Third term students have graduated from the Turkish Education Center allocated for Yunus Emre Institute at the Cap Manuel Barracks in the capital of Senegal. The Senegalese soldiers who successfully completed the Turkish course were presented their certificates during the ceremony.

As per the military agreement signed between the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) General Staff and Senegal General Staff, Turkish courses are being organized since 2019 by our Institute at the Turkish Education Center allocated for our Institute at the Cap Manuel Barracks. Within the scope of the teaching program that starts in October and ends in July every year, the Turkish lessons for the Senegalese soldiers were successfully completed once again this year.

The Cap Manuel Barracks Turkish Education Center completed the academic year of 2020-2021 and had its third term graduates. The closing and graduation ceremony for the third term of Turkish courses at the barracks were attended by the Ambassador of Turkey to Dakar Ahmet Kavas, Military Attaché of the Republic of Turkey to Dakar Colonel Levent Sabahattin Güldağı, Dakar YEI Director Merve Işık Elsıkma, Senegal Military Training Department Director Colonel Yahya Diop, and representatives from other Turkish institutions.

In his speech, Ambassador Kavas reminded that there were 43 Turkish embassies present in Africa and mentioned that the cooperation between Turkey and the continent was increasing with each passing day.

Kavas emphasized that these collaborations not only were in a commercial sense, but also advanced in the field of culture. Ambassador mentioned that YEI was the best example of this advancement, and congratulated the soldiers who received their certificates.

Dakar YEI Director Elsıkma gave a speech during the ceremony and wished for the long continuation of the friendships established via the Turkish courses.

25 soldiers who successfully completed the nine-month Turkish course that started in October 2020 received their certificates from YEI Lecturer İmran İpek.

The students thanked İpek and presented him with gifts.

THE INTEREST IN TURKISH INCREASES AS TURKISH INVESTMENTS GROW

Dakar YEI Director Elsıkma pointed out at the end of the ceremony that the convergence between Senegal and Turkey increased the interest in Turkish.

Elsıkma said, "According to an agreement signed between the Turkish Armed Forces General Staff and Senegal General Staff, we have been conducting Turkish teaching activities since 2019. Here, we are teaching Turkish to Senegalese soldiers. Our Turkish courses also continue at our Institute in Dakar."

Elsıkma emphasized that especially those who are engaged in commerce certainly wanted to learn Turkish and said, "The number of Senegalese who want to learn Turkish increases as the number of Turkish investors in Senegal increases. In addition, the university students are also interested in Turkish for intellectual purposes."

BOTH OUR CULTURAL AND MILITARY COOPERATION INCREASE

YEI Lecturer İmran İpek said that every graduate soldier was going to Turkey to complete their internships in the relevant fields and coming back to Senegal.

İpek underlined that they have been emphasizing the execution of the military cooperation under a common language, and said, "71 soldiers have graduated in total with the third term. Most of these students went to Turkey for their internships. Those who complete their internships in Turkey want to revisit Turkey with a second internship chance. They are also seeking the delights they have tasted in Turkey. They ask where they can find Turkish coffee and Turkish tea in Senegal. Thus, both our cultural and military cooperation increase."

THEY WILL RECEIVE MILITARY TRAINING AT TAF

The soldiers who learned Turkish at the Cap Manuel Barracks Turkish Education Center are awaiting the date on which they will be assigned to Turkey for their military training in their own specialization at Turkish Armed Forces (TAF).

ERTUĞRUL 1980 MOVIE WAS SCREENED

During reception after the ceremony, Senegalese were introduced to the delights of Turkish cuisine by treating them with different tastes. The "Ertuğrul 1980" movie was screened for the graduating soldiers at the end of the program.