“Caring the children, investing them thru proper education, guidance and support is in fact the best investment for a society. This becomes more important and sacred if orphans are involved, since they are the most vulnerable member in any society.

This is the statement of H.E. Esra Cankorur, Turkey ambassador to the Philippines during the inauguration ceremony of Ugur Suleymen Soylemez Orphanage on May 16, 2015 at Brgy. Tamontaka 1, Cotabato City.

The orphanage center is supported by Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), a humanitarian foundation based in Turkey and is managed by Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) under its social welfare program.

This program dubbed as orphanage care aims to provide assistance to children orphaned by their parents.

The management is currently accepting applicants from Bangsamoro communities.

At least 1,000 number of orphans are targeted per year for the program.

In-house orphan service provides full accommodation for children at the orphanage, with support for education and food.

Distant orphan service provides monthly allowance for the accepted children, not necessarily housed in the center.

During the event, Omer Kesmen, IHH representative to Cot. City presented a brief history of the orphanage. He explained the naming of the center after Ugur Suleyman Soylemez. The latter, accordingly, is among the martyrs in Turkey who fought for justice for the humanitarian situations.

Major Gen. Dato Sheikh Mousin Bin Sheikh Hassan, Head of Mission of the IMT called for an importance of peace towards better community. He stressed the importance of family where children are molded.

“If we have to teach peace in this world, we shall begin with our children. This orphanage is the foundation of the well-being of the children, abandoned by their parents, so let us give them peace,” Maj. Hassan stated.

Dr. Mohammad S. Yacob, BDA executive director thanked the government of Turkey for entrusting to BDA the orphanage management thru IHH.

“BDA promises to give the best we can in providing the children a safe and secure home,” Yacob said.

He likewise thanked development partners, international and local non-government organizations, the government, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and its line agencies and called for support and possible convergence for future assistance to the children.

BDA and IHH partnership began in 2014 thru several humanitarian programs already such as the Qurbani program, relief assistance to displaced families and this orphanage.

Other distinguished guests who graced the event were from the international and local organizations, members of the parliament of the republic of Turkey, and the peace panel of the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPH-MILF).

City Vice Mayor Abdullah Andang thanked Turkey government and expressed pride that the orphanage is established in the City. Accordingly, this means of the continuing progress of Cotabato, with the coming in of people from other countries all over the world.