The Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Tuesday awarded a $200,000 grant to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon at a reception and ceremony hosted by Turkey's ambassador to Washington Namik Tan.
The grant will go towards the construction of a water tank for an elementary school construction project.
“It is going to help us. We’re building a new school for our kids - Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. The grant is going to help us in the construction of this new school,” said Warm Springs Chief Joseph Moses at the Turkish Residence in Washington.
Moses added that the tribe has long outgrown its current school, and that the new building will likely serve 720 children by the start of the next school year in September 2014.
Serdar Cam, the President of TIKA, said that the project was made possible with the support of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and that it would be complete by the middle of next year.
Ambassador Tan further stated that the grant was a small step towards further improving relations with the Warm Springs tribes.
For his part, Chief Moses re-emphasized his gratitude for the support that Turkey and TIKA have provided to him, and hoped for a continued relationship, saying, “I hope we can continue our friendship and relationship. We appreciate the help that’s been given to us.“
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