Firm offers micro loans to female inmates

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Firm offers micro loans to female inmates Micro-credit applications for female prisoners in the western province of İzmir will begin as a part of Türk Telekom’s new social projects, announced Jan. 5.

Turk Telekom, Turkey’s landline operator also active in the Internet services business, has carried out
several social projects and is now preparing to allocate micro-credit loans to 50 female prisoners in Aliağa Prison to assist them in establishing businesses. This pilot project, in cooperation with Aliağa Prison’s administration, Gediz University, the İzmir Governorship and other non-governmental organizations, aims to provide prisoners with the initial credit for a business.

Created by the prosecutor of Aliağa Prison, Turan Güzeloğlu, the project will be led by the Turkish Waste
Prevention Foundation. The Izmir Industry and Business Association will be in charge of pooling the micro-credit loans, and Gediz University will train the prisoners in entrepreneurship and using the credits effectively. If borrowers obtain positive results, the İzmir Governorship will support them in providing extra credits.

“Micro-credit will launch in prisons for the first time. Our goal is to help every single prisoner who uses the credits to achieve [success],” Güzeloğlu said, adding that the project’s funding doubled thanks to Türk Telekom’s partnership.The CEO of Türk Telekom, Tahsin Yılmaz, noted that the Transportation Ministry also supported this project.