Equipment Support to Children with Special Needs in Philippines

Elsie Gaches Village, home to about six hundred (600) persons with developmental disorders, received equipment support from TİKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency).

The turnover event was initiated by Mr. Fahri Aydoğdu, TİKA Philippines’ director, who quoted an old proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” saying that TİKA wants to be part of the collective efforts of the entire community in providing for and interacting positively with children with special needs for them to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment.

Elsie Gaches village received various industrial grade kitchen appliances for their high-capacity food preparations, various medical and dental equipment including hospital beds and wheelchairs, and several electric fans for the residential areas. A facility with a capacity of 400 people dependent on government funds and donations, this is of significant help to them.

Back in 2016, TİKA partnered with Elsie Gaches Village in hosting 20 Turkish university students for that year’s “Experience Sharing Program'', an outreach and experience program which aims to help students build "bridges of friendship" with other countries.  The students had a fun-filled day of social interaction with the children of EGV which included a friendly football match with the village’s own football team.