A seminar on “Cooperativism” along with “Youth-Deal Cooperative” was held for the beneficiaries who participated in workshops organised in the SADA Women Development and Solidarity Centre under the “Strengthening the Resilience of Syrian Women and Girls” being implemented in Gaziantep jointly by UNWomen, SGDD and ILO. The seminar held on 26 September 2018 in the GESOB Events Hall was attended by 95 beneficiaries of Syrian, Afghan and Turkish nationality including the beneficiaries who participated in the courses on shoe-upping, textiles and packaging, and the members of the Tomorrow's Women Committee.



Aiming to combine the revenue-generating activities of the women beneficiaries of the project with cooperative works, the seminar was held with the participation of Mr. Berkin Şafak Şener, Mr. Arda Özdöl and Ms. Eda Kayadibinlioğlu, partners of the Youth-Deal Cooperative. The seminar started with statements of participants on their prime motivation in wishing to participate in the world of work, which included being equipped with occupational skills, developing skills, obtaining information, becoming independent, reinforcing self-confidence, making new acquaintances, and supporting the subsistence of their families. It was emphasised that cooperatives engaged in revenue-generating activities in a solidarity network of communities, not as individuals; and information was provided on the roles of cooperatives for social and economic development. Participants viewed videos on successful examples of cooperatives from around the world; and a live video-link was established with a women’s cooperative operating in foods production in Lebanon to exchange experiences.