10 March 2010 / KADİR AYDINIŞIK , BALIKESİR
A group of Turkish philanthropists in Niger, a landlocked country in West Africa, dug wells and distributed goats to poor widows over the weekend. As part of a charity project, volunteers from the Gönül-Der Training Research and Solidarity Association have used donations from Turkish people to provide aid to poor widows in Niger.
Dr. Fahrettin Er, a Gönül-Der Training Research and Solidarity Association volunteer, said he went to Niger with a group of volunteers to help widows, noting that their lives are vastly different from those in Turkey. “People in Turkey generally eat three meals a day; however, there is no concept of ‘three meals a day’ in Niger as they do not eat three meals a day. We prepared pasta for these women and their children. They were so happy when they saw our efforts to help them, and we are determined to continue our aid to them,” said Er. Noting that they drilled nearly 40 water wells in Niger, Er said they also gave each widow three goats.“Three years later, three goats will have bred 25 or 30 baby goats. The baby goats will belong to the widows; however, we will take three of the goats to give to another needy widow,” said Er, underlining that they plan to continue to give goats to poor widows. Er added that they took photos of poor widows in Niger to show Turkish philanthropists how their donations are being spent.
