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The GAP Administration engaged in a range of projects that integrate the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development through strategies for poverty alleviation and that focus on participatory approaches and capacity building for disadvantage groups from a gender perspective. The project for Multi-Purpose Community Centres (ÇATOMs) is one of the most significant among these projects. ÇATOMs derived from the Social Action Plan that the Administration developed on the basis of the findings of 5 baseline survey conducted during the period 1992-1994 as well as on the findings of the survey “Status of Women in the GAP Region and their Integration to the Process of Development.”

Multi-Purpose Community Centres (ÇATOMs) were first launched in 1995 in the region and at present there are 48 ÇATOMs active in 9 provinces. The target population of these centres consist of women and young girls. Also, in coorperation with Governor of Kilis, Azez ÇATOM was established in Azez District of Syria in 2018 and Azez ÇATOM has still been continuing its activities.

Presently active ÇATOMs:

Objective

ÇATOMs are community based and participatory centres established at the neighbourhoods of cities mostly inhabited by rural migrants, district centres and centrally located villages. Inhabitants of these neighbourhoods are mostly persons working informally in marginal, temporary, seasonal and precarious jobs for minimal wages/incomes. Children   also have to work to support their families. Research carried out so far point out that women and children are adversely affected by poverty. Any improvement in the social and economic status of women directly finds its reflection on the level of family welfare. Therefore, besides being a must in terms of human rights, projects designed to improve the status of women contribute significantly to social welfare as well.

The objectives of ÇATOMs are as follows:

• Creating opportunities for women to become aware of their problems and launch initiatives for their solution;
• Ensuring that women take part in public sphere and benefit more from available services;
• Enhancing female employment and entrepreneurship;
• Contributing to equal opportunities by empowering women;
• Starting the process of gender balanced development and developing replicable models relevant to local circumstances for participatory community development.

The basic principle observed in ÇATOMs is not to tell women what to do but demonstrating what can be done under different circumstances. Attending women should decide on their own which to select among available alternatives.

Management and Approach

In the establishment and management of ÇATOMs, local requests are observed and cooperation is made with local lines of the Government while technical assistance is provided by the Development Foundation of Turkey (TKV). In addition to community participation, inter-organisational cooperation is also emphasised and efforts are made to expand cooperation and launch joint projects with local, national and international organisations.  The aim is to develop a healthy dialogue between the neediest sections of population and governmental/civil society organisations and to lay the foundations of a human-centred peaceful and democratic society.

ÇATOMs are managed by ÇATOM Committees elected from among ÇATOM participants. These committees are composed of 5 to 7 members including a trainer who is also elected by ÇATOM managers and participants.  Inclusion of participants in management committees has the aim of building management capacity in local women. ÇATOM members in groups make visit to houses to build strong neighbourhood relations and to identify the priorities and needs of households.  In determining specific ÇATOM programmes, local circumstances and needs as well as local participation are taken as basis. An integrated and flexible approach is adopted and ÇATOM participants are encouraged to take part in all running programmes. In the course of time and along with developments taking place, children were also included in ÇATOM programmes with the launching of pre-school education programmes and children’s reading rooms. Adult males can also be covered, though partly, in some programmes including computer operation and literacy. Social support programmes and cultural/social activities are deigned to cover all household members.

 ÇATOM Programmes

Programmes implemented under ÇATOMs can be given under 7 main headings as follows:

• Training Programmes: Programmes in literacy training, civil code and legal rights, home economics, nutrition, maternal training, computer skills, student support, etc.
• Health Programmes: Training programmes in hygiene, environmental cleanliness, maternal and child health and public health; partial policlinic and mobile health services; health work in neighbourhoods and rural settlements; health screening, immunisation campaigns, etc.
• Programmes for Income Generation and Promoting Female Employment/Entrepreneurship: i) Training programmes for building occupational and income generating skills (handicrafts, machine knitting, cutting-sewing, furniture, felt processing, stone works, silversmith works, textiles, toys, souvenirs, soap making, cloth dyeing, hair dressing, cooking, etc.);  ii) training activities and other services to encourage entrepreneurship including micro-financing and business counselling;  iii) marketing support (exhibitions and fairs). A product catalogue was developed for on-line promotion and marketing of ÇATOM products.
• Pre-school Training Programmes: Courses covering children in the age group 4-6.
• Children’s Reading Rooms: Group, pre-school and “open door” programmes targeting children in age groups 4-6 and 7-14.
• Social Support Programmes: Provision of support in such issues as birth registration, civil marriage, green card, etc; referring girls in particular to YİBOs (regional primary boarding schools) and open education; mediating for granting scholarships to children from poor families including girls in the first place; cash and in-kind assistance to needy households; provision of wheelchair to disabled persons, etc.
• Programmes for Social Responsibility: Campaigns for supporting school enrolment; village or neighbourhood-based activities, environmental protection and reforestation, health screening, immunisation campaigns, volunteer support to social work, etc.
• Cultural and Social Activities: Seminars, exhibition, interactive meetings, visiting theatres and movie houses, celebration of special days, drama, excursions and picnics.