Hep Beraber: A Year Later...

Sevgili Arkadaslar,

Just over a year ago we were heralding you all with the great news that we had won $25,000 for the Biga Women and Children's Center from Chase Community Giving. Looking back on that time now, I realize that our work was really just beginning! It took months to secure the center location and have the building hauled to Biga from Adapazari, and longer than that to pin down the necessary local support to finish the building process. But throughout the process, BTF supported the women quietly in their quest to make big changes in their community, and the stakeholders of Bikad did not lose hope.

Now, it seems we are over the biggest hills, moving with more and more certainty towards a finished product. Ayfer Baykal (the center leader and Bikad co-founder) writes me every several days with updates on building progress and new local support. In the last several weeks, for example, Canakkale Seramik pledged to complete the unfinished floors of the center and paint the outside. Local university students helped out by cleaning the space in preparation for the classroom set-up. Most significantly, the Bikad Women's Cooperative decided to part of the women's space for their workshop/kitchen - a move that will help support the fragile small business by saving them money on rented space.

Please enjoy the pictures and thanks, as always, for following!

all my best,

Jill

1. Garden day with the Biga major. He worked side-by-side with the cooperative volunteers to neaten up the garden and plan grass and flowers. He promised to install a play park for local children across the street.