TİKA Provides Equipment Support to Rehabilitation Center for People with Disabilities in Colombia

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has renovated and equipped the Rehabilitation Center for People with Disabilities in the city of Girón, located in Colombia’s Santander Department. With this support, the center has resumed operations at full capacity.

The project, implemented by TİKA, aims to enhance the life skills of individuals with disabilities and their caregivers, improve access to healthcare services, and promote entrepreneurship among them.  

The opening ceremony of the center was attended by Beste Pehlivan Sun, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Bogotá; Campo Elías Ramírez, Mayor of Girón; representatives from TİKA and the International Organization for Migration (IOM); as well as individuals with disabilities registered at the center and their families. During the event, some of the center’s care recipients gave short performances.

In his speech at the ceremony, Mayor Ramírez emphasized the center’s importance for the local community and described Türkiye’s support as “a model example of international solidarity”. He noted that the center represents an investment not only in the present but also in the future.

Previously, the center operated under the Social Development Secretariat of the Municipality of Girón with limited capacity, offering only examination and counseling services. Due to the lack of physical therapy facilities, medical care, and specialized educational materials, it was unable to provide comprehensive support.

TİKA provided the center with physiotherapy and rehabilitation devices, special education classroom equipment, and machinery for skill development courses. With this support, the center was fully equipped to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.

In Girón, approximately 10,140 people with disabilities are registered. The renovated center now addresses the long-standing challenges these individuals have faced in accessing physiotherapy, psychological support, and educational services.

By serving not only local residents but also vulnerable groups who have migrated from Venezuela, the center stands as a model of social inclusion. The project contributes to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the areas of “reducing inequalities”, “access to healthcare”, and “inclusive education”.

The sustainability of the center is supported by the IOM, while expert staffing is ensured through partnerships with local universities and educational institutions.