Chinese Businesses Fund Table Tennis Program for Istanbul Orphans

Dong Juntao, vice president of PowerChina Eurasia, delivers a speech during the donation ceremony at the Darussafaka Society in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec. 19, 2018. Chinese Businessmen and Industrialists Association in Istanbul on Wednesday made a donation in support of the table tennis program of the Darussafaka Society, an institution dedicated to free education of poor and orphaned children. [Xinhua/Xu Suhui]

Chinese Businessmen and Industrialists Association in Istanbul on Wednesday made a donation in support of the table tennis program of the Darussafaka Society, an institution dedicated to free education of poor and orphaned children.

With the donation, the society shall have a part-time Chinese coach and new equipment for its table tennis fans, in addition to future opportunities for the children to join summer camps in China and have exchanges with players from the municipal club in Istanbul.

"Today it is a bright and sunny day for us," declared Talha Camas, chairman of the society board, despite heavy rain outside.

"We all know how the Chinese table tennis players are successful in the world," he said at the donation ceremony, adding that "in that context, your donation means a lot for us. It will help our team to regain its power."

The Darussafaka Society, founded in 1863, currently has 1,000 students who lost at least one parent.

Gao Xiangyang, chairman of ICBC Turkey, a subsidiary of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and Dong Juntao, vice president of PowerChina Eurasia, pledged their support for the society to do better in table tennis, with Gao calling the sport a symbol of "friendship" and "peace."

Cui Wei, the Chinese consul general in Istanbul, described the donation as "an example of sharing" as stated under the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China since the country has become strong enough to have the capacity to reach the children of another country following 40 years of reform and development.

Idil Dodak, aged 14, has played the table tennis for two years. In her eyes, the equipment is overused and insufficient.

"The donation by China makes us very happy in that sense," she said.

Umre Akalp, a 15-year-old girl, has been a table tennis player for two years as well.

"China and Chinese athletes are very important for us. They are our idols," she said, adding that "what we have received today from China is very special for me."

As the coach of Darussafaka's table tennis team, Oguzhan Bingol was concerned with "a huge lack of materials."

"Our balls, nets and rackets are not very relevant. Most importantly, our children do not have the enthusiasm for playing," he said.

"But now with these new ones, everything will change," he added.

Talha Camas, chairman of the Darussafaka society board, delivers a speech during the donation ceremony at the Darussafaka Society in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec. 19, 2018. Chinese Businessmen and Industrialists Association in Istanbul on Wednesday made a donation in support of the table tennis program of the Darussafaka Society, an institution dedicated to free education of poor and orphaned children. [Xinhua/Xu Suhui]

Children play table tennis during the donation ceremony at the Darussafaka Society in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec. 19, 2018. Chinese Businessmen and Industrialists Association in Istanbul on Wednesday made a donation in support of the table tennis program of the Darussafaka Society, an institution dedicated to free education of poor and orphaned children. [Xinhua/Xu Suhui]

Cui Wei, the Chinese consul general in Istanbul, delivers a speech during the donation ceremony at the Darussafaka Society in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec. 19, 2018. Chinese Businessmen and Industrialists Association in Istanbul on Wednesday made a donation in support of the table tennis program of the Darussafaka Society, an institution dedicated to free education of poor and orphaned children. [Xinhua/Xu Suhui]

(Source: Xinhua)