Barrier-Free Rehabilitation and Living Home comes to life.

Within this context, a cooperation protocol was signed between the Prime Ministry, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Vakıflar Administration on the implementation of the Barrier-Free Rehabilitation and Living Home Project.

The Republic of Türkiye is also supporting the project.

Representatives of various disabled associations, federations and foundations also attended the signing ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The General Manager of the Vakıflar Administration, İbrahim Benter, who will be part of the management of the centre, said he was happy to take part in such a project that aims to offer security to different individuals in society.

The Minister of Labour and Social Security Hasan Taçoy, pointed out that they had been working on setting up the Barrier-Free Living Home for years and that they were very happy to see this project come to life.

“Everyone has a share in this meaningful project. We will all experience the happiness of what the social state can provide,” Taçoy said.

Also drawing attention to this meaningful cooperation, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu said, “We know that physical obstacles are not the real obstacles for persons with disabilities. A human is not just body and limbs. The real problem is not doing anything when we have the power to solve problems. This cooperation protocol is a great achievement that will provide services that will increase the quality of life and happiness of our disabled brothers and sisters as well as their families.”

Explaining that the home aims to make people with disabilities over the age of 18 self-sufficient and offer them vocational training so as to make their integration with society easier, Feyzioğlu stated that the house was designed to serve 120 disabled young people.

He said that the Republic of Türkiye has spent ₺4m so far and that they will allocate resources again this year within the scope of the Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement.

“This Centre, which will combine the Rehabilitation Centre and Life Home services to our brothers and sisters with special needs, as a whole, will provide care and training services both during the day and as a boarding house, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a capacity of 32 beds,” Ambassador Feyzioğlu added.

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel for his part expressed the government’s happiness over fulfilling another one of its promises made to citizens with disabilities.

“We aim to improve social cohesion and work skills of individuals with disabilities as well as offer them a safe, healthy and peaceful life with this project. This project is the first of its kind in our country. We are very proud,” he said.

Üstel added that the government’s biggest goal was to increase the awareness of individuals, families and all segments of society on individuals with disabilities, the challenges and difficulties they face in every-day life and to ensure that their rights and dignity are respected.

He reminded that 50 individuals with disabilities will be hired to the public sector before the end of this year.

Following the speeches, a cooperation protocol was signed for the implementation of the Barrier-Free Rehabilitation and Living Home Project.