completed more than 20 educational initiatives. These projects not only support students with special needs but also aim to enhance education for all students. Our ultimate goal is to help students integrate into society more seamlessly.”

As part of the program, the students performed the Turkish song “Arkadaşım Eşek” by Barış Manço.