Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency supported sustainable social entrepreneurship of the Association of Blind Persons Zagreb

Yesterday, on the premises of the Association of Blind Persons Zagreb and Sfera Visia, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency – TIKA donated equipment for the production of liquid soap to the Association of Blind Persons Zagreb. The equipment included a large and small production boiler, a machine for packing a finished product, and a grinding mill for the soap base.

Mr. Haşim Koç, the coordinator-attache of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency – TIKA, said on this occasion: "The best part of this donation is that we have enabled blind and partially sighted people to reach the market value of these products and enable the employment of other members of their community. However, we are not the only donors and sponsors of the Association of Blind Persons Zagreb, therefore we would like to thank all those who have contributed and continue to contribute to the Association and their projects."

The event was also attended by His Excellency Mr. Mustafa Babür Hızlan, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the Republic of Croatia, who in his speech pointed out: "I did not come to fulfill my duty, but because it is my greatest honor and pleasure to be here. This is not just a TIKA project, it is a project of social responsibility and a project that is dear to my heart. I want this project to achieve all the success in the world and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed."

"The Association of Blind Persons Zagreb would like to thank TIKA and the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey for the donation of equipment for the production of liquid soap, given that the donated equipment will enable the development of sustainable social entrepreneurship of our association and the employment of blind and partially sighted persons", emphasized Goran Denis Tomašković, Executive Director of the Association of Blind Persons Zagreb.

Mr. Nikola Arbanas, Director of Sfera Visia also thanked the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency with the words: "Sfera Visia Company, established with the aim of recruiting blind and partially sighted persons and strengthening the capacity and competitiveness of people with disabilities in the labor market, will use the donated equipment for production of liquid soap and thus expand market capacities, and thereby strengthen the stability and self-sustainability of the "Soaps with Dots" project. The whole team and staff of Sfera Visia are very grateful to the Republic of Turkey and TIKA for their acquisition and donation of this necessary equipment."

Thanks to this donation, the Association of Blind Persons Zagreb and Sfera Visia will start with the production of liquid soaps. In the next two years, this project of social entrepreneurship should employ eight blind and partially sighted people.

Collaboration between the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency – TIKA and the Association of Blind Persons Zagreb was achieved thanks to the mediation of the communications management agency Apriori World.