A 74-year-old volunteer living in the U.K. has spent more than two decades helping deliver humanitarian assistance to communities in need across Africa through the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV).
Mehmet Şahin, who moved from Istanbul to London 47 years ago, has become known as TDV's oldest volunteer after dedicating the past 23 years to charitable work. Since retiring in 2002, Şahin has played an active role in the foundation's humanitarian activities, particularly across the African continent.
Since 2003, he has participated in aid missions in 22 African countries, helping distribute donations from philanthropists in Türkiye and the U.K. His work has included overseeing proxy sacrifice campaigns, supporting orphaned children, helping establish water wells and delivering food aid during Ramadan.
Despite his age, Şahin continues to travel thousands of kilometers each year to reach disadvantaged communities. Most recently, he joined TDV's proxy sacrifice donation campaign in Nigeria, where he helped facilitate the distribution of meat from more than 1,500 sacrificial animals donated through fundraising efforts in the U.K.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Şahin said humanitarian work gives purpose to his life and allows him to support vulnerable communities.
