Gambian soldiers training in Turkey to learn Turkish
Turkish Training Offered to Gambia Armed Forces Personnel at Ataturk Library
Gambia Armed Forces personnel are now able to access Turkish sources at the “Ataturk Library” located within the Gambia Armed Forces Education School in Fajara. Since 2020, a total of 555 Gambia Armed Forces personnel have received Turkish training at the school.
Atmaca Polat, a teacher from Turkey who arrived in Gambia in 2020 as part of the Protocol of Cooperation in Education between the Ministry of National Defense and the Turkish Education Foundation, is currently teaching 22 military students in Turkish. Polat aims to bring the students to a B2 level proficiency in Turkish after a 40-week training program that started on October 7, 2024.
Colonel Anıl Aksoy, the Gambia Military Advisor Infantry Staff, spoke about the ongoing Turkish training for Gambia Armed Forces personnel. Aksoy highlighted the long-standing military relations between Turkey and Gambia, dating back to 1991 when the first Turkish gendarmerie training team arrived in the country. He emphasized the importance of language education in fostering communication and building stronger ties between the two nations.
Aksoy also mentioned the recent renewal of the Ataturk Library by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in 2024. The library now offers Turkish and English Military Instructions, Brochures, history books, and research materials to support the language skills of the Gambia Armed Forces personnel who have undergone Turkish training. This resource is available not only to the education school staff but to all members of the Gambia Armed Forces.
One student, Khadije Balde, expressed her excitement about learning Turkish and her plans to receive military training in Turkey in the future. She emphasized her love for Turkey and the value of the language skills she is gaining through the training program.
Overall, the Turkish education initiative in Gambia demonstrates a commitment to cross-cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and the strengthening of military cooperation between Turkey and Gambia. It is a testament to the enduring bond between the two nations and the efforts to promote language skills and cultural exchange in the realm of military education.
