The contributions of civil initiatives in Turkey

Some academics and members of the advisory committee and jury members at some projects of Fedactio and the associations, had a trip to Turkey in June.

Prof. Dr.. Ides Nicaise, Professor. Dr.. Dirk Jacobs, Professor. Dr.. Piet Van Avermaet and Prof. Dr.. Mieke Van Haegendoren saw what contributions in education, social life and social cohesion has civil society done in Turkey. In addition, the professors could use the opportunity to discover the historical and cultural highlights of the country.They visited the cities of Istanbul, Gaziantep, Urfa and Mardin during the tour.

The first day the Belgian professors visited the attractive places of Istanbul likeTopkapi Palace, Sultan Ahmet Mosque which is known in Europe as Blue Mosque, Ayasofyamuseum which is one of the eight wonders of the world and finaly they visited Haliç (Golden Horn). During the second day the academics had the chance to visit a very special NGO 'Kimse Yok Mu' that was established after the earthquake of 17 August. Prof. Dr.. Ides Nicaise, Professor. Dr.. Dirk Jacobs, Professor. Dr.. Piet Van Avermaet and Prof. Dr.. Mieke Van Haegendoren got more information on how the association offers help in disaster areas, what help they provided and how they reached thousands of volunteers. The professors showed a particular interest in projects such as the "new village" in Africa, the campaign Insanlik Ölmedi "(Solidarity is not dead) which was set up after the earthquake in Van and hug campaign in the southeast of Turkey.