"A Girl, A Thousand Hopes" Equal Opportunity Development Program to Launch

Molped, the women's personal care brand of Hayat Kimya, is launching the "One Girl, Endless Hope" Equal Opportunity Development Programme, which aims to support girls' potential during their transition from adolescence to adulthood.

The programme, to be conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education's Directorate General of Basic Education (TEGM) and Hayat Kimya, targets comprehensive support for 7th and 8th grade girls across Turkey in biological, psychological and social development areas. Within the scope of the programme, educational scholarships will also be provided to students.

In cooperation with Hayat Kimya and the Ministry of National Education's Directorate General of Basic Education (TEGM), the "One Girl, Endless Hope" Equal Opportunity Development Programme, centred on empowering girls and equal opportunity, is being launched. Molped, Hayat Kimya's women's personal care brand, aims to support girls through a holistic social investment model in biological, psychological and social development areas with this programme, which it will launch with an "Equal Opportunity in All Fields" approach. In its first year, the programme will start in 8 provinces—Bitlis, Hakkari, Kastamonu, Muş, Erzurum, Istanbul, Isparta and Şanlıurfa—and 40 schools, aiming to reach approximately 10,000 7th and 8th grade girls. Educational content developed with expert academics is intended to be conveyed through 8 healthcare professionals and 40 school counsellors in 8 provinces, contributing to the development process of young girls.

The programme's roadmap was shared with the public at a press conference hosted by Aysel Aydın, Vice President responsible for Strategy and Marketing at Hayat Kimya. The programme's advisory board includes Prof. Dr. Okan Bülent Yıldız, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Hacettepe University; Prof. Dr. Sinem Akgül, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine Sciences, Division of Child Health and Diseases / Department of Adolescent Health, Hacettepe University; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özlem Haskan Avcı, Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, Division of Guidance and Psychological Counselling, Hacettepe University.

"Holistic support during adolescence strengthens students' wellbeing and educational motivation"
Aysel Aydın, Vice President responsible for Strategy and Marketing at Hayat Kimya, said the following about the programme: "Adolescence is a multidimensional process that affects psychological and social development alongside biological changes. Scientific research shows that access to correct information and safe guidance support during this period positively affects students' wellbeing, school motivation and continuity in their educational lives. With this programme, we aim to support girls' development holistically. Additionally, in the second phase of the project, we aim to provide educational scholarships to participating girls."

"Goal in trainings: Identifying early signals"
Prof. Dr. Okan Bülent Yıldız, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Hacettepe University, who serves on the programme's advisory board, emphasised that adolescence is the period when the hormonal system undergoes the fastest changes in a lifetime, stating: "Adolescence is the period when the hormonal system undergoes the fastest changes in a lifetime. However, many young girls cannot distinguish between the changes they experience as normal or as health signals. During adolescence, the hormonal system restructures, and this process can progress differently in every girl. Scientific research shows that in girls during adolescence: some hormone levels show significant increases compared to childhood, the menstrual cycle does not fully mature in the first years, and the first 2–3 years after first menstruation are a period of establishing hormonal balance. Hormones are functioning intensely and fluctuating for the first time. Hormonal problems that go unnoticed during adolescence can have long-term effects. Through the trainings provided within the scope of the One Girl, Endless Hope programme, we aim to help young girls identify signals from their bodies in a timely manner. In this way, we aim for girls to share the changes they experience with health professionals without delay."

"This programme was created so young girls can navigate their adolescent journey with knowledge and empowerment, not fear"
Prof. Dr. Sinem Akgül, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine Sciences, Division of Child Health and Diseases / Department of Adolescent Health, Hacettepe University, emphasised that through the programme young people will not only acquire information but will also gain concrete health and self-care skills they can use in their daily lives, continuing as follows: "With this programme, we are not only providing information. We are supporting young girls to grow into strong individuals who understand their own bodies, can recognise their feelings, have developed self-care habits, and are not hesitant to seek support when needed. Information is necessary not just for learning, but for empowerment. Correct information reduces anxiety, increases confidence, and forms the basis for making healthy decisions. Every young girl has the right to understand her body, develop healthily and grow with confidence. This programme was created so young girls can navigate their adolescent journey with knowledge and empowerment, not fear.

"Every educational approach that understands young girls, listens to them and helps them empower themselves by valuing them will form the foundation of an equal, healthy and hopeful society"
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özlem Haskan Avcı, Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, Division of Guidance and Psychological Counselling, Hacettepe University, said the following about the programme: "Adolescence is an important phase in which our girls take significant steps and make important decisions as they change, grow and progress towards adulthood. Psychological support for young girls and guidance provided to them are of critical importance for them to move forward with healthy steps and decisions by actualising the existing potential of this phase. Group guidance activities to be implemented in schools with the support of our psychological counsellors will cover topics such as self-awareness and emotion recognition, emotion regulation, communication, empathy, conflict management, stress management, cooperation and mutual support, responsibilities, time management, career goals, vocational abilities and interests. In this way, we aim for our young girls to take conscious steps towards self-actualisation by strengthening themselves in personal, social, academic and professional fields and to discover their existing potential. Let us not forget that every educational approach that understands young girls, listens to them and helps them empower themselves by valuing them will form the foundation of an equal, healthy and hopeful society."