The "Kız Kardeşim" Project Aims to Reach 700,000 Women

My Sister Project Aims to Reach 700,000 Women Turkey's Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), in partnership with Habitat Association and Coca-Cola Turkey, announced that the My Sister Project, implemented to support women's participation in economic life, aims to reach 700,000 women. At the event held with the participation of project stakeholders, collaboration with Akbank and TOBB ETÜ was announced, along with the unveiling of the third grant program. In the Third My Sister Grant Program, both the number of women to receive grants and the grant amount have been doubled compared to the previous year. Thus, the My Sister Grant Program 2022 will provide a total of TRY 3,000,000 in support, with TRY 50,000 each to 60 women entrepreneurs. The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), in partnership with Habitat Association and Coca-Cola Turkey, is continuing the My Sister Project, which supports women's participation in economic life, into its seventh year with growing momentum. At the My Sister event held on 1 April 2022, the project's current status and future objectives were presented. The event, held at TOBB's service building in Istanbul, was attended by TOBB Management Board Member Oğuzhan Ata Sadıkoğlu, TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Board Chair Nurten Öztürk, and Coca-Cola Eurasia and Middle East Operations Head Evguenia Stoichkova. The event also featured the announcement of the third grant program implemented under the My Sister Project as well as new partnerships. A panel moderated by Habitat Association Management Board Chair Sezai Hazır and featuring Coca-Cola Turkey General Manager Başak Karaca, Coca-Cola Beverages Group Human Resources Director Ebru Özgen, TOBB WEC Senior Board Member Canan Özdemir İşmen and IWF Turkey Chair Gülden Türktan discussed views and recommendations on enabling more women to participate in economic life. The My Sister Project has been running continuously since 2015 with the objective of supporting women aged 15-55 across Turkey to strengthen their social and economic positions by equipping them with necessary knowledge and skills regarding participation in economic life. Within the project scope, women are offered training opportunities in proper management of their personal financial resources, increasing entrepreneurship awareness and correct use of information technology services, while women entrepreneurs are also supported through grant programs. Through Tomorrow My Sister work conducted in cooperation with the Teacher Academy Foundation (ÖRAV) and the Turkish Ministry of Education, teachers and through them hundreds of thousands of students have been reached. Training has been provided to women's cooperatives in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Akbank and TOBB ETÜ Stand Behind Women Entrepreneurs

The project entered its seventh year with new partnerships. Akbank and TOBB Economics and Technology University (ETÜ) have joined the My Sister Project supporters. Akbank will offer banking services and credit advantages to enterprises eligible to participate in the grant program. Furthermore, it will provide support in areas such as financial advisory services, credit utilization with favorable interest rates, POS usage at reasonable rates, and special-budget salary offers. The achievements of women entrepreneurs who complete the training program within the project scope will be certified by certificates issued by TOBB ETÜ. In cooperation with TOBB ETÜ, established by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, work will be done both on updating education content and on enabling more women to receive training. Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Management Board Member Oğuzhan Ata Sadıkoğlu: "I would like to thank separately our TOBB Provincial Women Entrepreneurs Board Chairs, who have expanded the My Sister Project across 81 provinces and ensured its recognition and awareness. Their contribution to the project's success is substantial. The My Sister Project continues into the new period with even greater strength through new partnerships. TOBB Economics and Technology University (ETÜ) will now be with us. Within the framework of up-to-date educational content prepared by TOBB ETÜ, more women will be able to access training opportunities and obtain certificates. In this context, we plan to support more women entrepreneurs," he said. Coca-Cola Eurasia and Middle East Operations Head Evguenia Stoichkova: Stated that the My Sister project is an excellent example of what women can achieve when they receive necessary support. In her remarks, Stoichkova said, "Turkish women are determined, hardworking and open to development in every field. The My Sister Project brings great excitement to the entire Coca-Cola system. Over the past 7 years, we have engaged with women in all 81 provinces of Turkey. In cooperation with our stakeholders, we have expanded our area of impact even further. This year, we will continue to support our women entrepreneurs' business development processes within our Grant Program. Through our project, we have supported 429,000 women to participate in economic life today. Our sisters are inspiring every day for the dreams of new sisters to become reality. Our goal is to increase this number to 700,000 by year-end," she said. Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Women Entrepreneurs Board Chair Nurten Öztürk: "Women's participation in the workforce is a necessity for the sustainability of economic and social life. The 'My Sister Project', which enables women to play an active role in regional economic development, equips them with necessary knowledge and skills regarding participation in economic life, and strengthens their social and economic positions, is very important and valuable to us. Women's power is critical not only for women's future but for the future of the world. Greater women's participation in the economy means better quality education and health systems, higher per capita income, faster and more inclusive economic growth, and strong international competitiveness. I am very pleased to be part of a successful, sustainable, beneficial project that supports women's development," she said.