Turkish Donation Lights Up Juba Shelter
On Friday, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency handed over slides, seesaws and swings to Divine Mercy Action orphanage in Juba, bringing visible excitement to 74 resident children.
The brightly painted equipment marks the fourth instance of Turkish assistance to the centre, which educates and houses homeless youngsters in South Sudan’s capital.
Playtime and Cognitive Growth
Experts have long linked structured play to social and mental development. Director of Social Welfare Omer Sherif Al Din Hussien Jada stressed that exercise “helps the mind to grow,” welcoming an on-site alternative to risky streets outside the compound.
Diplomacy Through Development
Ambassador Metin Ergin described the playground as “a small symbol of our friendship” between Türkiye and South Sudan, reflecting Ankara’s wider soft-power strategy of visible, people-centred projects across Africa.
Voices from Divine Mercy Action
Chairperson Yasmin Ahmed Khamis said the playgrounds instantly lifted moods, calling them “the beginning of improving the psychological well-being of our children.”
She recalled previous deliveries of medicines, refrigerators and food, while urging additional partners to invest in education materials and health supplies for the growing facility.
State Support and Regional Context
Representing Central Equatoria’s Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Jada applauded TIKA, noting that seemingly small donations reduce pressure on public budgets and align with Juba’s national strategy for child protection.
Sustaining the Momentum
With the new equipment already echoing with laughter, both Turkish and South Sudanese officials hinted at future collaborations, underscoring a growing conviction that nurturing today’s vulnerable children will secure tomorrow’s healthy, productive societies.