Photo by RET

Article by Ali Selim Kara, Communications Officer for RET in Türkiye

MARDIN, TÜRKIYE – Latife, a 52-year-old woman of Chechen descent, once lived a peaceful life in Syria with her family. However, the outbreak of war in Syria forced her to move to Türkiye nine years ago, along with her sister and brother. 

Latife shares that she had never worked before coming to Türkiye: “After arriving in Türkiye, I attended a Turkish language course to express myself better and adapt to life here. But in our family, women weren’t allowed to work. So, I spent a long time not working, staying home most days. I felt an emptiness inside,” she says, describing the challenging adaptation process. 

Over time, however, both the increasingly difficult living conditions and her growing desire to work pushed her to take action. It was at this point that Latife crossed paths with the Leap Women’s Cooperative, established through RET’s livelihoods programs and currently operating under RET’s ongoing “Local Women’s Socio-Economic Empowerment and Social Skills Development for Social Cohesion and Youth Empowerment” project. The cooperative aims to empower vulnerable refugee and local women by building their professional skills, enabling them to generate income through its production ateliers.  

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Photos by RET

In 2022, she began working in the cooperative’s sewing and embroidery, and block-printing ateliers in Mardin. “That day opened a new page in my life. The uncertain days I spent at home were replaced by a more organized life,” says Latife, adding that this experience gave her new goals and a determination to achieve them. 

Believing that age is no barrier to working and that women should always stand on their own feet, Latife says, “This life is ours, and we must take ownership of it. Every day, I am grabbing my life with both hands because of this belief. But working isn’t just about earning money. In this atelier, I’ve found a space of my own, and I’ve discovered my freedom,” she says, aiming to inspire other women. 

Latife’s story is a striking example of the struggle for women’s empowerment despite the challenges of war and migration. 

To help us continue this critical work with refugees in Türkiye and around the world, make a donation to RET today.