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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 26933, member: 2262"] Yunus Emre Institute plans to add Turkish language courses at the University of Gambia. Coordinator Halil Ibrahim Efe shared that German, English, and French are currently taught as foreign languages. The university agreed to make Turkish their fourth language option. Students will soon have this new educational opportunity. The institute runs cultural centers throughout Africa, where it teaches Turkish to interested learners. It also showcases Turkish culture through art exhibitions, movies, cooking demonstrations, music events, and traditional craft lessons. These activities help create friendships between nations based on mutual respect. The institute's approach focuses on equal partnerships rather than one-sided arrangements. Efe described how the institute operates 92 cultural centers across 68 different countries worldwide. Fifteen of these centers serve communities throughout Africa. North African locations include Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia. Their sub-Saharan presence extends to Burundi, Gambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Each center designs programs that match local interests and needs rather than using identical approaches everywhere. During 2024, these fifteen African locations hosted 107 events, attracting approximately 35,000 participants. More than 5,000 students currently study Turkish through their programs. The institute tailors activities to build meaningful connections between cultures. According to institute leaders, two additional cultural centers will open in Africa soon. The Gambia location is days away from becoming operational. Military cooperation between Turkey and Gambia began during the 1990s, creating strong foundations for current relations. Over the years, many Gambian police officers and military personnel traveled to Turkey for language training. Gambia demonstrated strong support for Turkey by becoming the first African nation to close schools connected to the Gülenist Terror Group. Until recently, Gambian citizens had limited access to Turkish language education unless needed for official purposes. The upcoming center has already received numerous inquiries from eager students through emails and social media messages. The Turkish ambassador actively supports these educational initiatives alongside various organizations. This cooperation reflects the growing interest among Gambian people in the Turkish language and culture. The formal agreement with the University of Gambia represents an important step forward. Turkish will soon join the official foreign language offerings at this major educational institution. [/QUOTE]

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