Anatolian women, united through cooperatives, are contributing to both their households and the economy, creating exemplary success stories.

Emine Özdoğan, the head of a cooperative in the northern province of Bolu, shared their journies.

“We established our women’s cooperative with 52 village brides in Demirciler village,” she said. “Our village headman told us, ‘Our president supports women’s cooperatives. We should establish one.’”

The cooperative’s first project involved making jams in the village headman’s office. Over time, they renovated an abandoned primary school.

“We leveled its garden, designed the interior and built a production workshop. We added a stone oven, six greenhouses and even a lavender garden.”

By 2020, the cooperative had undergone entrepreneurship and cookery training, acquired various quality certifications, and established a farm-to-table restaurant 5 kilometers from Bolu. Today their products are sold locally and through e-commerce.