Your Story, Your Strength, Your Voice.
About the Project
SHEWORKS is one of the projects arising from the Otto and Fran Walter Rotary Peace Center Program, which was launched in Istanbul in 2025 in collaboration with Bahçeşehir University (BAU) (For detailed information: https://rpc.bau.edu.tr/). The project aims to prepare female university graduates for professional life, help them rediscover their potentials and create concrete success stories in the field. The project is implemented with the participation of Bahçeşehir University Center of Migration and Urban Studies (BAUMUS) and academic and structural mentorship is provided by the founder of the center who is also a faculty member at BAU, Prof. Dr. Ulaş Sunata. This social responsibility project will be coordinated by one of the program’s scholars, H. Şeyda Bodur.
SHEWORKS seeks answers to the following fundamental questions:
- What did many women from the Syria/MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region -who studied at universities in their own countries or in Turkey- do after graduation?
- Were they able to get jobs?
- Could they stand on their own feet?
- Were they able to overcome traditional social roles?
- And most importantly: Were they able to make themselves visible?
Within the scope of this project, a one-week “Skill-Based Career Preparation Program” is planned for women. The training sessions will take place in person at Bahçeşehir University. Participants who successfully complete the program will receive an internationally recognized certificate from the United Nations, through UNITAR, as part of a project run in partnership with Bahçeşehir University’s Center for Migration and Urban Studies and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) CIFAL Istanbul. The trainings will not only be limited to knowledge transfer; they will also cover areas such as self-awareness, motivation and goal setting. At the end of the program, participants will not only have a deep understanding of the soft skills concept but also discover their own and gain clear understanding about their goals. Additionally, participants will have the essential documents needed during job search process.
The main goal of the project is not to provide employment; rather, it aims to equip the women with the necessary skills to effectively manage the job search process by supporting them. It seeks to guide participants through all steps, from preparation to application, so that they first recognize their own strengths and then become competent and conscious in finding a job. This is not just a training; it is a journey where participants will rediscover themselves in a highly interactive environment. The training program can be considered like a women’s circle.
With its practical and hands-on approach, SHEWORKS aims not only to contribute to the development of individuals but also to that of institutions and systems within the framework of the principle of “Diversity and Inclusion.” Women’s participation in the workforce is also a critical element for social peace. It is not just about numbers; what is truly needed is a profound and inner transformation. This becomes possible when women realize their power and believe in themselves. The core principle is “Decent Work”* for women, which is among the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) of the United Nations Development Programme.
*Decent work: Promoting jobs and enterprise, guaranteeing rights at work, extending social protection and promoting social dialogue are the four pillars of the ILO (International Labour Organization) Decent Work Agenda, with gender as a cross-cutting theme.
About the Trainer
H. Şeyda Bodur holds a BA in Economics (with Honors) and an MA in European Studies both from Boğaziçi University. Since beginning her career in 1996, she has held significant roles in project management, planning, and reporting at various organizations, including the Eczacıbaşı Group.
In addition to her corporate background, she is active in the civil society field, delivering soft-skills training for social integration. She is certified in mentoring (European Mentoring & Coaching Council) and coaching (Gestalt Center for Coaching & International Coaching Federation), plus with training she has impacted over 1,000 individuals through more than 5,000 hours of professional practice.
Şeyda has personally guided over 500 refugees and led a team supporting more than 3,000 people from 15 nations. She is currently dedicated to the Rotary-BAU Peace Fellowship Program. Committed to women’s empowerment, her social change initiative focuses on Decent Work for Women, promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace through programs rooted in self-awareness and motivation.