Almost two years have passed since devastating earthquakes struck southeast Türkiye, and the city of Antakya still witnesses the heavy scars of its impact. The scenes of destruction remain visible, and areas that were once crowded with markets and services are quieter than before.

Despite this, its residents are finding ways to recover.

Siba, who fled Syria in 2016 seeking safety and stability, has begun taking steps to rebuild her life. "When I arrived in Türkiye, I felt safe. Even though our life at the beginning was simple, the conditions were relatively good," Siba said.

In the first settlement she lived in, Siba found an outlet in a workshop that offers various activities, where she grew to love mosaic-making. After a while though, she and her family moved to a house in the city, setting a goal to build a better life and ensure a brighter future for her children.

Siba felt curious when she first encountered the culture in her new home: "I saw many customs that felt close to us, although some things were different. For example, women were engaged in various kinds of work, which I wasn't used to seeing." This gave her the inspiration to find her own career path.

Despite facing an uphill battle, such as overcoming the language barrier, Siba began learning Turkish and sought an opportunity to continue developing her mosaic-making skills. However, the earthquakes obstructed the future she had envisioned.

"The earthquakes felt like the second migration in my life. When we were forced to leave Antakya, I felt as if I had left my home in Syria again," she expressed.

Siba works alongside her teacher, Elif, at the Anne Eli Cooperative’s mosaic workshop. Photo: IOM/Enver Muhammed.

Three months after the earthquakes, Siba found a cooperative offering workshops in mosaic-making, allowing her to pursue this passion even further. She was accepted into the, where she found a supportive environment began practicing her favorite activity.

The Anne Eli Cooperative was established in 2021 with the aim of empowering women and supporting children with disabilities. Aside from bringing women together and providing them financial opportunities, the cooperative channels all its income into supporting special education services. Anne Eli produces a range of items, including aromatic products, soap, oils, and herbal teas, also offering workshops on plant processing. The cooperative's aim is to bring local women together, providing them with opportunities for financial independence.

However, the earthquakes severely disrupted the cooperative’s operations and infrastructure. "We lost all our equipment, and many of our members had to leave the city," said Fadim, the founder of the cooperative.

Despite these challenges, Fadim was motivated by the resilience of women in her community, further solidifying her gender, disability and migrant inclusive approach to livelihood. She sought support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM)'s Cooperative Development Fund, which allowed the cooperative to conduct maintenance and infrastructure improvements and purchase tea bags, a packaging machine and raw materials for the mosaic workshop.

IOM’s support allowed the cooperative to increase its production – particularly in mosaic and herbal products. The new tea bag machine boosted the efficiency of their herbal packing, enabling them to meet growing demands and generate more profit.

Fadim, founder of the Anne Eli Cooperative, stands inside the herbal workshop where cooperative members diligently and in harmony. Photo: IOM/Enver Muhammed.

Since then, the cooperative has grown in scope. They have attracted more members, including migrants and refugees like Siba, who benefited from the training and opportunities.

Working in the cooperative has enhanced Siba's self-confidence. The days spent working on mosaics with her mentor Elif became a refuge for her, allowing her to release negative energy and cope with stress.

We observed how strong and resilient migrant women are, despite their hardships. They experienced not only the earthquakes, but also war," remarked Fadim. "We drew energy from them and their determination to hold on to life. Their strength motivated us to keep going."

Siba looks at the river in front of her mosaic workshop, where buildings once lined the banks before the earthquakes. Photo: IOM/Enver Muhammed.

Today, Anne Eli Cooperative continues to rebuild – offering sustainable job opportunities for locals and migrants alike and contributing to the community’s recovery after the earthquakes.

"I couldn't believe I was able to stand on my feet again. It was so hard," said Siba.

She proudly displays one of the works she completed, a mosaic of a skeleton, which was a turning point for her. She shared the process of creating it with her husband, recalling the experience as one she will never forget.

"With the first stone I placed on the mosaic, I felt the negative energy begin to fade, and now I feel stronger and more capable of facing life."

Siba now has a steady work routine and a skill that helps her meet her needs, no longer feeling lost or weak as she did in her early days after fleeing home. Stronger and more confident, she has built lasting friendships with those around her.

Looking ahead, Siba dreams of starting her own project to inspire others: "Don't give up despite the challenges. Learn everything you can, as it will be valuable in the future."

Since February 2023, IOM has supported ten cooperatives to re-establish or expand their operations, with funding from the United States Government.

Written by Enver Muhammed, Communications Specialist

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