In the greenhouse built as part of the "Empowerment Seeds Project" of the IZMIR Metropolitan Municipality, women from Kadifekale cultivate cacti and succulent plants. Women grow stronger in both the social and commercial spheres as they sell the goods they make at the Kulturpark Producer Market and study the nuances of the industry together.
The International Organization for Migration provided financial support to the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality for the Empowerment Seeds Project. About 30 women completed the project's theoretical training at the Kadifekale Community Solidarity Center, which is connected to the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Social Services Department. Following this, they began producing in the Kadifekale greenhouse. Women who cultivate and grow succulents and cacti in this area began selling their goods at the Kulturpark Producer Market. The women from Kadifekale stressed that they also grew stronger economically while expressing how wonderful it felt to be in the greenhouse.
"The Empowerment Seeds Project was created with a budget grant of 40.000 USD from the International Organization for Migration," stated Deniz Evcimen, the trainer at the Kadifekale Community Solidarity Center, while providing details about the initiative. After 120 hours of theoretical instruction in January, the women initially learned how to grow cacti and succulents. After that, they entered the greenhouse."
"Our greenhouse is home to about 100 succulents and cacti. The greenhouse serves as a place of production, of course, but it also serves as a gathering place. For us, this is beneficial. Establishing sales channels while producing in the greenhouse also empowers women. To put it briefly, the Kadifekale Community Solidarity Center engages in a variety of tasks. This effort strengthens women alike."
Working in the greenhouse, one of the participants of the project, Turkan Kaymaz stated, "We grow cactus and succulent plants here. As women, we are together. As sisters, we attempt to accomplish everything together. Here in this greenhouse, our circle of friends has grown. We work with the soil. Additionally, we've begun to market the goods we cultivate. It will hopefully contribute more to our home economy,"
Suzan Ismail, a Syrian national who completed training as part of the project, remarked: "We grow succulents and cacti in the greenhouse. Our goal is to help them develop. A few of the women are in charge of decorating the products and making them more attractive to customers. Here, I feel well and at ease. While working, I enjoy myself. Our goods are offered for sale at the farmer's market. We set up a booth and had excellent sales. It gives us financial support."
Meryem Misto, another participant, added, "When I am here, I am incredibly content. I forget about everything when I start working in the greenhouse. I've never held a job before, now I am contributing to my household's economy."
Seyda Akar, who began marketing the goods they made, noted: "We gained knowledge about plant maintenance and growth conditions in the greenhouse. At the booth we set up at the producer market, we began selling the succulents and cacti that we had grown. It's going well with sales; hopefully, there will be more. For women, this project was excellent. It's a worthwhile initiative from a social, spiritual, and financial standpoint. Women grow stronger and more self-assured. We are happy when we work on this project. Every Wednesday, we will still have a stand available at the Kulturpark Producer Market."
Source: DHA