Samandağ Gastronomy Village will bring hope to local women

Meaningful Collaboration for Hatay by Oxfam KEDV and Mey|Diageo

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake on February 6, Oxfam KEDV (Women’s Labor Evaluation Foundation) and Mey|Diageo have joined forces. The two organizations have initiated efforts to transform the severely damaged Samandağ district in Hatay into a tourism destination led by women. They have taken the first steps in a long-term, sustainable project by enriching and reviving the gastronomic village leased from the municipality by the Samandağ Women’s Cooperative, which was damaged in the earthquake. This collaboration aims to revitalize Samandağ Gastronomy Village, focusing on training and employing local women through the Learning For Life program, preserving and perpetuating the region’s traditional gastronomy culture, and ensuring its transmission to future generations.

The earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, deeply wounded our country. In response, Oxfam KEDV and Mey|Diageo decided to collaborate with the Samandağ Women’s Cooperative and Samandağ Municipality to establish a sustainable future in the region, initiating the Samandağ Gastronomy Village project.

Located on approximately 20 acres in the Samandağ district of Hatay, the village includes facilities suitable for education, accommodation, restaurants, and gardening. The project was introduced at Istanbul IWSA on Monday, July 8, hosted by its stakeholders. Attendees included Samandağ Mayor Emrah Karaçay, industry professionals, NGO representatives, and journalists. During the meeting, Mey|Diageo General Manager Bahar Uçanlar and Oxfam KEDV Founder Şengül Akçar emphasized that their primary focus in the Samandağ Gastronomy Village is to train and employ local women through the Learning For Life program. Mayor Emrah Karaçay expressed his belief that women trained in the village would play a significant role in the district’s recovery.

The project aims to provide training for local women in hospitality skills, support women’s labor, and increase the number of women entrepreneurs in agro-tourism and gastro-tourism. Additionally, steps will be taken to document and preserve the region’s traditional gastronomic culture and flavors, ensuring their transmission to future generations. 

Reintegrating Women into Social Life through Lifelong Learning

In her opening speech, Mey|Diageo General Manager Bahar Uçanlar highlighted the significant components of gastronomy and tourism ecosystems and expressed her delight that the project will provide long-term benefits in multiple areas. She stated that the Samandağ Gastronomy Village offers a suitable platform for the implementation of Diageo Global’s Learning For Life program, which provides job and hospitality skills training for individuals facing lifelong barriers to education and employment in Turkey.

Uçanlar mentioned that after the earthquakes, they contemplated how to reintegrate women from the region into social life and make them productive individuals. They discovered that Oxfam KEDV was interested in a gastronomic village initiated by the Samandağ Women’s Cooperative, which had been damaged. Seeing the village as a suitable platform for the Learning For Life program in Turkey, they decided to partner with Oxfam KEDV to revive the village. Despite challenges like extreme weather conditions, they are striving to complete the construction process quickly and have already started the training programs. Uçanlar hopes that women participating in the training will easily find jobs in local businesses due to the diverse and functional training they receive.

Training Begins

In the Samandağ Gastronomy Village, gastronomy and tourism courses approved by the Ministry of Education and universities are being offered as part of the Learning For Life program. The training started with approximately 40 students in May 2024, reaching about 100 women with the second term in June 2024. Women from the entire region can participate in the training, not just those from Samandağ. Initially, an average of 50 women will be trained each month, with a goal to increase this number to 100 in the future.

Samandağ Gastronomy Village Opens in October 2024

Oxfam KEDV Founder Şengül Akçar provided detailed information about the Samandağ Gastronomy Village during the meeting, thanking their partners Mey|Diageo, Samandağ Municipality, and the Samandağ Women’s Cooperative. Akçar stated that the project is nearing completion and aims to open the village in October 2024. Initially, they will complete areas for practical and theoretical training and open a restaurant. Finally, they plan to introduce units for hosting guests, contributing to tourism. Akçar mentioned that there is also a plan to sell traditional products produced by local women in a shop, with the income directly funding the village’s operations. She emphasized that they aim for the village to be self-sufficient in the future, with 50 to 100 people working permanently once the village is operational.

Samandağ Mayor Emrah Karaçay thanked Oxfam KEDV and Mey|Diageo for supporting this project, which was considered impossible to revive after the earthquake. Karaçay stated that women play a crucial role in local development, as they are aware of the needs of their children, families, and communities and can come together to solve the most challenging issues. He expressed his belief that the training and activities planned for the gastronomy village will be very beneficial and add value to the district’s economy. Karaçay promised that the municipality would provide all necessary support to bring the gastronomy village to life as soon as possible.

For more information:

Zarakol İletişim – 0212 217 29 99

Zeynep Subaşı – [email protected] – 0532 312 3710