Female students want to get to work
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Hurriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Temmuz 04, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Female students from across Turkey have been selected to work as interns in some of Turkey’s leading companies as a part of the " I want to work project"- an initiative that gives female youths in Turkey work experience opportunities. The students have arrived in Istanbul and will work for a month under the direction of experts.
A group of bright female students from across Turkey have come to Istanbul to broaden their horizons and build a professional profile for their future.
Twenty-four students have been selected for the "I Want to Work" project launched by Kadir Has University and the Austrian high schools' Women’s Platform. The project offers one-month internships at some of Turkey’s leading companies.
The women of the Austrian high schools' Women’s Platform believe that if a woman can develop then a family can develop and once a family develops society too will change and progress. This was the key motive for the "I want to work" project that has given a group of female students who have never been to Istanbul before, an opportunity to work in the heart of Turkey’s business epicenter. The platform’s president, Dr. Deniz Bayrakdar, said steps are being taken to boost women’s employment in Turkey. According to Bayrakdar, small steps will have an overall significant impact on the issue of women’s employment in Turkey.
Speaking at a press conference at Kadir Has University on Tuesday, consultant Selma Akdoğan used the analogy of a man who was spotted throwing starfish back into the sea as a way to describe the significance of the project. Despite criticism from passersby who deemed it pointless to throw the starfish back when there were so many cast out on the rocks, Akdoğan said the reason the man continued was because he knew that every little bit helps. Akdoğan said even the smallest effort from the man had an overall impact and similarly the project is a starting point for young girls to develop themselves.
Unforgettable lessons
"Last year 11 girls were given work experience opportunities that taught them unforgettable lessons and encouraged them to pursue their career paths. Today 24 girls will be given this opportunity and in the future we aim for this number to grow and grow," Akdoğan said.
Former Muğla Gov. Lale Aytaman spoke to the prospective interns last week in an introductory meeting underlining the fact that women’s right to work started as far back as 1935 through the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. "No one came out of a single branch, all of us, men and women together came from the same rich cultural background and therefore it is important to go forward in life and contribute to the good of our country equally," he said.
Aytaman, who is also an honorary member of the Council of Europe Parliament, highlighted the importance of taking social responsibility. "We do not have the luxury to sit back and say we have been given certain privileges by our families without passing them onto future generations," Aytaman said, adding that in the same way that the project gives opportunities to these girls, the girls then need to pass what they learn onto others in their communities. "In my life, I have learned that anything is possible if you aim high, I believe every girl can succeed and excel and Turkey will develop if men and women join hand in hand," said Aytaman.
Sevel Aygün, an intern who took part in the project last year told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that her work experience at a leather manufacturer was unforgettable. "At first it was difficult because at university my subject has nothing to do with this line of work, but then I started to learn basic business skills that can be applied to all different types of work," Aygün said.
She said she was lucky because the project had a planned program for her internship. "Many of my friends taking part in internships carry out menial tasks like photocopying and sit around aimlessly for half the day, but I was fortunate as all my days were jam packed and fascinating," Aygun said.
During the one-month project interns are placed with leading Turkish firms and undergo a vigorous program. In addition, there are educational workshops on interview techniques, resume preparation and career advice. On weekends, interns will be taken on cultural and entertainment tours across Istanbul so that the students can return home with a deeper understanding of the culture and history.
Twenty-four students have been selected for the "I Want to Work" project launched by Kadir Has University and the Austrian high schools' Women’s Platform. The project offers one-month internships at some of Turkey’s leading companies.
The women of the Austrian high schools' Women’s Platform believe that if a woman can develop then a family can develop and once a family develops society too will change and progress. This was the key motive for the "I want to work" project that has given a group of female students who have never been to Istanbul before, an opportunity to work in the heart of Turkey’s business epicenter. The platform’s president, Dr. Deniz Bayrakdar, said steps are being taken to boost women’s employment in Turkey. According to Bayrakdar, small steps will have an overall significant impact on the issue of women’s employment in Turkey.
Speaking at a press conference at Kadir Has University on Tuesday, consultant Selma Akdoğan used the analogy of a man who was spotted throwing starfish back into the sea as a way to describe the significance of the project. Despite criticism from passersby who deemed it pointless to throw the starfish back when there were so many cast out on the rocks, Akdoğan said the reason the man continued was because he knew that every little bit helps. Akdoğan said even the smallest effort from the man had an overall impact and similarly the project is a starting point for young girls to develop themselves.
Unforgettable lessons
"Last year 11 girls were given work experience opportunities that taught them unforgettable lessons and encouraged them to pursue their career paths. Today 24 girls will be given this opportunity and in the future we aim for this number to grow and grow," Akdoğan said.
Former Muğla Gov. Lale Aytaman spoke to the prospective interns last week in an introductory meeting underlining the fact that women’s right to work started as far back as 1935 through the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. "No one came out of a single branch, all of us, men and women together came from the same rich cultural background and therefore it is important to go forward in life and contribute to the good of our country equally," he said.
Aytaman, who is also an honorary member of the Council of Europe Parliament, highlighted the importance of taking social responsibility. "We do not have the luxury to sit back and say we have been given certain privileges by our families without passing them onto future generations," Aytaman said, adding that in the same way that the project gives opportunities to these girls, the girls then need to pass what they learn onto others in their communities. "In my life, I have learned that anything is possible if you aim high, I believe every girl can succeed and excel and Turkey will develop if men and women join hand in hand," said Aytaman.
Sevel Aygün, an intern who took part in the project last year told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that her work experience at a leather manufacturer was unforgettable. "At first it was difficult because at university my subject has nothing to do with this line of work, but then I started to learn basic business skills that can be applied to all different types of work," Aygün said.
She said she was lucky because the project had a planned program for her internship. "Many of my friends taking part in internships carry out menial tasks like photocopying and sit around aimlessly for half the day, but I was fortunate as all my days were jam packed and fascinating," Aygun said.
During the one-month project interns are placed with leading Turkish firms and undergo a vigorous program. In addition, there are educational workshops on interview techniques, resume preparation and career advice. On weekends, interns will be taken on cultural and entertainment tours across Istanbul so that the students can return home with a deeper understanding of the culture and history.