July 30, 2018•Update: July 30, 2018
By Zuhal Demirci and Alaattin Dogru
ANKARA / DAKAR
Some 500 Turkish students will undertake various projects in 30 countries between July 29-Sept. 8.
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Turkish Airlines (THY), Anadolu Agency (AA) and Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) have organized the "2018 Experience Sharing Program".
Students from 117 universities are participating in the program.
The first team which is going to Niger and Jordan spoke to Anadolu Agency prior to their journey.
Batuhan Zeki Ozturk, a law student in Selcuk University, said he is excited about going to Niger.
"Instead of going to European countries, I chose to take the opportunity to see our Muslim brothers and sisters in Africa and to understand their life. The spirit in that land is much different. Everyone can go to developed countries, but fewer people go to Africa. So I am very grateful to TIKA for giving such opportunities to young people,” he said.
Ozturk said that in the first two days they would visit the southwestern city of Dosso to participate in the "Youth Caravan" program organized by Niger Education and Entrepreneurship Ministry with the support of TIKA.
Then, they would participate in charity and cultural activities in capital Niamey.
'Africa feels special'
Ozan Ergun a finance student of Afyon Kocatepe University, said that this program will provide students a chance to get acquainted with African culture more closely.
He said he is excited at the prospect of visiting Niger.
"We are wondering what we will encounter and what kind of people we are going to meet. I have had the opportunity to visit many countries and meet different people, but I have to admit that Africa feels very special."
Ali Imran Kosker, a political science and public administration student at Istanbul University will stay in Jordan for 10 days.
"The fastest way to win the hearts of people in the Middle East or the whole Muslim community is to tell them you came from Turkey. I am very excited and happy to go to Jordan with an organization spreading love from Turkey to the world."
Ibrahim Ozoruc, a student at Inonu University, who will also visit Jordan said they will try to help out other people.
"This program will enable us to be aware of our lost values and revive our love and companionship with our brothers and sisters," he added.
Selahattin Govec, a student at Necmettin Erbakan University, who will also head to Jordan, said they would make Turkey proud.
"We will be happy and smiling at the end of our activities. As a descendant of the Ottoman Empire, I am feeling very proud and wonderful to be involved in such a program which enables me to understand people and see places which were part of the empire at once," he said.
