Summary of donations to ATA good causes 2024

In keeping with previous years our objectives have been to help Turkish Cypriot causes in need, particularly children to help give them a better start to life or those who are disadvantaged.

In 2024 we made donations to the following:

• Girne Special Needs School, Karakum. We completely funded the sourcing of items, importation of same and building of a sensory room to give (particularly autistic) children somewhere to calm when they are distressed. This was our biggest expenditure and possibly the largest undertaken by the ATA. It took a large part of the year with all the issues involved.
• Lapta Lisesi. We funded 21 pairs of specialist running shoes for an international event in Turkiye. Without the shoes, which the school could not afford, the children would not have been competitive.
• Lefkosa Orthopaedic Association Basketball team. Bedding equipment was purchased to help when the team tour and have to stay away as current bedding was old and unsuitable to give them comfort. A follow up is planned this year to see how else we can help.
• Various schools in Girne and Lefkosa. English tutorial books have been purchased and donated to schools who cannot afford text books written in English (books in Turkish are free to state schools, but other languages have to be paid for).
• Cypriot Dance Group – Genç Sanat Severler Derneği. Their aim is to keepTraditional Cypriot Folk Lore Dance and Music alive and pass these traditions onto the next generation. The traditional costumes they wear at events is expensive and were asked to fund a set of dancing shoes for the group. We paid for 30 pairs which should last them a few years.

We plan to continue the work in 2025 and at this stage we have already planned tree planting at the Martyr village (Murataǧa) and a significant purchase of printing materials for the Karakum Special Needs School so they can print their children’s designs on mugs and tee shirts to sell. Collection of bottle tops continues to provide wheelchairs to the Orthopaedic Association and an educational visit is planned in the second quarter of 2025.

If you require any more information, or wish to make a donation of any size, please contact ATA Treasurer Tim Morgan treasurer.ata.trnc@gmail.com or WhatsApp 0533 864 9192