Erdoğan meets with children at iftar program

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan came together with children under state protection at an iftar program. In his speech after the program, Erdoğan said, "Our children under protection are the common children of our 85 million citizens." 

Highlights from Erdoğan's speech are as follows:

"There are thousands of our children preparing for life under state protection. As someone who has lost his mother and father, I would like to express that I feel that longing. In our culture, the state is both mother and father. It is the only safe harbor to take refuge in.

Our children under protection are the common children of our 85 million citizens. We immediately took ownership of children who lost their parents. We undertook their care. We support family members who look after children in need of protection. In cases where it is not possible for a child to grow up with their family, we take ownership.

We ended the dormitory model and replaced it with the children's homes and children's home sites model. They are preparing for life in 115 children's home sites. We have 1,185 children's homes across the country. We provide protection and care services to over 14 thousand of our children. Each of our children is under the responsibility of the state. We work day and night for every need, from health to education, starting from before birth."

News Source: 12punto