Shortly after arriving in Turkey, Syrian entrepreneur Ravan Hudayfa started looking for opportunities to expand her network in the country and build new skills. She started volunteering with local community and youth programs, where she got to know the mothers of refugee children. Ravan quickly learned that many of these women were providing for their families by offering catering services out of their home kitchens. This inspired her to launch her catering business, Tina Zita.

As she was launching her website, the COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges for food businesses. Because her primary business was online, Rajaa was still able to operate - but not without difficulty. “While my website was doing well, the logistical issues of delivery were incredibly challenging,” she says. “I knew that in order for my website to really bloom, I had to unite my staff under one roof and have the delivery process start from one point on the map instead of multiple locations.”

Syrian entrepreneur Manar came to Turkey from Homs four years ago. An avid student, she studied Arabic Literature at Damascus University, and she is currently studying Sharia in Mersin. Since coming to Mersin, Manar has supported her family by manufacturing dairy products in her home kitchen.