Emine Erdoğan: "We Strengthen Our Brotherhood Ties with Africa"
Accompanying President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on his visit to Africa, Emine Erdoğan met with representatives of civil society organizations at a roundtable hosted by Janet Mouseveni, First Lady of Uganda.
The meeting, held at the Ugandan Presidential Palace, was attended by the wives of the Prime Minister of Uganda, the Ugandan Minister of Gender and Culture, the Minister of Security, as well as representatives of Ugandan non-governmental organizations working in the fields of disabled people, orphans, women and children, and representatives of Turkish non-governmental organizations, especially TIKA.
In her speech at the meeting, Emine Erdoğan said that Turkey contributes to Africa's development efforts with a humanitarian approach, far from self-interested goals, and that the brotherhood ties with Africa will be strengthened.
Drawing attention to the work of Turkey-based non-governmental organizations, especially TIKA, Emine Erdoğan noted that TIKA donated a 100-ton water tank and an ambulance equipped with the latest technological equipment, as well as sewing machines for women in cooperation with the Sena Foundation.
AFRICAN HANDICRAFTS MARKET AND CULTURE HOUSE PROJECT
Emphasizing that Turkey's sensitivity towards Africa is always fresh in Turkey, Emine Erdoğan talked about the 'African Handicrafts Market and Culture House' project established in Ankara, which includes the handicrafts of Ugandan women. Pointing out that the proceeds from the sale of 629 pieces of Ugandan women's handicrafts were returned to the owners of the products, Emine Erdoğan said, "The African continent has an important place in the hearts of the benevolent people of our country. Both our state and non-governmental organizations always stand by Africa. I believe that with its rich underground resources and young population, the 21st century will be the African century."
During the meeting, the ministers and civil society organizations in the Ugandan delegation expressed the problems faced by women and children in Uganda and thanked Turkey for its contributions. Former Minister of Family and Social Policies and Denizli MP Sema Ramazanoğlu shared information on Turkey's social policies. Following the dinner in her and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's honor, Emine Erdoğan attended the honorary doctorate conferment ceremony of President Erdoğan at the University of Marerere.
After the dinner, Emine Erdoğan attended the ceremony of donation of sewing machines and fabrics to the graduates of the sewing embroidery course, which aims to equip women with vocational skills in the field of sewing and embroidery and which is carried out under the leadership of TIKA and in coordination with Sena Foundation. At the ceremony held at the Islamic University of Uganda, Emine Erdoğan was presented with the 'International Women's Empowerment Champion Award'. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was presented with the 'International Humanitarian Aid Champion Award' in absentia.
Emine Erdoğan's programs in Uganda were accompanied by women MPs and ministers' wives.
01.06.2016
