The Text of the Speech of HE Berin Makbule Tulun,

Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey

(Lidar Foundation, Katutura,11 December 2019)

Representatives of the Katutura Constituency,

Dear Children,

Dear Ladies,

Officials of LIDAR Foundation,

Distinguished members of Media,

Distinguished Guests,

Turkish nation has an enduring tradition of aid emanating from its history, tradition and culture. Based on this notion, Turkey exerts efforts to provide support to those who need assistance, without any discrimination towards race, religion or gender, within the bounds of its potential.

As is known, Turkey is not among the richest countries of the world. However according to the Global Humanitarian Assistance Report, Turkey is the most charitable nation, as per percentage to its gross national income. We, as Turks, largely contribute to capacity building and social development projects, especially in Africa.

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Turkish Red Crescent Society (Kızılay), Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and other numerous Turkish NGOs are very active on a global scale.

I would like to underline that TİKA may be the only cooperation agency that established its regional office in Namibia in order to cover the other regional countries from Namibia. Since opening in 2014, the TİKA Office in Windhoek, in close cooperation with the Namibian authorities, has been developing projects in all regions of Namibia for the well-being of all Namibian people.

TİKA’s projects focus on various fields such as healthcare, capacity building, education, training, agriculture, irrigation, water and sanitation, women empowerment, solar energy, wild life preservation and humanitarian aid.

Today, we come together, for a project of the TİKA Office in Windhoek on capacity building, under the title of “Improving the Professional Skills of Young Mothers: Basic Cookery and Cooking Training Project”. You, all of the ladies, you may think from time to time that you are living in a world full of inequalities, injustice and mercilessness. Please don’t think like that, and don’t feel yourself alone. Please don’t give negative energy to yourself. Trust yourself, you have the abilities to overcome every difficulty. Turkey is here for you.

We believe that capacity building is vital for Namibian young generations. Turkey
extends its supporting hands to empower young ladies who will start to work in gastronomy sector in near future, through donating kitchen equipment for their training.

In fact, Turkey is trying to reach out to all friendly peoples all over the world, for sustainable welfare.

Turkey sees serving peace, harmony, security and prosperity of all humanity as serving the future of our children.

While concluding my words, I wish you all the best in your new training area. I am sure that Namibian young generations try to prepare themselves for a wealthy future. If you look at the dictionary, LIDAR means “light detection and ranging”. Catch the light and walk a successful range. I wish you all a bright future.

Thank you.