A group of women living in the Bağcılar district of Amed works in a rug workshop both to acquire a profession and to earn money. “Even though weaving rugs is a hard job, we feel good when we produce,” the women say.

MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed – A group of women living in the Bağcılar district of Amed works in a rug workshop run by the Public Training Center both to acquire a profession and to earn money. These women have woven rugs at the workshop for a year, “We are happy because we feel better when we work and we stand on our own legs in this way,” they say.

“I am happy to work here”

Sonay Yıldız looks at the motif in front of her and weaves a rug. She learned how to weave rugs in two months. “The workshop was opened last year. Two months later, I began to work here. When I first started working, I was worried about if I could learn how to weave rugs. But after a while, I learned with the help of teachers and women working here. I like weaving rugs so it didn’t take long for me to learn. We both work here and perform art.”

“We weave rugs row by row”

Sonay Yıldız tells us she both earns money and spends a good time working in the rug workshop. “We look at the motifs to weave rugs and carpets. You should be self-disciplined and work in detail to weave rugs and carpets. We weave rugs row by row. Our job is hard but very enjoyable. I always want to weave rugs and carpets after learning how to weave.  All workers are women. We have a good friendship here.”

“Women can work in every sector if they want”

“Producing something makes you feel good,” says Sonay Yıldız when she talks about her love for her work. “When my friends see the rugs and carpets woven by me they don’t believe that I wove them. Weaving a carpet takes our days. But we feel good when we produce. All women should work. Women can work in every sector and earn their money if they want.”