Emine Erdoğan visited Rangel Women Vocational Training Center in Luanda, the capital of Angola

President Erdoğan's wife Emine Erdoğan attended the event organized by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in Luanda, the capital of Angola, as part of the Rangel Women's Vocational Training Center Support Project.

In her speech at the event, Emine Erdoğan stated that she was pleased to be in Angola and brought the greetings of the Turkish people, adding that Angola, like many African countries, had gone through difficult trials, and that after a long period of civil war and struggle for independence, it took its place in the international community as a democratic country.

"OUR APPROACH TO AFRICA IS BASED ON OUR CIVILIZATIONAL VISION"

"Angola's rapid growth has made it a rising value in Africa. We admire the united efforts of the Angolan people. I would like to express that we are always in solidarity with you," Emine Erdoğan said, adding that Africa has a special place in Turkey's multidimensional, entrepreneurial and humanitarian foreign policies, which are not limited to state policies.

Emine Erdoğan continued as follows: "Our approach to Africa is based on our vision of civilization. We see humanity as one big and single family. We shape our policies with the awareness of the responsibilities we feel towards this family. Turkey's opening to Africa has greatly strengthened our relations with the countries of the continent. Each of our travels has increased our brotherhood. With more than 1 billion inhabitants, Africa carries the world's greatest potentials in its bosom. I believe that despite all the difficulties of the past, the future will be illuminated by the shining light of Africa."

"TIKA CARRIES TURKEY'S GOODWILL TO THE WHOLE WORLD"

Stating that the Rangel Women's Vocational Training Center has made a "tremendous contribution" to women's lives, Emine Erdoğan said that the development of countries is possible by supporting women's participation in social and economic life, and that strong societies can only be built by empowering women.

Stating that the vocational trainings provided to 6 thousand women at the center since 2014 in many fields such as hairdressing, tailoring, cooking, pastry, information technologies, recycling, art and care services have transformed the lives of women, Emine Erdoğan said: "We support the empowerment of women in our country and their participation in decision-making and leadership positions. We remove all obstacles that stand in the way of women in education and employment. I strongly believe that the future will be built with the power of women. Therefore, supporting women all over the world is the most important contribution to this bright future. There is one point I always underline. Women are raising future generations. The quality of a population is directly related to how well equipped women are. African women will shape the future of Africa."

Noting that TIKA carries Turkey's goodwill to the whole world, Emine Erdoğan thanked the institution and its employees for completing the equipment of the independent building consisting of two classrooms within the center and putting a music room and an information technology classroom into service.

"AFRICAN HANDICRAFTS MARKET AND CULTURE HOUSE IS ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL EXAMPLES OF OUR SOLIDARITY"

Noting that one of the most important elements in empowering women is to support the women entrepreneur ecosystem, Emine Erdoğan said that entrepreneurship is a channel through which people can reveal their unique potential and turn their dreams into reality, and that life will be enriched with the emergence of this spirit.

Pointing out that there are very special practices supporting women entrepreneurship in both public and private sectors in Turkey, Erdoğan said, "DA MAMA project is an expression of our support for Angolan women entrepreneurs. In this context, we supported the establishment of 15 mobile sales points where Angolan women can prepare and sell traditional dishes. I am very pleased to hand over these stands to our Angolan women entrepreneurs."

Emine Erdoğan said that during her visit to Ethiopia in 2015, she visited a workshop established to help AIDS patients, where she learned that women's handicrafts were bought for US$1 and sold at high prices in expensive boutiques in Europe.

Stating that the earnings from these markets do not go back to the owners of the labor, Emine Erdoğan said that they decided to establish a fair market for African women in Ankara and opened the African Handicrafts Market and Culture House.

Recalling Nelson Mandela's words, "As long as women are condemned to poverty and are looked down upon, human rights will not be restored to their essence," Emine Erdoğan said, "I wholeheartedly believe in the message of this statement."

Emine Erdoğan emphasized that the book "My Travels in Africa", which she wrote based on her experiences during her previous trips to Africa, is a symbol of the love and brotherhood that she nurtured in her heart.

18.10.2021