JUBA, South Sudan

Turkey’s state-run aid agency on Saturday donated equipment to South Sudan to support women’s empowerment in the North African country. 

Items donated by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) included 80 liters of Lulu oil, buckets, gloves, and measuring cylinders among others to be used for making soap.

“Turkish people are here, Turkish Embassy is here, TIKA is here to help you live a better life by supporting you in this development project,” Turkey’s Ambassador to Juba Tugrul Biltekin said at the donation drive.

He said that they are supporting the soap-making project and they will bring up another project of making sandals soon so that people could support themselves financially.

Natasha Malek, representative of Lulu Care, a women-led national NGO, said that they are training women on how to make bar and liquid soap, so they can sell their products in the market to sustain their families and generate income.

She said that the women appreciated TIKA’s support.

Regina Lullo, director general of gender and children welfare in the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, said that the priorities of the government is to empower women to achieve gender equality.

“We have to mobilize women to empower them and we use civil societies and women groups to empower them economically and politically in the ministry at the national level.”

“I am happy that TIKA supports our women on generating income,” he added.

Turgut Gazigil, deputy coordinator for TIKA in Juba, was also present at the occasion.