In March 2007, the Marmara Group Foundation, together with Kadıköy Municipality, established the "Sustainable Development Partnership" platform and launched the "Women Entrepreneur Development (WED)" program. Within this framework, the Marmara Group Foundation implemented the "Yasemin Project," a pilot initiative consisting of a 4-month, 100-hour training and support program designed to provide women with middle and low income levels who have not received higher education with the knowledge and tools to establish and manage their own businesses.

Completed in May 2008, this program aimed especially to improve the economic status of women from low-income families, enhance their self-confidence, and increase their contributions to family income. In the long term, each graduate is expected to become a transformative individual who ensures and promotes sustainable socio-economic and cultural development for herself and her family.

· In line with the long-term sustainability goal, the Yasemin Project was built on solid academic disciplines and its results were monitored.

· Workshops were held once a week for three months within the program. These workshops provided participants with support on psychological and family issues.

· To develop social skills, training sessions were conducted on human psychology, behavior patterns, defense mechanisms, communication styles, conscious and subconscious definitions, and universal laws.

· During the training, practical exercises, introspective deep thinking, subconscious deep thinking, group observations, and feedback sessions were conducted.

· To build participants' self-confidence, awareness and elimination efforts were carried out regarding emotional trauma, fears, peer pressure, and similar issues.

· The "Yasemin Project" offered participants the potential to connect with successful women entrepreneurs.

· Lessons learned during the implementation of this program were transferred to other communities and countries as the program was further developed.

· Some participants of the Yasemin Project are currently striving to establish their own businesses; others have already created their own jobs.