Applicant: Ovacık Village Women Seed Association

Project Partner: Sile Municipality

Through this project, it is aimed to develop an experience-based tourism model by providing the visitors with the opportunity to experience local tastes from field to fork, local culture and traditions. It is also targeted to increase the economic welfare level and life quality of the local people by means of responsible tourism activities to be implemented in Ovacik, a forest village that is 60 km to İstanbul and 10 km to Şile.  Experience-based tourism model by providing visitors the opportunity to experience local tastes from field to fork, local culture and traditions. The project enables the local people to grow their traditional food, harvest (in a Permaculture garden) and experience the art of cooking. Recipes will be prescribed with traditional food trainings. While all these are being experienced, local people and visitors will be informed within the principles of responsible tourist and responsible business. The aim is diversifying the livelihoods of local people and income generation by creating a sustainable tourism initiative.

SDG1: NO POVERTY

Support the development of tourism products and services tailored for local people with lower income. Recruit, train and employ local community, including those living in poverty, and integrate them in the tourism value chain. Partnership with civil society networks to provide education and entrepreneurial skills training (e.g. tour guides, local artisans, and local foods).

SDG 5: GENDER EQUALITY

Encourage and support sufficient participation of women in decision-making and governance at all levels and across all business areas in tourism related companies. Support and expand business relationships with women owned enterprises, including small businesses and women entrepreneurs.

SDG 8: DECENT WORK

Engage communities to participate in tourism value chains for goods and services. Foster entrepreneurial culture, investing in or mentoring young entrepreneurs and encouraging tourism related start-ups. Invest in tourism development for job creation and economic development. Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services. Devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.

SDG 10: REDUCED INEQUALITIES

Recruit, train and employ local community, including those living in poverty, and integrate them in your value chain. Partnership with civil society networks to provide education and entrepreneurial skills training.

SDG 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES

Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage

SDG 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

Promote the development of innovative business models Enable sustainable consumption by developing innovative solutions to reduce energy need in usage and educate consumers about these benefits. Encourage minimizing manufacturing impacts by substituting virgin raw materials in products with post-consumer materials through recycling and upcycling. Reduce significantly waste and ensure that any unavoidable waste is utilized to the fullest degree (e.g. organic waste as fuel or fertilizer).

SDG 15: LIFE ON LAND

Measure, manage and mitigate impacts on ecosystems and natural resources. Create awareness of visitors on proper behaviours when visiting forests or natural areas, including interaction with local cultures.

SDG 17: PARTNERSHIP FOR THE GOALS

Enhance the partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources. Encourage effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships on resourcing strategies of partnerships. Promote the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism