Munira’s Mission Grows: Expanding Opportunities for Women and Reducing Waste in Türkiye
Munira’s Mission Grows: Expanding Opportunities for Women and Reducing Waste in Türkiye
August 20, 2024 | Nawar Maarri
Changing career paths can be a challenge, but for Munira Elmaşal, it was an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a new industry. After moving to Türkiye due to the conflict in Syria, Munira initially established herself in the retail sector by founding Rotana Tekstil, a business that quickly grew to include two wholesale stores selling women’s and children’s clothing. However, her entrepreneurial journey didn’t stop there.
As her business expanded, Munira observed that large quantities of fabric scraps, buttons, and other materials were being discarded. She realized that these materials could be repurposed rather than wasted. This sparked a new venture, combining her entrepreneurial spirit with a commitment to sustainability and social impact.
Motivated by the challenges she overcame in her own journey and her desire to help others, Munira launched a project to empower women, especially Syrian refugees in Türkiye. She began by providing sewing machines and fabric scraps to two women, enabling them to create and sell new products from home. Munira offered not only the materials but also guidance in marketing and selling their creations, helping them earn a steady income.
Recognizing the potential of her recycling initiative, Munira successfully applied for and won a grant through Building Markets to expand her efforts. Her proposal highlighted the dual goals of empowering women and promoting waste management. With this grant, she plans to train 20 women in sewing and craftsmanship, helping them develop skills, market their products, and raise awareness about the importance of waste management.
Additionally, Munira is preparing to purchase additional sewing machines and bring more women into the initiative. Her ambitions extend even further—she dreams of acquiring a machine that can compress remaining fabric scraps into fibers to be sold to furniture companies, further reducing waste. Additionally, she envisions establishing a factory dedicated to producing accessories from recycled materials, offering affordable products, creating jobs, and minimizing waste.
Munira also started a campaign to encourage factory owners to donate fabric scraps instead of throwing them away. Some were skeptical about the benefits, but others responded positively and agreed to help. Munira showed how recycling could create opportunities for families, making it clear that this initiative is about more than just making money—it’s about supporting the community.
Munira’s initiative has already inspired one of the women involved to start her own business, proving that small opportunities can lead to big changes. For many women, especially those balancing family responsibilities, working from home through this project has provided a rare chance to earn a living.
Our work in Türkiye is made possible through a generous gift of the United States.
