Legacoop has concluded its fundraising campaign in support of the populations of Turkey and Syria affected by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale on February 6, 2023.

The funds raised through the solidarity of cooperatives have been allocated to a reconstruction project developed and implemented by Haliéus in close collaboration with the Turkish cooperative movement, particularly with the ICA representative for Turkey, Mr. Unal Ozturk, and the Genç İşi cooperative. The project aims to support the initiation and strengthening of economic activities in the Turkish provinces affected by the earthquake.

Thanks to the direct involvement of Genç İşi, a mapping and needs analysis of women’s cooperatives impacted by the earthquake was conducted. Based on these cooperatives' ability to generate a positive impact on other local businesses, the solidity of their governance, and the priorities identified for revitalizing the economy in the earthquake-stricken areas, the initiative has chosen to support the Rimmen cooperative.

Rimmen is a women’s cooperative founded in 2023 in response to the needs of women affected by the earthquake, with the goal of providing psychological support and fostering local economic recovery. This initiative has helped strengthen the cooperative's structure and promote a sustainable and inclusive development model for women in affected communities.

The initiative’s closing event will take place on February 27 in Hatay, one of the most severely affected provinces, at the Çekmece Community Center. The event is organized in collaboration with Legacoop, Haliéus, Genç İşi Cooperative, and Rimmen Women’s Cooperative.

This event will serve as a dialogue platform for all participants, aiming to share experiences, express opinions, and develop collective solutions for the reconstruction of Hatay. During the forum, discussions will focus on the recovery process, the latest updates from the field will be shared, and future steps will be collaboratively assessed. The program will emphasize listening to different perspectives, exchanging ideas, and co-developing solutions to promote cooperation and resilience among affected communities.

Legacoop and its partners reaffirm their commitment to supporting the reconstruction and economic development of the earthquake-affected areas, promoting cooperative models that foster long-term social and economic recovery.

For more information on the impact of this initiative: Initiative Supporting Cooperatives in Turkey Affected by the Earthquake.