The founding of SADA Women’s Cooperative under the project “Strengthening the Resilience of Syrian Women and Girls” being implemented in Gaziantep jointly by UN Women, ILO and ASAM was celebrated with seminars and meetings with the participation of Ms. Melike Davaslı Okçu, an expert from the Ministry of Trade.

The seminar held on 28 March at GESOB Seminar Hall drew a participation of 241 women beneficiaries in total from the workshops on shoe-upping, local food production, textiles and packaging, as well as participants of the training courses on Turkish language, computer operating, basic make-up and hair-dressing. After watching a short video on the work of women’s cooperatives in Turkey, Ms. Davaslı stressed that women’s cooperatives were an important instrument to promote women’s participation in labour markets in Turkey. Information was provided to the participants on cooperatives’ areas of activities, establishment procedures, working principles as well as about some of the leading women’s cooperatives. Explaining the founding motto of SADA Women’s Cooperative as “one single hand cannot applause”, Syrian participants described the cooperative as a partnership through which women in solidarity produced together, shared together.

The surprise visit by Mr. Kürşat Turpçu, Gaziantep Provincial Director of Trade, cause moments of great joy at the seminar. Speaking to the participants, Mr. Turpçu congratulated the founding of SADA Women’s Cooperative, and expressed his commitment that they would always support the cooperative’s work and women.

Meeting with the 50 women founders of the Cooperative on 29 March, Ms. Melike Davaslı answered their questions. At the meeting, the areas of activities, division of work and forward roadmap of SADA Women’s Cooperative were discussed; and it was decided to commence production upon the completion of legal procedures, business plans and preparation for production. At the end of the meeting, the inception cake for prepared by the kitchen workshop SADA Women’s Cooperative was collectively for celebration.