JUBA – The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) On Friday brought renewed joy and excitement to vulnerable children by donating new playground equipment to the Divine Mercy Action orphanage centre in Juba.
The donation consists of three medium slides, three four-seater seesaws, and three-seater swings, will benefit 74 children at the non-profit center focused on caring for and educating homeless children and orphans.
Speaking during handover ceremony in Juba on Friday, Omer Sherif Al Din Hussien Jada, Director of Social Welfare in the State Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Central Equatoria State, emphasized the significance of playgrounds that are designed for children to play and engage their time.
“The playgrounds, as we saw, are for the small children so that they don’t have to go outside the centre. They can be busy because children are always and forever young; they need to learn and exercise because exercise helps the mind to grow.” Jada said.
He stated that although the donation of playground equipment may appear minor, it is, in fact, important, adding that “It’s not easy; they came to entertain the small children. It’s a very big thing.”
“As a representative of the government of South Sudan at this event and as an ambassador of the Turkish government, I congratulate you. We are very grateful and will continue to support you, God willing.”
Yasmin Ahmed Khamis, chair of the Divine Mercy Action Orphanage Centre, noted that this is not the first time the Turkish embassy and Turkish agencies have supported the Divine Mercy orphanage.
“This is probably the fourth time, and we are very happy. We thank the Turkish people and the Turkish government for the assistance they provide to the people of South Sudan, whether it is educational assistance, food assistance, or any other assistance, especially medical assistance. Last year, Divine Mercy Action received a set of medicines and a refrigerator from the Turkish embassy in cooperation with TIKA; we now have two refrigerators.”
She expressed the need for further support from the Turkish people or government to enhance their work at Divine Mercy Action, adding that “As you can see, the reason for the visit today is to see the playground we all witnessed.”
She stated that playgrounds elevate children’s spirits and bring joy to them.
“This request came from the embassy itself. We had this desire, we wrote a request, and they responded and brought the playground. Indeed, I discovered that these playgrounds raise the spirits of the children and bring joy into their hearts,” she said.
“The playgrounds are the beginning of improving the psychological well-being of our children at Divine Mercy Action. Since the foundation of Divine Mercy Action Centre eight years ago, there have been no playgrounds like the ones we see here.”
She added that the playground equipped by TIKA will help alleviate the stress the children experience and bring them joy and cooperation.
“We say thank you to the ambassador for taking the time to come to this remote place. We express our gratitude to the Turkish people. If it wasn’t for your love and humanity, I wouldn’t have come here.”
The Turkish Ambassador to South Sudan, Metin Ergin, said that the donation of the playground equipment is a symbol of friendship between South Sudan and Türkiye.
“I really thank and appreciate TIKA for making all the arrangements for this playground to come into existence. I hope all of you at Divine Mercy Action will spend a lot of time enjoying this facility provided by the Turkish Development and Cooperation Agency, TİKA. It is a small symbol of our friendship between the Turkish people and the people of South Sudan,” Ergin said.
Ergin emphasised that the children being supported will be the future of South Sudan.
“You will be useful to your communities and your nation, and I hope that this begins here at Divine Mercy Action. You will learn and grow up to be men and women who are beneficial to your country. I’d like you to know that the people of Turkey are your friends, now and in the future. We will be brothers and sisters for a long time, hopefully until the end of time, God willing.”
