Turkish schools open up trade channels too

Günseli Ö. Ocakoğlu
Günseli Ö. Ocakoğlu


Date posted: November 15, 2013

It would be a shame not to visit International Nejashi Ethio-Turkish Schools when in Ethiopia. It really is a small world! We came across vice-general manager Erol Dede at a Turkish restaurant during our tours. He was accompanying the guests who had come to attend “Media and African Renaissance Forum” by African League in Addis Ababa. We were introduced to each other and scheduled a meeting. The next day, we were at the school and received by the entire administration, except for the general manager Murat Yildirim who was in Istanbul for a business trip.

The school’s students have received numerous awards as a result of their quality education. I was told that the schools have been active since 2003. Moreover, projects for six schools in two separate cities are well underway. 28 Turkish and 140 teachers in total are employed at the current schools. They are home to 1,200 students -including 40 Turks- from 35 different countries. The country’s deputy prime minister, internal affairs minister, defense minister and federal police force chief are sending their children to these schools. 64 students over the past three years have been granted scholarships to study in Turkey. The schools are charging significantly low, compared to their counterparts in the country. Ethiopians cherish education and are aware that it’s the key to both personal and social development.

Besides education, the Turkish schools are playing an active role in fostering trade relations too. The schools’ officials are taking the Ethiopian businessmen that proved their stewardship in business at TUSKON’s biannual Turkey-World Trade Bridge events, to Turkey. The next such business event under the auspices of Ministry of Economy and TIM will be held at Lutfi Kirdar Convention Center, Istanbul, on November 25-26, 2013. Some 1,000 foreign businessmen from 140 countries and 1,500 Turkish businessmen from food, agriculture, and fast moving consumer good and related machinery sectors are expected to come together at the trade fair. A total of 15 businessmen will represent Ethiopia at the event.

Ethiopians like Turks. The trust Turkish schools have inspired play a significant role in this, as much as the historical reasons. Africa is predicted to be a source of prosperity in the future. If you are among those who say with regret, “If my father had invested on 2 hectare-land at the time, I would be a billionaire today!” about their fathers having immigrated in Istanbul 50 years ago, Ethiopia welcomes you with its opportunities. I would even say, better you hop on a plane without wasting your time. It’s hard to appreciate without seeing it in its place indeed.

Published [in Turkish] on Zaman, November 14, 2013.

Source: HizmetMovement.Com , November 15, 2013


Related News

Global education turns Turkish teachers into world citizens

İBRAHİM ASALIOĞLU, ANKARA Selfless Turkish teachers never hesitate to go wherever they are needed, and are always quick to win the hearts of people when they arrive, an accomplishment largely due to their determination to acquaint themselves with the culture and language of their new home. The majority of them being polyglots, these teachers themselves […]

A Different Kind of Coup? Why You Should Care About A “Reclusive” Turkish Imam in Pennsylvania

We should consider not only what people say about Fethullah Gülen, but what he says himself. Decades of speeches and publications make this possible and reveal certain attributes. For example, Gülen advocates a form of Sufi humanism. He seeks collaborative relationships across religious, cultural, and national borders. He is concerned about the poor and marginalized around the world.

Gulen Accuses Erdogan of ‘Hijacking’ Kosovo Deportees

Fethullah Gulen, the Turkish preacher who has lived in voluntary exile in the US since 1999, on Tuesday criticized the deportation of six Turkish citizens from Kosovo to Turkey in an operation conducted by Turkish state intelligence, likening it to a hijacking.

Fuat Avni claims Gülen-inspired schools to be closed due to fabricated auditing standards

A government whistleblower who tweets under the pseudonym Fuat Avni has claimed a new wave of police raids will be conducted on private and prep schools intended to shut them down temporarily or permanently based on fabricated auditing standards before the Nov. 1 snap election.

Turkish President calls for calm as gov’t defuses tension with Gülen movement

In a bid to de-escalate a heated debate between the government and Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s movement surrounding the future of private prep-schools, known as “dershanes,” President Abdullah Gül has called for attention to be focused instead on “more essential issues.” “Development in scientific fields is permanent. The others are daily discussions, today there are […]

Wife of ‘Gülen school manager’ detained in Tbilisi asks for protection

The family of Mustafa Emre Çabuk, a manager at the Private Demirel College who was detained in Tbilisi on Turkey’s request, is asking for protection from Georgia’s State Security Service, after receiving several threats on social media with Turkish names.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Australian Catholic University announces Fethullah Gulen international scholarship

TUSKON key in trade with Turkey, top Russian group says

TUSKON warns against probing policemen under ‘shadow of politics’

Gülen endorses reform package, appealing for ‘yes’ on Sept. 12 referendum

Human Rights Watch: People being tortured, abducted in post-coup Turkey

Ergun Poyraz to pay compensation for slandering Fethullah Gulen in his book

Former CHP Chairman Baykal supports joint mosque-cemevi project

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News