Stories from Our Grant Beneficiaries
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HATAY: TUĞÇE DUMAN PEDÜK
Tuğçe Duman Pedük is an entrepreneur specializing in silkworm farming and weaving, working in a family business established in 1998 in Antakya, Hatay. A graduate of textile engineering, Tuğçe Hanım pursued a two-year fashion design education before returning to her hometown with her husband to focus on expanding the family business.
Thanks to SEECO support, Tuğçe Hanım was able to address the missing machinery and equipment needs, allowing her to increase production capacity. This enables her to produce flawless products in a shorter time and under cleaner conditions. Additionally, with the new weaving looms, she created job opportunities for women who previously lacked the opportunity to work outside their homes, enabling them to contribute to production.
With the support of weaving looms and equipment, Tuğçe Hanım aims to establish a larger workshop. This space will serve as a place where women can both engage in production and socialize independently of their homes.
ADIYAMAN: ZAHİDE DURMAZ AKAR
Inspired by her grandmother and the folkloric costumes of Adıyaman, Zahide Hanım has been producing traditional dolls for 33 years. After losing her equipment in the earthquake, Zahide Hanım was able to rebuild her business with the support of the SEECO project, funded by the European Union. With the provision of new machinery, she was able to resume production.
Operating in the tourism sector, Zahide Hanım now provides employment to 50 women, contributing to their household incomes. By increasing her production capacity, she offers training opportunities to more students and continues to strengthen her business. Zahide Hanım’s company proudly promotes Turkish culture by selling her handcrafted products to various countries around the world.
ŞANLIURFA: BANU YÜKSEL
Banu Yüksel is an entrepreneur who designs and produces kaftans, a legacy that stretches from the Ottoman Empire to the present day. After honing her skills in Morocco, Banu Hanım has been passionately creating kaftans for the past five years.
With the support of the SEECO project, funded by the European Union, Banu Hanım was able to establish her own workshop, equipping it with the necessary machines to increase her production capacity. What was once done by tailors is now entirely produced in her workshop, allowing her to support her employees more effectively.
Banu Hanım's workshop has become not just a place of production, but also a hub that supports women’s employment and inspires those who wish to follow their dreams.
ADANA: GÜLSEMİN GÜLTEKİN
Gülsemin Gültekin is the founder of Gülse Çocuk Tiyatrosu, a children’s theatre company based in Adana, which has been operating for 9 years. As both a mother and a businesswoman, Gülsemin Hanım brings the power of art to children, offering theatrical performances and courses that ignite creativity and imagination.
With support from the SEECO project, Gülsemin Hanım transitioned from traditional set decorations to using LED panels, integrating digital stage technology. This innovation reduced costs and provided more impactful visual experiences that stimulate the imagination of children. Additionally, it eliminated storage and transportation issues.
By combining traditional theatre with digital elements, Gülse Çocuk Tiyatrosu became the first in Turkey to introduce such a project. It offers children a chance to experience theatre while making art more accessible through free performances. The initiative also provides new job opportunities for young people, amplifying its social impact.
KİLİS: SİBEL KARABACAK
Before the SEECO project, there was no ceramic kiln in Kilis. Sibel Karabacak filled this gap by establishing her business in a historical mansion, where she produces ceramics and pottery. Beyond production, Sibel Hanım has been offering free training to women, helping them enhance their craftsmanship and seize new opportunities.
Her business has transformed into a hub where women come together to socialize, create, and inspire one another. Welcoming women of all ages, this space has become a symbol of solidarity, creativity, and empowerment. Through her efforts, Sibel Hanım has not only enriched the local craft scene but also provided women with a platform to thrive and grow.
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MERSİN: TARIK RASİM NOMER
Tarık Rasim Nomer, with his brand The Junk, breathes new life into waste materials, creating stylish and eco-friendly bags. Inspired by his training in Milan and participation in fashion events, Nomer places sustainability at the heart of his designs. By transforming durable materials like truck tarpaulins, fire hoses, and seat belts into unique bags, he has pioneered the first upcycled fashion brand in Turkey.
The Junk Design stands as a leader in sustainable fashion, aiming to reduce environmental impact through the use of repurposed materials. Not only focused on aesthetics, the brand also upholds ethical values. Thanks to equipment support from the SEECO project, Tarık has been able to increase his production capacity, reach a broader audience, and amplify his social impact. Each bag from The Junk Design tells a story, carrying the traces of its materials' past while serving as both functional and artistic masterpieces.
GAZİANTEP: PINAR BAKAR
Pınar Bakar, a seasoned chef with 23 years of experience in preparing traditional home-cooked meals and teaching culinary arts, turned her dream into reality with the support of the SEECO project. By receiving both economic and psychological support, Pınar Hanım was able to establish the business she had always envisioned. Throughout the project, the guidance and training she received allowed her to move forward with greater awareness and confidence.
With her business now up and running, Pınar has made significant contributions to increasing women’s employment in her community. Additionally, she helps those in need by delivering evening meals to individuals facing financial difficulties. Pınar Hanım believes that entrepreneurship begins with desire and that having the confidence to start, combined with following the right guidance, is the key to success.
MARDİN: ZÜBEYDE AKBAŞ
Zübeyde Akbaş’s passion for ceramics began when she encountered historical ceramic pieces at the Mardin Museum. After attending educational programs at the museum, she worked in a studio, but the pandemic and the earthquake delayed her dream of opening her own studio. With the support of the SEECO project, she was able to acquire the necessary equipment and, along with a colleague, founded the “Sır-ül Seramik” workshop. Her goal is to introduce Mardin’s archaeological heritage to the world.
Zübeyde Hanım is determined to grow her business, provide employment opportunities for women, and offer vocational training to young people. She encourages fellow entrepreneurs not to give up on their dreams despite the challenges and believes that success comes through faith, patience, and continuous development.
OSMANİYE: ŞÜKRİYE ERDOĞAN
In Osmaniye, Şükriye Erdoğan and her friends established a women’s cooperative focused on ornamental plants and rose production, providing women with work and social connections. Founded in 2020, the cooperative expanded its greenhouse and building with the support of the Development Agency.
With training provided through SEECO, 160 individuals gained knowledge in ornamental plant production. The cooperative members, who have specialized in rose cultivation, view their work not just as an economic gain, but as a source of life energy.
Aiming to increase women’s participation in production, the cooperative facilitates their work with equipment support. With the addition of a cold storage facility, they can preserve their products for special occasions and bring them to market. Driven by the belief that "Producing keeps people strong," the women are adding value to both their villages and the broader Osmaniye region.
KAHRAMANMARAŞ: DURDİYE ŞAN
Durdiye Şan, growing up in a farming family, has lived closely with the land and now continues that legacy by establishing a business based on natural and local products. Her company produces regional delicacies such as stuffed vegetable dries, winter tarhana, peppers, mint, thyme, stuffed meatballs, and tripe soup, all of which are distributed throughout Turkey using the cold chain method.
After losing her production facility in the aftermath of the earthquake, Durdiye Hanım rebuilt it with the support of SEECO, increasing her workforce and providing more job opportunities for women. Now, she not only produces goods but also contributes to economic development and supports local producers. With the principle of “never give up,” Durdiye Hanım and her team continue to produce despite the challenges, proving that success is achievable through strong teamwork and the power of supportive projects.
