Trust the Path, Grow Together
Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Cohesion Project Notes || April, 2025
In Anatolia, walking the road symbolizes intention, morality and a state of togetherness.
To “enter the path” is to accept a virtuous stance. “Being on the road” means remaining open to learning; ‘comradeship’ means knowing not to walk alone. On the road, friendships are made, experience is passed on, knowledge is shared and multiplied.
Inspired by this ancient culture, the SEECO Project invites a community to walk together. This month, we are expanding this understanding with every step we take, making knowledge a common ground and learning a common journey with our online training process.
Each initiative is a spark, each center is a stop. Just as the earth is reborn with the spring, we nurture the potential within our community with knowledge. This is a journey of development not only for individuals but also for communities.
With the value Anatolia places on the road and the traveler, we continue to produce together, learn together and walk together. Because this road is not alone. Because this path is meaningful together.
What Happened in the Field in April?
Impact Journey with Young People: Social Entrepreneurship Workshops in Gaziantep
Under the coordination of İpekyolu Development Agency, we came together with young people at the Social Entrepreneurship Centers established within Hasan Kalyoncu University and Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University.
“Social Entrepreneurship: Step by Step from Idea to Impact” workshops, SEECO Project Specialists Melis Kuzuoğlu and Mustafa Yazar shared examples of social entrepreneurship and their experiences from the field with young people. The energy and participation of young people inspired us to look to the future with hope.
A New Breath with Gluten-Free Products Project | Mardin - Artuklu University
Within the scope of the “One More Step to a Healthy Life” project carried out in cooperation with the Tigris Development Agency and Artuklu University, certified trainings on gluten-free product production have started.
35 trainees between the ages of 18-29 received gluten-free kitchen training.
Participants gained practical and theoretical knowledge from product preparation to presentation.
After the training, the café became operational and the menu was tested by gluten-free groups.
This center is the first example of gluten-free production in the region, while also offering employment and social integration opportunities for women and youth.
Ecosystem Strengthened with Three New Centers in Şanlıurfa
With the support of the Karacadağ Development Agency, important centers are coming to life in Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakır:
Harran University Social Entrepreneurship Center
1,115 m² area in Osmanbey and Eyyübiye campuses.
500 young people will gain awareness and improve their skills in the field of social entrepreneurship.
Şanlıurfa Provincial Directorate of National Education Entrepreneurship Center
Women and young entrepreneurs will turn their ideas into business models.
Training, consultancy and digital skills development are supported.
Dicle University Agriculture-Focused Social Entrepreneurship Center
The Faculty of Agriculture supports social entrepreneurship in the field of agricultural production.
It is aimed to empower women and young people with income-generating activities in agriculture.
Growing Workshops with Women's Power | Adana & Mersin - Çukurova Development Agency
Pastry and Barista Academy | Erdemli Municipalit
Pastry and barista courses for women have started.
Participants gain practical skills and are supported in entrepreneurship.
Textile Production Workshop | Mersin Governorship
15 people from the host community are Flat Stitch Machinists,
15 people from the guest community receive Weaving and Apparel training.
3 groups of 21 people experience contract manufacturing; a total of 65 people use the workshop weekly.
Wood Manufacturing and Technology Workshop | Çukurova District Governorship
Vocational trainings for women and youth, Public Education courses and CNC Operator training started.
High value-added production is targeted; production is made with modern techniques in wood manufacturing.
Knowledge is Power with PCM Training | Kahramanmaraş - Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency
Between 21-25 April, Project Cycle Management (PCM) training was organized at Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality Şekerdere Social Entrepreneurship Center.
The training was attended by 13 participants, 8 of whom were women.
Participants received certificates at the end of the training.
The program contributed to strengthening local project capacity.
Impact Driven Growth with Strategic Brand Management Training
SEECO Strategic Brand Management Training starts online in April to strengthen the communication and branding capacities of entrepreneurs working with vulnerable communities.
In the 5-day training program:
Participants will build the communication foundations of their own brands,
A narrative language suitable for the target audience will be developed,
Digitalization and sustainability will take center stage in content production,
Training content will be diversified with experts from fields such as ethical communication, emotional resilience and clean production.
The program will offer a wide range of content from persuasion and moderation techniques to customer loyalty, from empathetic communication to creating a strong brand story.
At the end of the training, 10 entrepreneurs will be selected to participate in a 3-day face-to-face workshop under the mentorship of designers.
This program aims to strategically make visible not only brands but also the transformation stories of social entrepreneurs.
To Learn is the Path Itself
With the SEECO Project, we open a new page every month. But these pages have a common language: learning. Not to reach knowledge, but to process knowledge together; to share experiences; to move forward together...
The centers opened, the trainings provided, the bonds established with young people and the collaborations developed throughout April reminded us once again:
Learning is a never-ending journey and we are not alone in this journey.
As the SEECO community, we continue to learn while producing, to get stronger as we learn and to be inspired by each other at every step.