Sponsored by TÜRGEV, this year’s TEDxVefaWomen was held on December 15, 2019, at the Bağlarbaşı Congress and Culture Center under the theme “Shine Your Courage.” The event brought together academics, artists, and entrepreneurial women from all walks of life in Turkey to share inspiring stories from their productive lives, with the aim of multiplying courage and perseverance.
15 December 2019
Sponsored by TÜRGEV, this year’s TEDxVefaWomen, themed “Shine Your Courage,” took place on December 15, 2019, at the Bağlarbaşı Congress and Culture Center.
Aiming to contribute to the visibility of women and girls in social life and to support every step taken in this regard, TÜRGEV became a sponsor of TEDxVefaWomen—one of the first TEDx “Women” events in Turkey. The global TEDx platform, known for sharing “ideas worth spreading,” hosted inspiring female speakers from across the country in this special edition.
The event featured prominent names such as author-screenwriter-narrator Beyza Akyüz, Hevsel Bahçesi brand founder Şehadet Çitil, village teacher Derya Çok, mental health consultant Pınar Kobaş Sıçrar, Afşar Bala’m Women’s Cooperative President Figen Ar, SchoolX Co-founder Ayşe Seyyide Kaptaner, academic Yaylagül Ceran Karataş, composer-pianist-interior designer Büşra Kayıkçı, Assalam Foundation Co-founder Nazan Yalçınkaya, art historian Başak Burcu Eke, opera singer Funda Güllü, Usturlab General Manager Sümeyye Ceylan, Biolive CEO & TGKK President Duygu Yılmaz, and OÇA Network Volunteer Efruze Esra Alptekin.
Drawing inspiration from Ursula K. Le Guin’s words, “We are volcanoes. When we women offer our experience as our truth, as human truth, all the maps change. There are new mountains,” TÜRGEV Chairperson Dr. Fatmanur Altun emphasized the importance of giving women a platform:
“As a foundation focusing on girls’ education, we wanted to be part of such an event. Listening to each other instills courage in all of us. Around the world, we face crises like wars, massacres, migrations, and refugee issues, yet women’s experiences, perspectives, and solutions are often unheard. We say—let women share their stories, propose solutions, and inspire others, even while keeping their hands in the dough, true to the essence of life and nature.”
The event succeeded in bringing together women from different backgrounds to share courageous, impactful, and motivational stories, amplifying both voices and ideas.
