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NewsDecember 25, 2025

Women Entrepreneurs Bring Both Tradition and Health to the Table

Zembul Women's Cooperative, founded by 7 women entrepreneurs in Tunceli, keeps regional dishes alive while also offering gluten-free alternatives for celiac patients and citizens with gluten sensitivity. Officially launched in 2020, the cooperative aims to both promote local culinary culture and increase women's participation in production. Products prepared under the cooperative's umbrella bring Tunceli's unique dishes to a wider audience while also adopting a health-focused approach. Thanks to gluten-free production, celiac patients can eat safely. The cooperative currently provides employment for 11 people and stands out as a concrete example of women's solidarity. "It Was a Process That Developed Naturally" Yıldız Gündüz, Chairwoman of the Zembul Women's Cooperative, described the founding process: "Before establishing the cooperative, we worked together for about a year. During this time, we had the opportunity to get to know each other and our talents. Who's a cook, who's a pastry expert, who's a manager, who's a marketer… This process developed naturally, and we founded the Zembul Women's Cooperative with a core team of 7." Gluten-Free Kitchen: Where Impossibilities Become Possibilities Chairwoman Gündüz noted that the cooperative doesn't just offer regional dishes but also serves those with gluten allergies: "A mother whose child has celiac disease can now comfortably eat with her child. Everyone can sit at the same table. That's why Zembul became a place where impossibilities turn into possibilities." "Our Portions Are Small, But the Power in Sharing Is Great" Emphasizing the importance of preserving Tunceli's culinary culture, Gündüz said: "We embraced dishes that have been in our kitchens for centuries. We know that tourism is culture and nature-focused. Everyone from ages 7 to 70 can come to Zembul and taste these dishes. When we look at our tables, we see the happiness of it. Our portions may be small, but the power in sharing is great." Women Entrepreneurship Shines in Tunceli Gündüz summarized women's entrepreneurship in Tunceli: "Women are entrepreneurs by nature. Here, women don't settle for existing resources and constantly seek alternative paths. Women's entrepreneurship is in a very good place in Tunceli, and women demonstrate their productivity in every field." Source: IHA (Ihlas News Agency)

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WOMEN'S POWER FROM TUNCELI TO EUROPE
NewsDecember 23, 2025

WOMEN'S POWER FROM TUNCELI TO EUROPE

Within the scope of the international Erasmus+ project supported by the European Union, carried out in Turkey under the leadership of Zembul Women's Initiative Production and Business Cooperative and Tunceli Chamber of Commerce and Industry Women Entrepreneurs Board, 9 women from Tunceli will go to San Sebastián, Spain to attend a one-week training program. The project titled “Stronger Together – Promoting Women's Economic Independence through Cultural Interaction and Education (STOG)”, supported under the European Union's Erasmus+ Program, is carried out in partnership with Zembul Women's Cooperative from Turkey and ABARKA ONGD from Spain. Within the scope of the project, 9 members of Zembul Women's Cooperative will come together with women operating in a similar field in San Sebastián, Northern Spain. During the training process, studies will be carried out on cultural interactions, experience sharing, difficulties encountered in women's entrepreneurship and solution proposals. Participants will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and their cities by sharing their own stories and cultures. In the second leg of the project, partner institutions from different countries will visit Tunceli and participate in meetings and training activities to be held here. Thus, a mutual learning environment will be provided and Tunceli's cultural richness will be shared with European partner institutions. Yıldız Gündüz Polat, Board Member of Zembul Women's Cooperative and President of Tunceli TSO Women Entrepreneurs Board, said, “This project is a great source of motivation for women. The increase of such studies in Tunceli will strengthen women's entrepreneurship and solidarity. Our goal is to represent our city successfully in Europe by creating a more conscious, more organized and stronger women's community.” This project, supported by the European Union, aims to strengthen women in the international arena and establish sustainable collaborations.

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