Supporting Innovative and Entrepreneur Women Project Launching Meeting 

Funded by UNHCR, the Launching Meeting of the Supporting Innovative and Entrepreneur Women Project was held on 19 January 2021. The event was hosted by Gaziosmanpaşa Municipality. Opening speeches of the launching meeting were given by Mehmet Duman WALD Chairman of the Executive Board, Elif Selen Ay UNHCR Head of İstanbul Field Office, and Hasan Tahsin Usta, Mayor of Gaziosmanpaşa. Duman underlined that, "We will continue our inclusive works on refugees and the local community." Elif Selen Ay stated that this project made major contributions to women's solidarity and the culture of living together. Mayor Hasan Tahsin Usta highlighted that Gaziosmanpaşa hosts a large number of refugees and in this regard, the project serves as a good model on a district basis. In this meeting, Havin Nabo and Yasemin Sezgin, who are the project participants, underscored that the project made a significant contribution to their personal lives. The meeting attracted deep interest from the press.

What Does Project Aim?

In Gaziosmanpaşa and Sultangazi Municipalities were set up needlecraft and cuisine workshops within the scope of this project. 30 refugee women and 30 Turkish women produced washable masks, organic noodles, pickles, and jams. The products were sold in the district markets and at the point of sales determined by the municipalities. On the other hand, the income from sales was distributed equally among the participating women. The project also aims to strengthen social cohesion alongside empowering women economically.