IBC particiapated in the first ever World Humanitarian Summit between 22-24 May 2016 in Istanbul and had important step to make reach out Turkish civil society’s voice. During the Summit our President Mr. Recep Üker and Vice President Muzaffer Baca joined in the Summit meetings and Special Events. Meanwhile Programs Director Nalan Uker and Tolga Baca and Program Coordinator Duygu Fendal hosted important visitors in the IBC corner in Exhibition Hall.
IBC stand was visited by one of the most important guests of the Summit, Assistant Secretary Anne Richards from US State Agency for International Decelopment and head of Islamic Assistance Fund Abdulaziz Althani. In the Summit meeting, we found the opportunity to wish success to Antonio Guterres, the Head of UNHCR for his candidacy to UN General Secretary Position and briefed on IBCs projetcs for Syria Crisis.
During her visit to IBC Exhibition stand, Anne Richards, was given the information on IBC projects and education programs for Syria Crisis Response. In addition to this, she declared her contentement for IBCs cooperation with No Lost Generation Foundation, a youth initiative launched in the USA. IBC executives also discussed any opprtunities to implemenent Humanitarian projetcs in Syria, Yemen and Irak with Abdulaziz Althani, the Head of Islamic Assistance Fund.
IBC Vice President, Muzaffer Baca made a statement in the Special Event for NGOs of Member States and Stakeholders on the last day of the Summit and it was worldwide broadcasted live on UNWeb TV and followed by various NGO representatives. In the speech ,it was mentioned that IBC had already been present in the region even before the war and acknowledged that all IBC projects are respecting to the local individuals’ culture, real needs and human dignity. It was also emphasized the need of cooperation among internatioal NGOs.
IBC also hosted Mrs. Sarah Brown , president of Theirworld, Shaheen Kassim Lakha from Hilton Foundation and Annemiek Hoogenboom , Country director of People’s Postcode Lottery , Justin Van Fleet, Director of Global Business Coalition for Education ;Tom Fletcher , former British Ambassador to Lebanon and organized a visit to Bağcılar ISTOÇ Primary School for these representaives as well as their colleagues. The delegation was informed by the Representative of National Education of Bağcılar on the sitauation of Syrian refugee children in Bağcılar and in the visited school.
The second group hosted on the same day, No Lost Generation , a Georgetown students’s initiative visited IBC Sultanbeyli Community Center. During their visit to IBC HQ, students were informed by our projects and the group representative delivered the hospital kits handed over by Project Cure in Denver.
World Humanitarian Summit has become an important platform for IBC to let the voice of Turkish INGOs heard and develop new partnerships.
