From Bitter Moments to Sweet Success: EU Helps to Empower Women in Türkiye

A retired vocational teacher, Nihal started experimenting with chocolate at her home in 2012. She now runs a fast-growing business that has made a name for itself by combining Anatolian fruit with distinctive, health-focused dark chocolates.

"Chocolate was never the ultimate goal," Nihal explains with a smile. "It was a way to add value to the fruit from our garden, like apricots, mulberries and pomegranates. Chocolate is the diamond of the food industry, and it has enabled me to transform our local produce into something special."

European Union, 2025

Women-Up beneficiary Nihal Sevilmen

Drawing on her decades of teaching experience and her deep interest in local food culture, Nihal opened a tiny shop in 2016, building her brand around vegan, high-cocoa recipes, such as her Aslantepe, İvriz and Belen collections, inspired by the civilisations of Anatolia. She then transformed her creative atelier into a fully-fledged enterprise producing around 1,500 chocolates daily.

European Union, 2025

Nihal was inspired by the civilisations of Anatolia when creating her chocolates

Bitter moment of the sweet story

However, every sweet story faces a bitter moment. After a serious traffic accident, Nihal needed help to keep her workshop running. That's when she learned about the EU- and Türkiye co-financed WOMEN-UP project, implemented by the Social Security Institution (SGK).

"One of our customers told us about the project," she recalls. "We were hesitant at first - could we really afford another employee? But WOMEN-UP gave us the courage to hire Ayten, our new team member. It was such a big support - both financially and morally."

European Union, 2025

Worker Ayten Yavuz

First registered job

Through WOMEN-UP, Ayten Yavuz found her first registered job. "Being insured makes me feel safe," she says. "I know my future and my children's future are more secure. I love what I do, and I feel like part of a family here."

Nihal adds: "These projects are so valuable because they don't just help one woman - they create ripples. I see so many women entrepreneurs thriving thanks to the EU's support. Women should believe in themselves. If they have a dream, they must work for it, day and night if needed - and never give up."

European Union, 2025

Nihal works side by side with Ayten

Chocolate relaxes everyone

Today, Nihal works side by side with her daughter Sezin and Ayten, crafting delicate chocolate pieces infused with the scents and flavours of Anatolia.

"If you do something good, people will find you - even in the middle of the forest. Today, we're surrounded by chocolate all day," she laughs. "We've grown used to the aroma, but our visitors always notice it. Chocolate relaxes us. It brings joy."

European Union, 2025

Jurgis Vilčinskas, Acting Head of the Delegation of the EU to Türkiye

Sweet Success Story

Jurgis Vilčinskas, Acting Head of the Delegation of the EU to Türkiye, emphasises the broader vision behind initiatives like WOMEN-UP:

"Women's economic participation is vital for inclusive growth and social resilience. Through projects like WOMEN-UP, the EU is proud to support women entrepreneurs who not only build successful businesses but also empower others along the way. Nihal Sevilmen's story shows the transformative power of such support."

European Union, 2025

A story of resilience, creativity, and the strength of women lifting each other up

From a small kitchen experiment to a growing artisanal brand, Nihal Sevilmen's Couture Chocolate is more than chocolate - it's a story of resilience, creativity, and the strength of women lifting each other up.

Supporting both employer and employee

Co-financed by the EU and the Republic of Türkiye, the Supporting Registered Women Employment Project (WOMEN-UP) in two phases has supported the employment of more than 11,000 women through the involvement of over 9,000 women employers.

The project implementation of the Phase II was successfully completed by the Social Security Institution (SGK) in November 2025. Under both phases, the project covered the wages of a female staff member up to the net amount of the minimum wage. The success of Women-Up Project has not gone unnoticed. It has received the Award of Merit at the European Social Security Forum in Portugal.