State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Associated Prof

State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Associated Prof. Abdullatif SENER is the first volunteer guardian of the campaign

The campaign "Will you be my guardian?" as a sub-activity and support mechanism developed in the context of the "Project for the Rehabilitation of Children Working in Streets in Gaziantep Batman and Sanliurfa" which is implemented jointly by the GAP Administration, the UNDP and Governorates of mentioned provinces was launched on 25 January 2006 with a press conference organised at the GAP Conference Hall. At the launching, Assoc. Prof. Abdullatif SENER, State Minister in charge of GAP took the first step by undertaking the guardianship of Ahmet, a child with code number 337 living in Gaziantep. The ceremony organised on this occasion was attended by Swiss Ambassador Walter GYGER, GAP President Muammer Yasar OZGUL, UN Representative Jakob SIMONSEN, ILO representatives Osman ZAHIR and Nejat KOCABAY and Suat ROE, General Director of Express Cargo

In the campaign, school materials (textbooks, notebooks, uniforms, school bags, etc.) of children working in the streets of Sanliurfa, Batman and Gaziantep will be provided by volunteer guardians and families of these children will also be supported economically. Volunteer guardians are expected to examine the needs and present living conditions of children in the list accessible at www.velimolurmusun.org and select to child to help in the campaign. The needs of children with adult guardians will be provided for free by the express Cargo, which is the sponsor of the campaign. The campaign targets to reach 1,800 needy children in three provinces.

During his speech at the ceremony, Minister SENER pointed out to programmes developed jointly by the GAP-RDA and UNDP to improve the situation of disadvantaged groups and ensure their integration to the process of development. The Minister added that the campaign "Will you be my guardian" will be much useful in mobilizing for social solidarity and assistance and in contributing to the education of children working in streets.

The GAP President Muammer Yasar OZGUL stated that the objective of the campaign was to mobilise for children working in streets and ensure their school enrolment and attendance by helping to meet at least some of their needs.

The UNDP Representative drew attention to the fact that Gaziantep, although being the most developed province of the GAP Region, had about 2,500 children working in streets after severing their ties with their families. The numbers of children working in streets in Batman and Sanliurfa are 1,600 and 1,500, respectively and there is also remarkable increase in the number of female children working in streets. The UNDP Representative added that the use of the Internet would greatly facilitate reaching needy children and helping them.