Diyarbakır (Amed) Metropolitan Municipality’s Diyarbakır Art and Vocational Training Courses (DISMEK), implemented within the scope of women-focused social policies, have evolved beyond being merely a space for vocational training into a multifaceted center where women participate in production, build solidarity and reconnect with life. Through courses attended by 357 women from different neighborhoods of the city, the program not only aims to increase women’s participation in employment but also offers a collective space of transformation where each woman strengthens her own story.
The courses, organized under the Department of Social Services, attract significant interest from women despite their limited capacity. While some participants step away from the pressures of daily life and acquire new hobbies, others move forward toward opening their own businesses through the training they receive. The center, staffed by expert instructors in their fields, opens its doors to participants every weekday while also fostering a culture of solidarity.
Flexible and accessible training opportunities
The Göletlipark Course Center offers training in a wide range of fields, including bağlama, vocal training, conservatory preparation, skincare, amigurumi, e-commerce, hairdressing, basic computer skills, fashion design, sewing, wooden toy making, basalt stone craftsmanship, visual arts and charcoal drawing. In addition, courses such as tile decoration, knitted doll making, cold ceramic, and blow-drying have been introduced, further expanding the scope of education. Women can choose among the available courses according to their interests and participate accordingly. Thanks to flexible class hours, some participants have the opportunity to receive training in more than one field.
Şevin Şükran Anık, who serves as a coordinator and provides training in tile art at the DISMEK Göletli Park Training Center, told Mezopotamya Agency (MA) that various courses are ongoing at the center, including hairdressing, skincare, fashion design, textiles, tile art and multi-purpose handicrafts.
357 participants receive training
Şevin Şükran Anık stated that 357 participants are currently receiving training at the center and noted that all courses have reached full capacity. She said: “The courses contribute to the personal development of participants while also supporting their productivity. The capacity of all our courses is 15, and all of them are fully occupied.”
Ayşe Baraz, one of the participants, said that engaging with art had a positive impact on her during a treatment process she began due to health problems. Baraz said: “Tile art attracted my attention. Being immersed in colors and patterns nourishes my soul like a form of therapy. This is not just a course, but also a social space of healing.” Elif Gökhan, one of the youngest participants at DISMEK, stated that she has been attending the paper relief course for two months and added: “I have made significant progress with the training I received. I can now create my own artworks. This environment not only allows me to produce but also helps me clear my mind and build self-confidence. As a young participant, I find the continuation of such opportunities very important.”
Courses provide psychological support
Naime Çağlar said that the opportunities provided by the municipality offer a significant advantage for women, noting that they are in an environment where they can step away from daily stress, socialize and build new friendships. She underlined that women develop in every aspect through the knowledge they gain in the courses and expressed great satisfaction at spending their free time in such a productive setting. Irem Su Çolak stated that she has gained vocational skills through the courses and said: “I am learning many technical details, from skincare to personal care. Here, we are not only learning a profession but also building strong friendships. Among my future plans is to open my own workplace and build a career in this field to make a name for myself. This place is the first and most important step on the path to that dream.”
Buket Çelik said that she has gained significant experience in hairdressing through the course she joined to contribute to the family economy and added: “I aim to turn this process, which I started as a hobby, into a professional path by opening my own salon in the future. Improving myself and being beneficial to those around me motivates me.” Sebahat Okumuş stated that she had to stay at home due to health problems after many years of working life and said that DISMEK courses provided her with psychological support. She noted that through the training she received in fields such as handicrafts, filigree and silk cocoon work, she both found mental relief and gained morale in a social environment.
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