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GENERAL INFORMATION
Multi-Purpose Community Centers (ÇATOMs) are community facilities in the region of Southeastern Anatolia targeting women and young girls in migration receiving urban centers and central villages in rural areas. The project was first started in Şanlıurfa back in 1995 upon the cooperation of the GAP-RDA, Sanliurfa Governorate and UNICEF. The project then continued with the participation of the Development Foundation of Turkey (TKV) whereas the GAP-RDA and relevant Governorships remained as partners. The number of ÇATOMs shortly increased and the system itself gained a sustainable character.
At present, ÇATOMs are making their significant contributions to gender balanced and sustainable development efforts. In the long run, the target is to convert these community centers to grassroots organizations of civil society.
Primary objectives of these centers include enhancing women’s participation to community affairs, helping their struggle to become "individuals" and improving their life quality and development indicators. Consequently, ÇATOM activities focus on literacy and health training, organizational issues, preparation for participation to the public sphere and income generation.
ÇATOMs in the GAP Region
The following is a classification of ÇATOM beneficiaries in 2002 with respect to programs they participate:
- Training Programs:
ÇATOM participants to training programs are 6,401 persons (5, 249 women, 359 children and 791 men). 824 of these persons took part in literacy training. 376 participants, 350 of whom were women, took part in second step literacy training. There were 477 children benefiting from pre-school education services. 2,100 persons (1,565 women) made use of ÇATOM libraries. There were 552 and 195 participants respectively, taking part in computer and foreign language (English) courses.
- Health Programs:
Health services covered 5,695 persons (2,089 persons through partial polyclinic services and 3,606 through mobile units). Furthermore, 1,120 participants attended health-training programs.
- Programs for Income Generation and Support to Female Entrepreneurs:
1,450 participants benefited from income generation programs and 920 persons among them were able to make 115.4 billion TL of income out of these activities182 women taking part in ÇATOM programs (15 of them were covered by the SSK insurance scheme) found various jobs including cleaning, textiles, childcare, secretarial works, hair dressing, salesperson, master trainer etc. There were five new businesses started by ÇATOM participants. These include 3 garment workshops started by 2-3 partners in Batman and one Café in Mardin. These new business runners were given training and micro-credit support.
- Social Support Programs:
Under these programs, 6,534 persons were given in-cash and in-kind support, 528 persons were helped in getting green cards and 226 students (199 in primary, 19 in secondary and 8 in higher education) in getting scholarships.
AN OVERALL EVALUATION OF THE YEAR 2002
The following are the major achievements/outputs obtained in 2002:
- Entrepreneurship and Micro-Credit:
ÇATOM managers and trainers who benefited from "start your business/micro enterprises" training organized jointly by the ILO and Anatolian Artisans’ Foundation gave basic enterprise management training to those ÇATOM participants who wanted to start their business. Then micro-credit support by Governorships was provided to new enterprises started in Batman and Mardin.
- Processing and Exportation:
With the support of the Anatolian Artisans’ Foundation, raw felt was processed as products confirming to international standards and felt processors supplied orders worth 12,500 US dollars.
- Cooperation/Partnership:
There were new initiatives for cooperation and partnership with governmental and non-governmental organizations at both national and international level. In this context, relevant Governorships extended support to the launching of new ÇATOMs in Midyat, Bozova, Nusaybin and Diyarbakir; while the new ÇATOM in Batman was started with the support of the Education Foundation of Turkey, Procter&Gamble and YOYAV (Foundation for Helping the Poor) respectively supported ÇATOMs in Siverek and Kilis. Erenkoy Rotary Club and GTZ helped the ÇATOM in Midyat. Further partners in cooperation include ILO, Anatolian Artisans’ Foundation, TOÇEV (Tuvana Foundation for Supporting the Education of Talented Children), Association for the Promotion of Social and Cultural Life, Child Health Institute of Istanbul University, AÇEV (Maternal and Child Training Foundation), TEP (Family Planning Foundation of Turkey) and the British Council.
- Computer Endowment and Web Page:
Computers were supplied to 23 of existing 26 ÇATOMs. 17 of these have their Internet connections. Now there is information under the GAP web page for informing searchers about available ÇATOM products.
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