A Breath Break at the Midpoint of the Year
Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Cohesion Project Notes || June, 2025
Mid-Year Reckoning; Remembering Our Worth
We set goals at the beginning of the year, and we settle accounts at the end of the year. What if, in the middle of the year, in June, we pause and look back at the past six months and the six months to come? What have the past six months taught us? Which dreams have blossomed and which have been quietly shelved? And the next six months ahead of us... What potentials do they hold within us?
Making sense of what has happened in the past six months turns into a stop to walk the road ahead with more conscious steps.
And when we look back on our own journey, we realize that every step we took was sometimes uncertain, sometimes strong, but always valuable. We grew as much through our stumbles as through our successes.
Just like the rhythm of the mehter: Two forward and one back.
Although it looks like a hesitant move from the outside, it is the rhythm of moving forward with patience and consciousness. Stepping back is not a stop, but a breathing break to think, learn and march stronger.
We saw this once again in the face-to-face training in Ankara in June, where we met with 19 entrepreneurs from 9 different cities. Each story took the stage with its own value, with its own rhythm. The bond that emerged went beyond information sharing and became a timeless testimony.
"It was very effective that the trainings were supported with more ideas, inspiration and encouragement by visiting other entrepreneurs. Especially the part where you encouraged us to think about our own entrepreneurial journey made me see myself and the value of what I do more clearly."
Hilal Sımsıkı,Medora Textile, Kahramanmaraş
"I am a woman entrepreneur who is a start-up and has always faced some difficulties during the establishment phase. Sometimes I face difficulties that are beyond my patience and sometimes I thought that this was only happening to me and that maybe I should give up and not push.
Until I found out that I was invited to this training. In this 3-day reunion, I met precious star sisters, listened to their stories and realized that I am not alone.
Dear star entrepreneurs, you are all strong characters who have managed to realize tiny miracles. I am glad that our paths crossed with beauty. Let's move forward together."
Fatma Betül Özdemir, Neobeybi, Mersin
And in the middle of the year, as we come together, we want to remind you of what we remember:
The value lies not only in what we produce, but also in the time we spend with each other, the relationships we build and the future we envision together.
What Happened in the Field in June?
We met with our entrepreneurs in Ankara
Between June 24-27, we held a face-to-face training meeting in Ankara with 19 beneficiaries from 10 selected startups who participated in SEECO's “Strategic Brand Management” online training.
During the training, participants prepared
Inspiration boards for their own brands,
He made visual identity studies,
They participated in workshops on storytelling, target audience identification and content production.
The workshops were accompanied by visits to various institutions and meetings with successful startups from the ecosystem. We met with successful startups from Ankara such as İz Ankara, Yemenia Cooperative, Coldfusion and visited Ankara Maturation Institute and Impact Hub.
An Inspiring Journey to Europe
The story of Pınar Bakar, a master trainer at our center in Nurdağı, Gaziantep, was exhibited in the garden of the European Parliament.
Turning her 23 years of cooking experience into social good, Ms. Pınar provides women with job opportunities and delivers hot meals to those in need.
This story was a concrete reflection of the impact of a social enterprise shaped by the labor of a woman that transcends borders.
Evaluation and Monitoring Process: SUMAR
Within the scope of the SUMAR evaluation process conducted by the European Commission, SEECO's 2-week monitoring mission was completed.
In-depth interviews were conducted with project beneficiaries and facilities.
Qualitative data was collected on the social impact of the grant beneficiaries.
News from the Centers
Osmaniye
"Basic Entrepreneurship Training" for 15 people was successfully completed at the Entrepreneurship Center.
Within the scope of the Peanut Project, aflatoxin analysis infrastructure was established for food safety in the production process.
Kahramanmaraş
Cooperation with Konya Social Innovation Agency and Youth Assembly was discussed during SOGEM's technical trip.
Vocational trainings on beautician and air conditioning technician started.
Hatay
Through our project, cooperation was established between Kırıkhan Textile Workshop and Little Yucca, a social enterprise producing organic children's textiles. The brand's cloth pouches were produced by women working in our workshop.
Gaziantep
After the tender process carried out by the Governorate in accordance with the project's requirements for women and youth employment, Islahiye Textile Workshop has a new manufacturer. The company, experienced in shirt production, provided training and employment to 35 women and young people in the workshop. After 4 months of training, the workshop started to produce shirts for Beymen.
In İpekyolu Gaziantep Industrial Sectors Livelihood Facility, employment and entrepreneurship trainings are provided in line with the achievements of the “European Green Deal” in order to increase the professional competencies of young people and support sustainable employment opportunities.
Şanlıurfa
Social Entrepreneurship Prototyping Center opened in Technopark.
An open production infrastructure was offered to entrepreneurs for renewable energy and R&D.
Şanlıurfa Chamber of Tradesmen and Craftsmen, ŞESOB Social Entrepreneurship Center product catalog was prepared.
Diyarbakır
The Semi-Precious Stones Workshop strengthens women's participation in economic life in jewelry production.
300 m² Ornamental Stones Processing Social Entrepreneurship Center became operational.
Mersin
Social Entrepreneurship Academy workshops continue under the leadership of Erdemli Municipality.
Tarsus Municipality's distillation and hydroponic greenhouse facility provided participants with comprehensive training on aromatic plant cultivation.
Adana
The modern workshop established within the scope of the New Horizons in Wood Manufacturing project was implemented under the leadership of Çukurova District Governorship.
The newly launched CNC Operator course paves the way directly to a master's certificate.
Every step we took in June enabled us to make sense of the present with the experience of the past and to walk stronger into the future.
The activities in our centers and the efforts of our entrepreneurs remind us of the patient progress of Anatolia: Two forward, one back but always together, always forward.