Turkish agency opens child support center in Georgia

By Davit Kachkachishvili

BATUMI, Georgia (AA) - A Turkish aid agency on Thursday opened a center to support children living on the streets in Batumi province.

The opening ceremony of the Ialkani Association center was furnished, renovated and equipped by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

Turkey's Consul General to Batumi Riza Kagan Yilmaz said during the ceremony that was attended by local officials that the group has conducted more than 600 projects in Georgia.

TIKA's Tbilisi Coordinator Necla Demirdag said the center has significant importance as the first and only center to help with integrating children into the greater society.

“TIKA continues to make children smile regardless of religion, language or race,” she said.

Georgia's Ajara Autonomous Republic Health and Social Security Minister Nino Nizharadze told Anadolu Agency that the region has been efficiently cooperating with TIKA for years, especially with regards to health and she thanked Turkey for enabling orphans to receive an education.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar in Ankara