An interview with QNET Marketing and Communications Manager Irmak Sutcu
Q: You are running the ‘FinGreen’ financial literacy project to empower women in the economic field and encourage women entrepreneurs. As part of this, you provide financial literacy training to women in different cities. It’s a very meaningful project. Congratulations. What exactly are you doing? What changes do you make in women’s lives?
A: We carry out initiatives in the countries where we operate that contribute to social development in accordance with QNET’s RYTHM social impact philosophy.
Empowering women is also among our priority areas. As a direct sales company, we carry out activities that support women to become entrepreneurs and stand strong on their feet.
For this reason, we have decided to implement QNET’s financial literacy project, ‘FinGreen’, in Turkey after Africa. We believe that if women’s financial literacy awareness increases, they will have the necessary equipment to become entrepreneurs.
At this stage, our paths crossed with Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work (KEDV). When we presented the project to them, they indicated that many women were in need of it. Through financial literacy education that started in Istanbul, we met many strong, big-hearted women who grew up and lived under disadvantaged conditions but took control of their lives until the end.
We suddenly became a part of their lives, and their belief in change made us happy as well. At this point, we have reached 124 women in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Mardin, Gaziantep, and Sanliurfa. Our journey will continue in the upcoming periods.
Q: How did this social project that prioritizes women’s labor come about?
A: When we talk about economics, everyone either has hearsay information or thinks they know. ‘What is a budget? How is a family budget created? How are income and expenses calculated?’ The balance of rent-maintenance, bills, and many other items are actually a part of the daily economy we experience. Women also play a leading role in this daily economy.
In fact, a household’s wallet belongs to women, but many women are not aware of this. We carried out a project with KEDV to raise awareness and increase women’s knowledge by explaining economic terms in a simple way.
Q: Is there any particular reason why you have women on your focus?
A: Our focus is particularly on women. The dynamics of direct sales sector are very suitable for women. With its flexible working conditions, the opportunity to earn additional income, and the ability to determine one’s own income, it shows a very parallel development to the changing business world of today after the pandemic. Our focus is particularly on women. The dynamics of direct selling sector are very suitable for women. With its flexible working conditions, the opportunity to earn additional income, and the ability to determine one’s own income, it shows a very parallel development to the changing business world of today after the pandemic.
Women’s employment in the sector is very high, especially in the pandemic, women’s search for jobs with more comfortable working conditions instead of salaried work has increased the rate of women in the direct selling sector.
In a study we conducted with Akademetre Research & Strategic Planning in Turkey, we found that during the pandemic, there was a 26% increase in women’s entry into the sector.
Again, we saw in this research that 50 percent of women are considering turning to the direct sales business model to contribute to their family economy.
All of this data led us to place a focus on women. We believe that we should encourage women to become entrepreneurs, help them regain their inherent courage, and provide training to equip them.
Q: What was the purpose of collaborating with Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work (KEDV)?
A: KEDV works with numerous women’s cooperatives in Turkey, enabling them to organize and establish cooperatives across the country.
They play an important role in integrating disadvantaged women into production.
Cooperatives provide various trainings to women in different fields.
Our global-scale ‘FinGreen’ (financial literacy) project, which we conducted as QNET, was aligned with KEDV’s work.
Our common goal is to encourage women, who are the invisible force of the economy, to be recognized for their labor and become entrepreneurs.
In this project, we can say that we have a unity of purpose.
Q: What kind of training does the FinGreen project include?
A: In financial literacy, important topics such as savings and investment, money and risk management are covered.
FinGreen aims to eliminate the deficiencies of those who participate in the program regarding financial literacy.
One of QNET’s global goals in this regard is to increase economic awareness and increase adherence to ethical business values.
Q: Are these trainings free of charge?
A: We offer these trainings free of charge to those who need it. This is a social responsibility project and in this way, QNET will continue to expand the project in different countries around the world in this way.
Q: What is the goal in terms of how many women will benefit from these trainings?
A: We are considering continuing the project in earthquake provinces cities in Turkey in the future.
We consider KEDV again as a social stakeholder in our project.
Unfortunately, there are many women who have lost everything and whose initiatives have come to a halt, especially in 11 provinces.
We have full faith in the fact that solidarity will keep alive and strengthen our cause.
Q: Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work (KEDV) is a very valuable non-governmental organization. As QNET, have you contributed to KEDV in any other ways so far?
A: We have supplied many products from KEDV’s Economic Enterprise ‘Nahil’, where women’s handicraft productions are sold. We will continue to support both KEDV and non-governmental organizations working in different fields.
Q: So, what kind of feedback did you get?
A: Everyone working in our company is actually a civilian volunteer. This is one of QNET’s greatest assets. As a team, we support a non-governmental organization every month.
This is not just about donations. We like and prefer to be on the field ourselves, to distribute food, to communicate, to establish bonds, to play games with children, and to show solidarity with the need in the society.
We provide support to projects that are particularly focused on children, youth, and women. As we contribute to a livable world, the number of our entrepreneurs is increasing, and our colleagues are extremely happy to be a part of the social benefit.
Q: Will the project continue in the coming periods?
Will it expand to provinces other than Istanbul, Gaziantep, Mardin, Ankara, Izmir and Sanliurfa?
A: Our discussions with KEDV on this issue continue. Of course we want to reach more women.
Q: I know that you have provided support to the earthquake-stricken region through various non-governmental organizations. What are these supports?
A: Since the first day of the earthquake disaster, we have been in solidarity with the region. We have made donations totaling 1,225,000 TL to AHBAP, AKUT, AFAD, and World Human Relief.
We delivered our Ramadan food parcels to Hatay through WHR and Needs Map, which are stakeholders of the disaster platform.
Source: https://www.armanayse.com/kedvle-birlikte-kadinlara-finansal-okuryazarlik-egitimi-veriyoruz/
