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Cooperatives provide women a path for economic independence and rebuilding lives after the earthquake.
In 2019, Çiğdem Kudret realized for the first time that skills she had — making jams, pickles, spice mixes and tomato paste— could be monetized. This revelation came about because of a class she took at the local Samandağ Women’s Cooperative, and it ignited a passion in her for entrepreneurship and economic self-sufficiency.
Raised in a household where women were discouraged from working outside the home, Çiğdem had never experienced financial independence. After she got married, she was a homemaker and mother, taking care of her three children.
"I got money in my pocket for the first time with the cooperative," reflects Çiğdem. "Our father did not want his daughters to work... But I had always wanted to work and contribute. I have potential, but because there was no support around me, we stayed closed, like a closed box."
Established in 2019, the cooperative's jam production course, in collaboration with the Turkish Employment Agency and the Public Education Center, provided a platform for skill development. An advertisement in the local press attracted 25 women, including Çiğdem. Following six months of intensive training, she joined the production team.
The cooperative, operational since 2020, was founded by a member of the local city council, Atiye Sönmez Erdoğdu. For women in the community, the cooperative provided more than just a source of income, it offered a sense of community and empowerment. It was the first women’s cooperative to be established in the Hatay province of southern Türkiye.
“Our goal was to set an example and open the way,” says Atiye.
Following in the footsteps of this cooperative, seven others were established in Samandağ, and thirty cooperatives were founded in Hatay province. A financial advisor by profession, Atiye works pro bono at the cooperative, managing their accounts and providing legal aid.
“Atiye helped me to become a trainee. Once I walked through that door, a light turned on in my life. And I didn’t want to turn off that light,” says Çiğdem.
“When I come here, I feel the peace that you have when you arrive home. I feel that here.”
When a devastating earthquake struck in 2023, Çiğdem's newfound livelihood was threatened. The earthquake in Türkiye, hit the country’s southeastern Anatolia region and 11 provinces were affected, among them Hatay where Çiğdem and Atiye lived.
The cooperative suffered significant losses, leaving only 10 percent of their products salvageable.
The earthquake had a profound impact on the region, leaving thousands without basic necessities and unable to resume their livelihoods.
Ninety percent of Samandağ was destroyed and almost everyone lost loved ones, says Atiye. She was also left homeless and had to live out of her car for some time.
The earthquake also destroyed Çiğdem’s house.
“After the earthquake, we went into a major depression. The children pressured us to leave the city. Otherwise, I did not want to leave this place. After that I felt a sense of emptiness, like it [the cooperative] was a second home had I abandoned. I felt like I had to go back,” she says.
Despite personal loss, Atiye was determined to keep the cooperative running. With FAO’s support, she obtained a new laptop and relaunched the cooperative’s e-commerce efforts. She rallied other members, encouraging those who had left the area to return and resume production despite the challenges.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which had been supporting the cooperative even before the earthquake, stepped in to help the collective get back on its feet. By providing machinery and equipment, FAO ensured that women-led cooperatives received the help they needed to rebuild and recover.
Such initiatives align with FAO's commitment to invest in gender equality and women’s empowerment in agrifood systems. These go a long way in advancing progress and enhancing the resilience and food security of households and communities.
To keep reading, please visit: Women-led cooperatives foster resilience amidst adversity in Türkiye | FAO Stories | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Source: FAO