EU-funded Bizimköy project has changed lives of people with disability in Kocaeli province

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EU-funded Bizimköy project has changed lives of people with disability in Kocaeli province

The Kocaeli Chamber of Industry describes the European Union (EU) supported project as a model of hope for Türkiye's regions affected by the earthquakes of February 2023. The project helps people with disability to find work and integrate back into the local community. One of the key supporters of this venture says that its success should be replicated in the south-east.

© EUROPEAN UNION, 2025

The EU-funded Bizimköy Disabled Production Centre was established after the 1999 Kocaeli earthquake to provide support for people with life-changing injuries.

Bizimköy means Our Village. It is both a productive business and a successful social integration project.

A challenge to find a job and a place in society again

On a quiet summer night in 1999, the earth beneath Kocaeli's small town of Gölcük began to shake violently. Within seconds, houses, hospitals, and schools collapsed.

For 17 hours, Cüneyt Silvan, was trapped under the rubble. For the last 10 years, he has been the Human Resources Manager at the Bizimköy Disabled Production Centre.

"I lost my left foot," he says. "Anyone can become disabled at any moment. Before the earthquake, I was able-bodied; after it, I was categorised as disabled."

Cüneyt Silvan, Human Resources Manager at the Bizimköy

The Gölcük earthquake left more than 20,000 people with life-long disabilities. It left them with an additional struggle - finding a job and a place in society again.

Hüsnü Bayraktar, General Manager of the Bizimköy Disabled Production Centre Foundation, says a solution was needed that would give these people a chance to work, ensure their participation in social life through the production process, and regain their independence.

Hüsnü Bayraktar, General Manager of the Bizimköy Disabled Production Centre Foundation

A social integration project

Out of this devastation, the Kocaeli Chamber of Industry created a beacon of hope: the Bizimköy Disabled Production Centre.

It was established in 2005 with €1.5 million in funding from the EU and €1.5 million in contributions from the Kocaeli Chamber of Industry, the Kocaeli Governership and local stakeholders.

The centre has become a transformative space for people with disabilities to reintegrate into the workforce. More than just a job, it represents a significant commitment to economic and social inclusion.

Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, President of the Kocaeli Chamber of Industry

"The key to the success of this project is its social impact," says Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, President of the Kocaeli Chamber of Industry. He says that the project has generated 485 jobs, including 135 for people with disabilities.

He adds: "They are part of a thriving community. Without this facility, many of them would be at home, unemployed. This project is invaluable."

The Bizimköy Centre is a powerhouse of textiles in Kocaeli

Today, the Bizimköy Centre is a powerhouse of textile, cultivated mushrooms and plant production in Kocaeli. "Some of the world's highest quality textile products are manufactured here," Hüsnü Bayraktar, the General Manager, explains.

"We export 99% of what we produce to countries like Italy, France, the Netherlands, and the UK. Every product carries the hard work and dedication of our employees people with disabilities, which fills us with pride."

Recai Kızıltan works for the greenhouse and mushroom department

Awards

In 2006, Bizimköy was awarded as the most successful EU-funded project in Türkiye. In 2013, it was the recipient of a special award Stars of Export. In 2014, it gained a recognition award for employment of people with disabilities and tax contribution.

A year later, Bizimköy was selected as the best job creation and development project among 30 countries and 79 projects at the ICC World Chambers Federation meeting in Turin.

Dilek Aydın, agricultural engineer, is in charge of the greenhouse and mushroom department

Working together in solidarity

For many workers, Bizimköy is more than just a job - it is a second chance in life. "For us, this place is both a workplace and a home," says İsa Yıldız, a worker and basketball player. "I even met my wife here. We got married, and now we have a four-year-old. I am so happy."

İsa Yıldız

Beyond employment, the centre fosters an environment of solidarity and inclusion. "Disabled and non-disabled people work together in harmony," says İlmiye Aşık, a worker with a disability. "We are one team."

İlmiye Aşık

Gülfiye Meyzin, an experienced chief worker, adds: "Seeing them succeed makes us incredibly proud. We achieve everything together."

Gülfiye Meyzin

One of the survivors of the 2023 earthquakes in Adıyaman, in eastern Türkiye, has been working at the centre for two years. Speech and hearing impaired İbrahim Kuş says that he is happy to work here.

Most of the staff have been working in the Bizimköy Disabled Production Centre for many years. Some have chosen not to retire despite reaching retirement age, while others have retired but continue to work out of satisfaction.

İbrahim Kuş and Kamil Öztürk

An inspiration for other regions affected by earthquakes

Mr Zeytinoğlu hopes that the success of Bizimköy serves as an inspiration for the region that was affected by the devastating earthquakes. "This project should serve as a model for the 11 provinces affected by the 2023 earthquakes," he says. "We must replicate this success and ensure sustainability."

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

The Acting Head of the Delegation of the EU to Türkiye, Jurgis Vilčinskas, is proud of the production centre, created through partnership between the EU and Türkiye.

He says: "The Bizimköy Disabled Production Centre is a remarkable example of how EU-Türkiye cooperation can drive positive change. This project has empowered individuals with disabilities and demonstrated the strength of resilience and solidarity."

The centre sits on 72 acres of land donated by Austrian artist Beatris Burninger, whose grave is in the centre's garden

The Bizimköy Disabled Production Centre is located on 72 acres of land donated by Austrian artist Beatris Burninger to the Turkish Mothers' Association and the International Lions Club. The project's founders include the Kocaeli Chamber of Industry, the Kocaeli Governor's Office, the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality and Kocaeli University.

About 500 workers are employed at the Bizimköy Centre

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