Subscribe:
RSS feed
the garbage ladies, an experimental development program for women who have not previously worked for pay, making cool and useful items out of throw-away material, based in Ayvalik, Turkey
Planting seeds
Shortly after çöp(m)adam opened, a teacher from a local elementary school came to the workshop and asked if I would help her start a ban on plastic bags at the market. As much as I was thrilled that she wanted to do this, I said that I would be happy to help out on something […]
‘a good place’
February 10, 2015
It has been said that people get along until an outside force tells them otherwise. For centuries, people have lived on this land side by side, getting along well enough for the most part. In Ayvalik, there are different ethnic groups who live in the same neighbourhood and yet in our workshop, there are only […]
Winter Warmth
January 12, 2015
It’s been a while and we are back to the blog. Winter has set in, not my favourite season, but then again, I’ve learned to accept it – as if there were an option – and while not quite embrace it, go with. Heating with a wood stove, in my home and in our workshop, […]
In honour of one special man who has stuck by our and my side
July 31, 2014
To commemorate our sixth anniversary, I would like to look behind the scenes of what manny people see at our workshop, in the press, at çöp(m)adam. We did not get this far alone; I certainly never would have made it this far without the support of many, but specifically the support of one special person, […]
In honour of International Women’s Day
March 7, 2014
A few words from us to share how we are empowering women to believe in themselves, to raise their self-confidence and their sense of dignity. Happy Women’s Day to all, with many, many thanks to all who support our efforts and what we stand for!
The show must go on
January 29, 2014
In the 5 and a half years since we started çöp(m)adam, we have had more than 350 women working with us in different capacities. Some have stayed, and form a core group, that is comprised of an energy and dedication that I could not have envisioned. Others have moved on, for any number of reasons: […]
Happy New Year to and from us!
January 10, 2014
It’s Santa Claus but not really – it’s one of the lottery ticket sellers dressed up as Father Christmas but without the belly. The fake Christmas trees with plastic ornaments that are more and more prevalent each year are not for taking home to place presents under to be opened on December 25, but for […]
Taking to the sea to get away from it all
July 3, 2013
A day together on a boat on the sea is really getting away, so that you can leave much behind while being surrounded by others who, like you, have decided to take advantage of an opportunity to be someone more than what your society and your family have told you to be .
What we said at TEDx
June 28, 2013
This is the presentation I delivered at a TEDx talk in Istanbul before things got all heated up over there: I run an endeavor where the purchase of bathing suits is a sign of our progress. Where we try to ensure a supportive environment for women who are brave enough to walk through our front […]
copmadam 
April 3, 2015
1