İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Vocational Factory Branch Directorate, which became a finalist in the Sustainable Business Awards with its We Have Been Producing Since Tradition, Golden Needle and Young Women Building Their Future projects, won awards in two different categories.
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality continues to create employment opportunities especially for young people and women with its Vocational Factory model. One of the projects aimed at the economic development of İzmir, increasing the competitive power and qualified human resources, the Vocational Factory organizes employment-oriented vocational and technical courses throughout the year. Participating in the 16th Sustainable Business Awards, which were opened to applications in 11 different categories, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Vocational Factory Branch Directorate made it to the finals with its “We Produce Because It Is Customary” project in the Sustainable Product Innovation category, its “Golden Needle” project in the Cooperation Private Sector & NGO, Public, Academy category, and its “Young Women Building Their Future” project in the Women’s Empowerment category. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality was the only metropolitan municipality to make it to the finals. Vocational Factory left its mark on the award ceremony held in İstanbul last night by being deemed worthy of two separate awards with its “We Produce Because It Is Customary” and “Golden Needle” projects.
Emphasis on populist municipality
Speaking at the Sustainable Business Awards ceremony, Vocational Factory Manager Zeki Kapı said, “I am proud to receive this meaningful award on behalf of our Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay and my valuable colleagues with whom we have worked together at the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. This award is a reflection of our municipality’s understanding of public and people-oriented municipalism. The appreciation of our work gives us motivation and courage to take stronger steps on this path. In line with our Mayor’s vision, we are ready to provide the best service for our people and continue on our path with determination with a people-oriented municipalism understanding.”
We Produce It Is Customary
The Meslek Fabrikası, which won an award in the Sustainable Product Innovation category with its “We Produce Because of Custom” project, aims to provide solutions to the problems of women who have difficulty accessing information and products about menstruation and to contribute to nature by using waste-free products for a sustainable life. In the workshop where studies on menstrual poverty and taboo are carried out, participants are provided with the opportunity to complete the work by producing their own pads. Within the scope of the project, the fabrics that are given antimicrobial properties by applying silver were subjected to national and international literature scans and laboratory analyses by developing a collaboration with Sun Tekstil R&D Center and Ege University Faculty of Science EGEMİKAL Analysis Laboratory.
Golden Needle
The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Vocational Factory Branch Directorate, which won an award with its “Golden Needle” project in the Private Sector & NGO, Public, Academy category of cooperation, aims to support the participation of women living in İzmir who are interested in sewing in the labor market, to meet the need for intermediate staff in the ready-made clothing sector, and to reduce waste in the textile industry. The project, carried out in cooperation with the 9 Eylül Rotary Club, the Aegean Clothing Manufacturers Association, the Aegean Ready-made Clothing and Apparel Exporters’ Association, and ready-made clothing manufacturers in İzmir, stands out in line with the principles of gender equality, economic development, and environmental sustainability.
Sustainable Business Awards
The Sustainable Business Awards, which have been held since 2014, aim to highlight and share with a wide audience the projects and business models of institutions that have created significant impacts. All applications for the Sustainable Business Awards, which aim to encourage change and accelerate the transition to sustainable business models by ensuring that the institutions in question become role models, are evaluated by a jury consisting of leading academics and experts in their fields.
