Pursuant to the “A Common Challenge- Two Different Cultural Perspectives” Project, which is conducted in collaboration of Güven Education and Health Foundation and Kennisland Foundation from the Netherlands and supported within the scope of the program titled “Civil Society Dialogue Between the EU and Turkey, the project team of Kennisland Foundation and a study group of eight people – the representatives of non-governmental organizations in the Netherlands - visited Ankara.

A Common Challenge- Two Different Cultural Perspectives” project teamed up non-governmental organizations

Pursuant to the “A Common Challenge- Two Different Cultural Perspectives” Project, which is conducted in collaboration of Güven Education and Health Foundation and Kennisland Foundation from the Netherlands and supported within the scope of the program titled “Civil Society Dialogue Between the EU and Turkey, the project team of Kennisland Foundation and a study group of eight people – the representatives of non-governmental organizations in the Netherlands - visited Ankara.

At the meeting held to share information about activities and projects on the elderly population in both countries on March 28th, a protocol was undersigned to sustain cooperation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also in the future.

Dr. Ejder Yelken, the Project Expert of Güven Education and Health Foundation, and Iselien Nabben, the Project Coordinator of Kennisland Foundation, as well as Bülent Özcan, the Director-General for Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation, Directorate for European Union (EU) Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took the floor for opening speech of the meeting that aimed to strengthen the cooperation between NGOs.

Informing the attendees about similarities and differences between Turkey and the Netherlands regarding social structure and approach to the elderly population, Dr. Yelken emphasized that there are areas, which require cooperation of two countries regarding the aging population, and that the project serves this objective.

Dutch and Turkish authorities, experts and representatives of non-governmental organizations met up and addressed similar collaborations and joint projects between two countries in a breakfast event held on the second day of the visit at Güven Education and Health Foundation and attended by Marjanne de Kwaasteniet (Ambassador of Kingdom of the Netherlands to Turkey), Bülent Özcan (Director-General for Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation in Directorate for EU Affairs) and Banu Küçükel (Chair of Board in Güven Health Group).

Dutch representatives visited the elderly care centers pursuant to a program issued by Güven Education and Health Foundation. The group also had an opportunity to learn about our country by attending social and cultural events, such as museum tour and concert.

A study group of Turkish experts and non-governmental organizations will have a similar visit to Amsterdam in the next phase of the project.