Yıldırım, Turkey celebrates women’s handcraft festival

The Yıldırım municipality in Bursa organized the 6th Traditional Handcraft Festival, a two‑day event highlighting women’s social and economic roles. Mayor Oktay Yılmaz opened the festival, emphasizing that empowering women strengthens families, neighborhoods, and the nation.

The festival showcased products from 14 women’s cooperatives covering agriculture, food, textiles and crafts, and featured performances such as a horse‑dance display. Workshops under the YIL‑MEK programme offered training in 11 fields across 57 specialties, helping thousands of women gain skills, employment or start their own businesses. Palestinian women entrepreneurs also participated, displaying their goods.

Officials, local representatives and visitors attended, and the event included music performances and a discussion with Nermin Öztürk, reinforcing the municipality’s commitment to supporting women’s cooperatives and market access.