Women Started Their Business! 

Women Started Their Business! 

In Hatay, we provided basic tools, equipment, and material support to 50 women to establish or develop their businesses within the scope of the “Let Women Reach Income Project”. In the project, we aimed to empower women and generate income. We selected women who met the support criteria in the presence of a committee. We analysed the needs of 50 selected women through individual interviews and delivered the necessary fixtures and materials for them to start and develop their businesses. 

We organised a Women’s Labour Activity on 25 April 2024 as the finale of the first leg of the Let Women Reach Incomes Project, which we have been conducting since August 2023. We organised the event in Subaşı Park in cooperation with Defne Municipality, allowing women from outside the project to participate in the event. 70 women opened stands, exhibited, promoted, sold and enjoyed their work and products. In addition, women were informed by attending commercial information meetings given by experts. 

Financial Consultant Atiye SÖNMEZ ERDOĞDU and KOSGEB Consultant SELDA ARSLAN participated in the information meetings on KOSGEB Grant and Official Steps to be Taken in the Establishment of a Workplace. In parallel to the meetings, we also organised a children’s activity where women’s children could spend time. 

Christine Robichon, Christiane Orlowski, Yosr Dallegı and Maxime Ulatowski from the Foundation de France team, which supports the Let Women Reach Incomes Project, attended the activity, and learnt about the project process. MaviKalem and Foundation de France teams visited the stands, introduced the products, and answered questions.  Afterwards, Defne Mayor Halil İbrahim Özgün visited the event with his team. Defne Mayor Halil İbrahim Özgün answered the questions of the women who opened stands d

uring the visit and visited the stands of the women together with the MaviKalem team and supported the women by shopping. NGOs such as Human Appeal, Save the Children, Hatay Earthquake Solidarity Association, TAFHAD and DEGÖDER also participated in the event. During the event, which attracted the attention of the local press, MaviKalem Board Member T. Zeynep Yüreğir and Coordinator of the Let Women Reach Income Project Fatime Doğru gave information about the “Let Women Reach Income Project” and the objectives of the “Women’s Labour” activity in their statements to HRT News channel.

Women to women: “Let Women Build Their Business!”

”MaviKalem’s support for us has been great, they have reached to Arsuz. The support of a woman to a woman is very special. The support women give to each other cannot be prevented.” Z.Ç.

”The environment was very pleasant, I made different friends at the activity. Thanks to the information meetings, I learnt important basic information. I am very happy to be here.” L.D.

”I had not participated in such an activity for a very long time. It was a change for me and it was enjoyable.” Y.Ş.

”I learnt about the project late, you have done great things, I admire the project and you.” Z.K.

”MaviKalem chooses its team carefully, everyone was very friendly, it was very nice to meet you.” Z.Ç.