The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Vocational Factory is a hope and light for the future of women in İzmir. Offering vocational and technical training in course centers all around the city, the Vocational Factory is leading the way for visible changes in the lives of its trainees. Two of the best examples of this change are Merve Kirişözü, who took a barista course at the age of 40 and opened her own coffee shop, and Nihal Balkan, who took apprentice pastry training at the age of 45 and became a pastry chef at the hotel where she worked, winning awards in competitions and serving as a jury member. The surprising transformations of these two women make one say, “Thank goodness the Vocational Factory exists.”
Vocational Factory: Contribution to the Employment of Women and Youth
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Vocational Factory continues its vocational and technical trainings in 26 different locations of the city, especially to support the participation of women and young people in the workforce. The qualified trainings provided in various fields allow the trainees to have a profession and gain their economic independence. Merve Kirişözü and Nihal Balkan are among the successful trainees whose lives the Vocational Factory touched and opened new doors.
From Housewife to Businesswoman: Merve Kirişözü's Entrepreneurship Story
Merve Kirişözü, 40, who was a housewife and rented a shop to start her career but couldn't decide what to do, decided to open a coffee shop upon the suggestion of her university student children. Kirişözü, who received barista training at the Vocational Factory Özdere Course Center, started her own business right next to the course center shortly after. She is happy to realize her dreams in the coffee shop she runs with her husband Murat Kirişözü and her son Ömer Kirişözü. Kirişözü, who stated that she attended various courses for many years to start her career, said, “When I realized that there were no coffee shops in this area, I decided to take barista training at Meslek Fabrikası. I had no knowledge about coffee. I only knew how to make Turkish coffee. The training went very well. Then I renovated the shop and opened my business. When I decided to rent this place, I thought I could cook home-cooked meals, but my children wanted me to open a coffee shop. I found my profession at the age of 40 and this excited me a lot. Imagine a housewife going to Meslek Fabrikası and then opening a coffee shop.” Emphasizing that no one should give up on their dreams, Kirişözü said, “I would like to thank our President Dr. Cemil Tugay, Meslek Fabrikası and our course instructors. I became a businesswoman by joining Meslek Fabrikası when I was a housewife at the age of 40. I advise women not to give up and to join Meslek Fabrikası.”
From Hairdresser to Pastry Chef: Nihal Balkan's Ladder of Success
Nihal Balkan, who started working at a hotel in Özdere in 2018, also experienced a significant leap in her career thanks to the Meslek Fabrikası. Balkan, who dreams of becoming a pastry chef despite her actual profession being a hairdresser, said, “I started working as a pastry chef at the hotel, but I went to the Meslek Fabrikası in 2022 to improve myself. It really made a huge contribution. I cook for the staff at the hotel during the winter and work as a pastry chef during the summer. After the Meslek Fabrikası, I participated in various competitions as a contestant and a jury. I was also elected as the President of the Women's Branch of the Selçuk Efes Professional Chefs and Gastronomy Association. I recommend the Meslek Fabrikası to everyone. The Meslek Fabrikası really changed my life. I'm glad I went, I recommend all women to go too.”
More Success Stories Expected from the Vocational Factory
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Vocational Factory Branch Manager Zeki Kapı stated that they successfully continue their vocational and technical education activities in 26 different locations in the city. Noting that their primary goal is for the graduates of the training to participate in employment and establish their own businesses, Kapı said, “Mr. Merve, who opened her own business, is a valuable citizen of ours who graduated from our Özdere Course Center. Our valuable student Nihal, who also graduated from our apprentice pastry course, is also successfully working as a pastry chef in a hotel in Özdere. Like Merve, Nihal also has very valuable success stories that will inspire other women and the younger generations. We invite all our valuable citizens to the different and qualified courses of the Vocational Factory in order to increase the number of these meaningful success stories.” It seems that these opportunities offered by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Vocational Factory will continue to touch the lives of many more women and young people and help them achieve their dreams.
