Turkish students continue voluntary work in Africa

Turkish students continue several voluntary activities in Libya and Niger as part of visits under an exchange program.

The 2017 Africa Experience Sharing Program provides an opportunity for 200 students to visit several African countries, including Tunisia, Libya, Somalia, Kenya, Algeria, Chad, Sudan, Ghana and Niger from Aug. 5 to 30.

The program is organized by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in cooperation with Turkish Airlines, Anadolu Agency and state broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television (TRT).

The students participate in social, cultural and humanitarian activities and renovate schools, orphanages, libraries and places of worship as predetermined by TIKA and local NGOs in the visiting countries.

They also take part in the implementation of local developmental projects.

- Libya visit

As part of the program, 10 students from different universities in Turkey visited the Consul General of Turkey in Libya's northwestern Misrata district, Sinan Yesildag and attended the opening of the "Ataturk and Libya" photo exhibiton at the consulate building.

Along with Yesildag, the volunteer students visited an orphanage in Misrata and distributed school bags and stationery materials for the next education term.

Yesildag praised the visit, which he called "a great opportunity to touch people's hearts".

"I am especially pleased to see future diplomats, engineers and teachers here," he added.

The students also visited the Libyan Red Crescent in Misrata and distributed aid packages including milk, baby food and baby diapers for orphan children.

During the Misrata University visit, the volunteers met with the Student Union and discussed possible cooperation between university clubs of the two countries.

During their program the volunteering students also visited the Misrata Physiotherapy Hospital, which TIKA started to construct on instructions of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after his visit in 2011.

The volunteer students participated in the landscaping work of the hospital which will be opened after 2018.

- Traditional house construction in Niger

During their visit in Niger, a group of nine volunteer students visited Turkey’s ambassador to Niamey, Huseyin Ozdemir.

Following their visit in Niamey, the students moved to Kanazi village, some 20 kilometers from the capital and constructed a traditional house which is made of an thatched straw conical roof and mud walls for a family with nine children.

During the two-days long construction, the students distributed presents to the children and took photographs with the locals.

As part of the project, the students also participated in construction work of a masjeed in Niamey and visited an orphanage where they distributed presents.