Bridge of Women Project
In the earthquake effected cities of Malatya and Kahramanmaraş, women's political representation is significantly low and the region is generally not accepting of women politicians and political actors. For the effective reconstruction of cities, it is essential that women take an active and participatory role, contributing with their experience and participation. This is particularly important during local elections, as women's participation can put pressure on local governments to seriously consider proposed policies. The objectives of this project are multifaceted, including increasing women's representation in local politics in Malatya and Kahramanmaraş, promoting the activities of local women's NGOs to create opportunities for women to voice their views, and increasing the visibility of young women's demands and concerns. With earthquake survivors as the target group, the project aims to increase political dialogue during the local election period. The initiative also aims to provide a platform for young earthquake survivors to actively participate in discussions about their political priorities during the election period.
It is very important to conduct a gender-sensitive needs analysis in cities after the earthquake. In this project, we conducted a needs analysis in the region by organizing meetings with the participation of female citizens, female NGO representatives and female politicians in Malatya and Kahramanmaraş provinces. At the end of the project, we compiled the data we collected into a book and forwarded it to local administrators.