🥇Nurtaç Saim "Agora ve Dijital Miras"
🥈Şeyma Bozkurt "Pagos"
🥉Tutku Altun "Levanten Köşkleri"
Project Closing Meeting and
Award Ceremony
As the International Women in Sustainable Development Association, we proudly held the closing meeting and award ceremony of our first project approved by the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Turkey, “Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development”!
The video content prepared by the participating young women was evaluated and awarded by our Selection Committee.
🥇 Nurtaç Saim - “Agora and Digital Heritage”
🥈 Şeyma Bozkurt - “Pagos”
🥉 Tutku Altun - “Levantine Mansions”
Endless thanks to everyone who contributed to this meaningful project that brings İzmir’s cultural heritage to the digital world!
We would like to thank the General Directorate of Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Turkey for their support, and our Governor of İzmir, Dr. Süleyman Elban, Provincial Civil Society Relations Director Turgay Esen, TRNC Izmir Consul General Ayşen Volkan İnanıroğlu
Our stakeholders: Dokuz Eylül University English Business Faculty, Yaşar University YÜKAM, Women Directors Association,
Our President Ayla Alkan, Project Commission President Şenay Karasu, Digitalization Commission President Başak An, Networking & Organization President Nesli Öztürk and all our members who contributed;
For illuminating our path with their education:
Art Historian Canan Çakmak, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Doğrucan, Nilay İşlek, Seray Ak, Prof. Dr. Huriye Toker, Faruk Şahin, Neslihan Karaali Bedük;
To our Selection Committee members:
Ayla Alkan, Aslı Öktener, Prof. Dr. Semih Çelenk, Prof. Dr. Huriye Toker, Lecturer We sincerely thank Meltem Kolday, Canan Çakmak, Seray Ak, Onur Atar, Fatih Şahin, Faruk Şahin.
We were inspired, strengthened, and grew on this journey. We hope to meet in new projects!
Jury Evaluation Meeting
Jury Evaluation Meeting
The Selection Committee evaluation meeting was successfully held within the scope of our “Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development” project. The video content prepared by our project participants was meticulously evaluated by our Selection Committee and the first three participants who were ranked were determined.
We would like to express our gratitude to;
USKD Board of Directors Chair Ayla Alkan,
Milliyet Newspaper Aegean Region Representative Aslı Öktener,
Prof. Dr. Semih Çelenk,
Prof. Dr. Huriye Toker,
Lecturer Meltem Kolday,
Art Historian Canan Çakmak,
Artlens Visual Culture and Photography Workshop - Photography Instructor
EFIAP (TFSF FIAP International Turkey Youth Representative) Seray Ak,
TÜGİAD Aegean Branch Board Member Onur Atar,
Faura Club Founders;
Fatih Şahin and Faruk Şahin.
We would like to thank the Project Committee, Commission President Şenay Karasu, who worked hard in all processes from the preparation to the execution of the project, and all our participants who contributed with dedication, and wish them continued success.
The Selection Committee evaluation meeting was successfully held within the scope of our “Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development” project. The video content prepared by our project participants was meticulously evaluated by our Selection Committee and the first three participants who were ranked were determined.
We would like to express our gratitude to;
USKD Board of Directors Chair Ayla Alkan,
Milliyet Newspaper Aegean Region Representative Aslı Öktener,
Prof. Dr. Semih Çelenk,
Prof. Dr. Huriye Toker,
Lecturer Meltem Kolday,
Art Historian Canan Çakmak,
Artlens Visual Culture and Photography Workshop - Photography Instructor
EFIAP (TFSF FIAP International Turkey Youth Representative) Seray Ak,
TÜGİAD Aegean Branch Board Member Onur Atar,
Faura Club Founders;
Fatih Şahin and Faruk Şahin.
We would like to thank the Project Committee, Commission President Şenay Karasu, who worked hard in all processes from the preparation to the execution of the project, and all our participants who contributed with dedication, and wish them continued success.
Cultural Tour: Kemeraltı
The Second Stop of Our Cultural Heritage Tour: Historical Kemeraltı In the second and last stop of our cultural tour, which we carried out within the scope of our project on young women who embrace sustainable development, accompanied by art historian Canan Çakmak, we discovered Kemeraltı, the heart of İzmir.
Kemeraltı, with its inns, mosques, synagogues and bazaar structure dating back to the Ottoman period, is an important cultural heritage site that bears the traces of multicultural life and brings the spirit of the past together with the present. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the young women who participated in this meaningful tour for their interest and sensitivity, to our teacher Canan Çakmak for her valuable guidance and shared information, and especially to our project commission chair Senay Karasu for her undeniable efforts and contributions in the implementation of this project.
We embrace the past together and walk towards a sustainable future together.
Cultural Tour: Bergama
As part of our project “Young Women Embracing Their Cultural Heritage,” aimed at preserving cultural heritage and passing it on to future generations, we carried out our first cultural field trip to the district of Bergama — a region that has hosted many civilizations throughout history.
The first stop of our trip was a unique workshop that continues to keep alive the ancient art of parchment making — one of the most iconic symbols of Bergama and a carrier of knowledge and culture for centuries. During this meaningful visit, our young women participants listened to the history of parchment production and had the opportunity to observe the delicate craft firsthand. This traditional production process, sustained through meticulous handwork, not only conveyed knowledge but also created a powerful emotional connection with our cultural memory.
At the workshop, we learned how parchment is carefully processed from animal skin, the stages it goes through, and how this tradition is kept alive today. As our participants held the parchment in their hands, they took a journey into the past and deeply felt the value of preserving cultural heritage.
This visit proved to be an incredibly valuable experience that served the core mission of our project. The young women didn’t just witness history — they realized that they are also bearers of a heritage that must be sustained.
After our visit to the parchment workshop, we continued our journey to the ancient city of Pergamon. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this exceptional ancient settlement offered us a chance to touch the layers of history.
In the lands that once served as the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon, we walked through the Acropolis, the Temple of Athena, the Temple of Trajan, the ancient theatre, and the ruins of the library — building a bridge between the grandeur of the past and the reality of the present. Accompanied by our guide, we gained detailed insights not only into the architectural structures but also into the lifestyle, belief systems, and social structures of the era.
Our young women experienced firsthand that history is not only learned from books but also felt on-site. Their admiration for Bergama’s cultural and historical richness highlighted once again the importance of protecting this heritage.
Through this meaningful journey, our participants internalized that cultural heritage is not just a reflection of the past, but also an essential part of the future.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the participants who joined us on this journey, making it truly valuable with their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. With every young woman who embraces our cultural heritage, we look to the future with greater hope.
''For Sustainable Development
'Keeping Cultural Heritage Alive' Panel
Within the scope of our “Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development” project, carried out under the leadership of our association, we successfully held our “Keeping Cultural Heritage Alive for Sustainable Development” panel, which we prepared with great excitement and meticulousness.
This panel, which is an important step towards protecting, preserving and passing on cultural heritage to future generations, was prepared with the devoted work of our relevant committees for weeks and was extremely productive for our participants.
The panel discussed in depth the role of cultural heritage in sustainable development, the active contribution of young women in this process, and the importance of preserving local values and carrying them into the future. This inspiring meeting, where expert speakers shared their knowledge and experiences, brought new perspectives to all of us.
We would like to thank all our stakeholders and valuable participants for their contributions.
TRAININGS
Digital Content Production
The sixth training of our project "Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development", "Digital Content Production", will be held by Neslihan Karaali Bedük and Faruk Şahin between 12-16 May.
Content Creation
The fifth training of our "Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development" project, "Content Creation", was held by Neslihan Karaali Bedük between 05-09 May.
Photography
As part of our project, we would like to thank Dr. Nilay İşlek, who provided online photography training from London. We continue our training with NEET participants of the Young Women Who Protect Their Cultural Values project. We would like to thank Ms. Seray Ak and Artlens, who carried out the photography workshop with great energy.
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Storytelling
The “storytelling” online trainings of our “Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development” project were carried out by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Doğrucan, Director of the Center for Culture and Civilization Studies at the Social Sciences University of Ankara, and Coordinator of the Sustainability Office.
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Text Writing
The second training of our project "Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development", "Copywriting", will be held by Prof. Dr. Huriye Toker between April 14-18.
Art History
As the International Association of Women in Sustainable Development (USKD), the opening launch of our "Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage in Sustainable Development" project, approved by the General Directorate of Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of Interior, was held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the Painting and Sculpture Museum foyer area within the İzmir Culture and Art Factory. The meeting began with a moment of silence and the National Anthem, and USKD Board of Directors Chairwoman Ayla Alkan made the opening speech. Following the speech of a young NEET woman who is a participant in the project, the project stakeholders, Women Directors Association Chairwoman Gülten Taranç, Dokuz Eylül University English Business Faculty Civil Society Organizations Relations Coordinator Lecturer Meltem Kolday, Yaşar University Women and Family Studies Research Center Director Prof. Dr. Huriye Toker, were followed by speeches by Ankara Social Sciences University Culture and Civilization Application and Research Center Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Doğrucan, İzmir Painting and Sculpture Museum Director Ayşe Füruzan Caman, and İzmir Provincial Civil Society Relations Director Turgay Esen. The meeting, which attracted the attention of the press, was attended by the heads of NGOs, representatives of public institutions and USKD members.
The field interviews organized by our Networking and Organization Commission and our Digitalization and Innovation Commission, and the Selluka t-shirts worn by Platform Up students attracted a lot of attention.
We would like to thank the Izmir Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the Culture and Art Factory and each participant who contributed to our project for their support, and wish our project to be carried out successfully.
Project Opening Launch
As the International Association of Women in Sustainable Development (USKD), the opening launch of our "Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage in Sustainable Development" project, approved by the General Directorate of Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of Interior, was held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the Painting and Sculpture Museum foyer area within the İzmir Culture and Art Factory. The meeting began with a moment of silence and the National Anthem, and USKD Board of Directors Chairwoman Ayla Alkan made the opening speech. Following the speech of a young NEET woman who is a participant in the project, the project stakeholders, Women Directors Association Chairwoman Gülten Taranç, Dokuz Eylül University English Business Faculty Civil Society Organizations Relations Coordinator Lecturer Meltem Kolday, Yaşar University Women and Family Studies Research Center Director Prof. Dr. Huriye Toker, were followed by speeches by Ankara Social Sciences University Culture and Civilization Application and Research Center Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Doğrucan, İzmir Painting and Sculpture Museum Director Ayşe Füruzan Caman, and İzmir Provincial Civil Society Relations Director Turgay Esen. The meeting, which attracted the attention of the press, was attended by the heads of NGOs, representatives of public institutions and USKD members.
The field interviews organized by our Networking and Organization Commission and our Digitalization and Innovation Commission, and the Selluka t-shirts worn by Platform Up students attracted a lot of attention.
We would like to thank the Izmir Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the Culture and Art Factory and each participant who contributed to our project for their support, and wish our project to be carried out successfully.
''Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development''
Project
As USKD (International Association of Women in Sustainable Development); our "Young Women Protecting Their Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development" Project, which we applied to the General Directorate of Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has been accepted.
Within the scope of our project, which will start on 15.11.2024 and end on 31.10.2025, Dokuz Eylül University English Business Faculty, Yaşar University YÜKAM and Women Directors Association have agreed to be our stakeholders.
The target audience of our project consists of young women between the ages of 21-29 who are not in education, training or employment (NEET).
Our project aims to provide young women with professional skills in creative sectors for their social and economic empowerment. By introducing the cultural heritage of Izmir on digital platforms, young women will be provided with training in innovative sectors such as "art history, digital photography, creative writing, digital content production and social media management". Following the training, content will be produced on the historical and cultural heritage of Izmir and these contents will be evaluated in a competition. Successful content will be shared nationally and internationally and its sustainability will be ensured by USKD, supporting young women to find jobs in creative sectors.
Our Project targets the articles of "4 Quality Education, 5 Gender Equality, 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, 10 Reducing Inequalities, 17 Partnerships for the Goals" of the Sustainable Development Goals; It aims to create cooperation, social awareness and long-term impact with local governments, universities and NGOs.
Communication
Project
Social Media
