TIKA expands global student volunteer program
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has received 1,248 applications from students at 156 universities across Türkiye for its 2026 Development Ambassadors Program, which will bring university students together with local peers in countries hosting the agency's development projects.
Running from July 23 to Sept. 30, the program aims to promote international cooperation and cultural exchange by enabling Turkish students to participate in development initiatives across Africa, Asia, the Balkans and the Middle East.
Projects across multiple sectors
This year's program covers 38 countries, with activities scheduled in 35. The Gambia, Guinea and Tanzania have been designated as reserve destinations.
Community development projects will be carried out in around 15 countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Africa, Montenegro, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mozambique, Jordan, Albania, Chad, Algeria and Georgia.
Health projects are planned in Djibouti, Ethiopia, North Macedonia, Tanzania and Tunisia, while agricultural initiatives will take place in Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Colombia, Kenya, Serbia and Tanzania. Cultural heritage projects are scheduled in Albania, Kosovo, Romania, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Students join local initiatives
Participants will work alongside local students and nongovernmental organizations on projects focusing on health, agriculture, social responsibility and cultural heritage. The program also includes visits to public institutions and Türkiye's diplomatic missions, as well as academic, cultural and historical activities designed to strengthen participants' understanding of their host countries.
The first group departed for Azerbaijan on July 23 and will remain there until the end of July. Additional teams are scheduled to travel throughout August and September to destinations including Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Senegal, Croatia, Mexico, Bangladesh and Niger. Most assignments will last about one week.
Promoting international engagement
TIKA operates in more than 170 countries, implementing development projects in areas including education, healthcare, agriculture, vocational training and cultural heritage.
The agency has increasingly expanded youth-focused initiatives in recent years, encouraging university students to participate in international volunteer programs while promoting cross-cultural cooperation and development.
Source:DailySabah
