Project Summary
Grantee	: Life, Women, Environment, Culture and Management Cooperative
Purpose	: Fighting early marriages in Van
Location	: Van
Grant Amount	: 144.880 TL
Project Partner	: Van Women’s Association
Period	: 15 July 2015 – 15 July 2016
Status	: Completed
Project Year	: 2015

Background

Early marriages and violence against women are common in the villages of Van due to traditional family structures, social pressure etc. Women and children, who are unaware of their rights guaranteed by laws, frequently experience violation of their rights and they do not know the institutions that can support them.

Project Goals

• In Van:
  • The needs of women in villages will be assessed via home visits.
  • Information seminars will be organized in villages with the support of key actors such as local headmen, religious leaders, lawyers.
  • Painting contests for children will be held and banners and billboard advertising will be used in order to create awareness throughout the city.

Project Results

• Home visits, seminars for women and meetings with key actors such as headmen, religious leaders and teachers were organized for a week in 6 villages of Van.
• Seminars on the disadvantages of early marriages, women’s rights, education and health were organized with the participation of 341 women. Some experts such as lawyers, psychologists and social workers were also invited.
• A painting competition among students was organized in order to attract a city-wide attention on the disadvantages of early marriages. There were 121 applications and an exhibition was organized at the end of the competition.
• 2 meetings were organized for hairdressers in the city and hairdressers promised not to do the bridal hair of young girls.

Testimonials

"When I heard about the seminar I was curious to go. I became more inspired and hopeful as I listened. Then they told us that they would help girls continue their education. I was even more hopeful. I first thought that they would not call me but they did. In a day or two I was enrolled in a school."

Project Beneficiary

"I was married and came to this village at a very young age. After two months, I was pregnant. Actually I wasn’t aware of anything at that age. It was beyond my power but I wouldn’t have been married if I had known then what I know now."

Project Beneficiary