Healing Together, Uniting in Goodness
Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Cohesion Project Notes || November, 2024
Working together, meeting in goodness, building strong collaborations and drawing strength from friendship... These values are the great forces that remind us that we are not alone and move societies forward. Growing together to turn our dreams into reality, increasing solidarity and multiplying goodness is the cornerstone of local and collective development.
Yaren Culture in Anatolia
Yaren culture, one of the deep-rooted traditions of Anatolia, is one of the most beautiful examples of being together, sharing and solidarity. Yarens come together in friendly gatherings, share their troubles, laugh and learn together. Individuals feel that they belong to the community. It is one of the most beautiful expressions of trust, support and friendship that grows as they share.
From Cooperation Projects to Friendly Gatherings
The SEECO Project is inspired by this spirit of solidarity. From women's cooperatives to entrepreneurs developing environmentally friendly designs, many participants grow the power of solidarity. People united in goodness, reinforce their friendship through business, and rise together by strengthening each other.
The etymological root of the word cooperative is “co-operari”, which means to help and work together. This spirit of cooperation, which is deeply rooted in our culture, reminds us that when we act in solidarity in difficult times, we can overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties together.
Stronger Together: The Power of Solidarity
Many success stories showing the true power of solidarity come to life with the SEECO project:
Münevver Erpolat strengthened the chain of solidarity by sharing her knowledge gained from accountancy through trainings.
Hana Habbaba started her journey as a beneficiary in the first cycle and became a mentor for new entrepreneurs.
Derya Fesligil demonstrated the power of acting together by working shoulder to shoulder with the participants during the application process.
Şeyma Aydıner received services from our beneficiary Fadime Aygün, whom she met during the trainings, for the establishment of her website where she can sell online and SEO work.
Lamia Neccar, Burak Dağcı and Mehmet Türkay joined forces to open a Physiotherapy Center in Kilis.
What Happened in the Field in November?
Revealed by the SEECO Effect: Historical Siptilli Bazaar
Tarsus Gastronomy Center, established with the support of SEECO in the historical Siptilli Bazaar, attracts great interest from the people of the region with its workshops, training activities and local food presentations. The Center, which was enlarged with the restoration of 8 more shops in the Siptilli Bazaar by Tarsus Municipality, attracted great attention at the Tarsus Festival held on November 1-3. The center employs 9 people.
SEECO Community Inspiration Meetings
Karacadağ Development Agency is organizing an online seminar for our grant beneficiaries in Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakır provinces where we will celebrate their success stories and share inspiration about the entrepreneurship ecosystem. On December 4, Gülcan Demirkol Aytemur, founder of Arya Women Investment Platform, and Emin Okutan, co-founder of Viveka, will also take part in the meeting.
Visit to Siverek Gastronomy Center
Ahmet Şimşek, Director General of Development Agencies of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and SEECO Project Director, visited Şanlıurfa on November 23rd and was accompanied by Hasan Maral, President of GAP Regional Development Administration and Yunus Çolak, Secretary General of Karacadağ Development Agency.
Siverek Gastronomy and Entrepreneurship Center is expected to add economic and social value to the region in order to promote local flavors and support entrepreneurship activities. Ideas were exchanged on the targeted activities of the center and its contributions to local development.
SEECO Project Met Young People in Çanakkale
We participated in the event organized in Çanakkale within the scope of 'Value to Life University Meetings', where Kale Group aims to bring the social entrepreneurship ecosystem together with young people.
In the session titled “Collaboration is the Key to Solution in the New Paradigm” moderated by Okan Pala, Kale Holding Social Enterprise Programs Manager: Cooperation”, our Project Coordinator Hande Kara emphasized the importance of finding common solutions to today's crises and emphasized the impact of the SEECO Project.
We Approached the End of the Grant Program
Beneficiaries followed the steps of application, training, preparation of a business plan with mentor support, evaluation of the business plan by the committee, signing of contracts and procurement respectively within the scope of the Grant Program. In total, contracts were signed with 1496 beneficiaries and machinery and equipment procurement was completed for 1176 beneficiaries.
New Sales Channel for 17 SEECO Beneficiary Cooperatives: Shopsa
Shopsa, the e-commerce platform that Demet Sabancı set out with the dream of supporting entrepreneurial women all over Turkey, started negotiations with 17 SEECO beneficiaries to include them in the cooperative network.
We are in the 1st Year of our Solidarity
In this process where we share our project process, entrepreneurship stories from Anatolia, our dreams, get stronger together and inspire each other, our newsletter completes its first year with this issue. Knowing that we are not alone provides a strong foundation for social development. Thank you for being with us. We know that when we are united in goodness, we are much stronger.