The launch meeting of the ELEVATE Project, which aims to support women entrepreneurs who lost their businesses after the February 6 earthquakes in regaining strength in the digital world, was held at Cappadocia University (KÜN).
Following the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, many women entrepreneurs lost their businesses, production spaces, and market networks. The launch meeting of the ELEVATE Project—designed to help these women rebuild their strength in the digital sphere—was held today at Hall A1 of the Madrasah Building on Cappadocia University’s Mustafapaşa Campus.
Funded by the British Council, the project is coordinated by Cappadocia University and the University of Wolverhampton and implemented in cooperation with Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, Tech West Midlands, and the Antiokhia Women’s Cooperative.
The meeting was attended by Cappadocia University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. İlhan Öztürk; Director of Cappadocia University’s Center for Social and Strategic Studies Application and Research Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halil Burak Sakal; ELEVATE Project Lead from the University of Wolverhampton Prof. Dr. Roya Rahimi; Rector’s Advisor at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Prof. Dr. Özlem Özdemir; Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Prof. Dr. Ayşe Yavuz Kocaman; and faculty members and project trainers Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kadriye Şahin and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sonyel Oflazoğlu Dora.
During the program, the comprehensive project process aimed at strengthening women entrepreneurs affected by the earthquakes not only economically but also socially and digitally was introduced. It was stated that participants would receive training in areas such as social media management, establishment of e-commerce infrastructures, digital marketing strategies, online sales techniques, safe digital practices, and basic financial literacy. It was emphasized that the training content was developed using scientific methods based on real needs in the field and would be supported through mentoring, workshops, and experience sharing.
Speakers highlighted that increasing women entrepreneurs’ visibility in the digital sphere, strengthening branding processes, and supporting access to new markets are among the core objectives of the project. It was noted that the ELEVATE Project offers a strong model for supporting women’s reintegration into economic and social life during the post-earthquake recovery period, strengthens the culture of solidarity, and contributes to regional development.
The launch meeting, hosted by Cappadocia University, was regarded as an important step toward sustainably supporting women’s productive capacity and contributing to the region’s reconstruction process.
