Women in Mardin rebuild their lives through civil society support

In southeastern Türkiye, in the historic city of Mardin, a local women’s organization has been helping women rebuild their lives for nearly two decades. Through counselling services, skills training, and community-based initiatives, the Mardin Women’s Cooperation Association (MOKİD) provides women with access to protection, information, and economic opportunities. Supported through a small grant under a European Union-funded project implemented by UN Women, MOKİD continues to strengthen women’s resilience while contributing to efforts to prevent violence against women and advance gender equality at the local level.

Founded in 2007, MOKİD supports women’s economic, social, cultural, and legal standing in society while offering direct support to women experiencing violence. Through its Women’s Counselling Centre, the organization provides services tailored to women’s individual needs.  
For many women in Mardin, MOKİD is the first place they turn to for help. Women are informed about their rights, available services, and protection mechanisms. To date, more than 80,000 women have accessed services or participated in activities organized by MOKİD.

“Local civil society organizations are extremely important for helping women in need, we are their first entry point when they want to escape violence or feel empowered,” says Hülya Çelebioğlu Aydın, Chairperson of MOKİD. “When you are local, you understand the culture, you recognize women’s needs, and you know which issues should be prioritized.”

MOKİD’s Women’s Counselling Centre is staffed by trained social workers who provide guidance and support. The organization also works closely with local organizations to improve coordination and strengthen referral pathways for women seeking assistance.

For many women, connecting with MOKİD becomes a turning point in their lives.

Atiye Taş is one of them. Forced to leave school after the fifth grade and married at an early age, she says her life changed after meeting the organization. She attended training programmes, worked in childcare, and later decided to continue her education. Today, she works as a chef at MOKİD’s cooperative kitchen. “Before I met MOKİD, I saw myself only as a mother. Afterwards, I gained financial and emotional strength and regained my self-confidence,” she says.

Alongside Atiye Taş, 25 women work together at MOKİD’s cooperative kitchen, generating income while developing professional skills in a supportive environment built on solidarity and collective work.

Other women describe similar experiences.

Married at an early age, Bahar Beki sought legal and psychological support from the association during a difficult period in her life. “I thought my life was over. But I opened a new chapter for myself. Women should never say they are weak. Women are powerful,” says Beki.

Operating in a region shaped by economic challenges, migration, and limited access to services, MOKİD adopts a community-based approach.