Turkish students visit Sudan, Niger

By Zuhal Demirci and Abdullah Uluyurt

ANKARA/ KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) - University students in Turkey are visiting Sudan and Niger as part of a volunteering program.

Twelve students have reached Sudan and participated in a maintenance work at a school on Tuesday.

The students painted the walls of Nur-i Osmaniye education complex at Hasabe village in Omdurman province, tried to cover the needs of the school and played games with the students.

Harun Eray Karadelen, a student of Istanbul Technical University’s Mechanical Engineering Department, told Anadolu Agency: "We came to touch the hearts of our Sudanese brothers and sisters."

Enes Fatih Yilmaz, another student from Afyon Kocatepe University’s Economics Department, said he believes their visit would leave “beautiful marks” on Sudan.

Another group of students have also begun their journey to Niger.

Abdullah Harun Talas, student of Beykent University’s Economics Department, said they would visit Niger-Turkey Friendship Hospital and an orphanage. He said they would also take part in renovation of a mosque.

"We will rebuild our sense of friendship with this program," Talas added.

Esad Mucahit Eskimez, a student of Istanbul University’s Political Science and International Relations Department, told Anadolu Agency that they would stay in Niger for 9 days.

"Niger is one of the most affected countries in Africa from colonialism. We will have an opportunity to witness and understand what is happening there through this program," Eskimez added.

A total of 200 students from Turkey are visiting 18 African countries from Aug. 5 to Aug. 30 to take part in development or aid projects and develop a sense of volunteerism under the "2017 Africa Experience Sharing Program".

The program is organized in cooperation with Turkish Airlines, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Anadolu Agency, Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) and nine non-governmental organizations.