Cape Town - Members of the city’s Turkish community, headed by Turkish consul-general Sinan Yesildag, conducted an orphan outreach programme in Khayelitsha.
They donated clothing, shoes, care packs, toys and sweets to children at the Baphumelele Children’s Home, which provides services to about 100 boys and girls.
The programme, conducted on Saturday, was in celebration of Turkey’s National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, remembered annually on April 23.
Yesildag said: “Children play a very significant rol e within society. They are the future of our communities and the energy and dynamism of our youth need to be celebrated.”
He said in many parts of the world, children’s futures were taken away by wars and poverty.
“Today provides us the opportunity to reflect and celebrate our youth, especially those who are vulnerable and who have been left orphaned.
“Our visit to Baphumelele Children’s Home is just a small way in which we can contribute to bringing some joy to the faces of these beautiful children,” Yesildag said.
Also attending the event were representatives of Turkish Airlines; the Turkish SA Youth Organisation; the Maarif Foundation; and local NGO, the Awqaf SA.