Western Thrace Turkish women take part in education and cultural programme in Kocaeli
Teachers and Women's Branch members from Turkish minority associations in Western Thrace took part in a four-day education and cultural programme in Kocaeli and İzmit at the invitation of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality.
The delegation included teachers from the Dressmaking, Sewing, Embroidery and Handicrafts Courses of the İskeçe Turkish Union (ITB) and the Gümülcine Turkish Youth Union (GTGB), as well as members of their Women's Branches. Nadire Ömer, wife of Mustafa Trampa, Mufti of İskeçe and chairman of the Advisory Board of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, also accompanied the delegation.
VISIT TO KOMEK COURSES
On the first day, the delegation was hosted at the premises of the Association for Solidarity with Western Thrace Turks (BTTDD) by its chairman, Yüksel Öztürk.
The group subsequently visited Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality's Vocational and Art Education Courses (KOMEK), where participants were briefed on the organisation's activities and the courses it offers.
The programme then continued with two days of practical training at the municipality's Balyanoz Education Facilities. Teachers and Women's Branch members took part in workshops on basket weaving, marbling art and relief cake decoration.
The practical sessions were delivered by instructors working at KOMEK courses.
CULTURAL AND SOCIAL VISITS ACROSS KOCAELİ
Alongside the training programme, the delegation visited several social, cultural and natural sites in Kocaeli.
The group visited Körfez AQUA and the Gonca Disabled Life Centre. During a lunch hosted as part of the programme, Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Berna Abiş also met with the delegation.
The visitors also toured the Anne Şehir Social Life Centre, where they received information about its activities, and visited Kocaeli Bazaar.
Following the completion of the four-day programme, the delegation returned to İskeçe.
FOCUS ON HANDICRAFTS AND COOPERATION
In a joint assessment, the ITB and GTGB said the programme contributed to improving women's professional and artistic skills, preserving traditional handicrafts and strengthening social and cultural cooperation between the participating organisations.
The associations thanked Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, BTTDD Chairman Yüksel Öztürk and others who contributed to the programme, while expressing their intention to further expand cooperation in education and culture.
