Mersin Metropolitan Municipality projects praised at SEECO closure meeting

The Mersin Metropolitan Municipality’s Halkkent Social Entrepreneurship Center, operating under the city’s Social Services Department, showcased its vocational workshops at the SEECO project’s closing meeting in Ankara. The centre offered courses in IT, garment‑production technology, beauty and hair care, gastronomy, and barista training, plus a child playroom that allowed women to attend with their children. Hundreds of participants gained practical skills and new occupations.

SEECO – the Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Cohesion Project – is financed by the European Union, coordinated by the World Bank and managed by Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology Development Agency. Launched in 2021, the five‑year programme has been implemented in 11 cities at 98 locations, aiming to strengthen women and youth socio‑economically and support social cohesion. Mersin’s delegation, including project coordinator Gül Kadem Maya, presented the centre’s impact during a panel titled “Permanent Stops; Centers and Facilities with Local Impact,” receiving positive feedback from attendees.