The document discusses two design projects that aim to support local communities through handcrafts and skills development. The first project in Mardin works with female traditional handcraft practitioners to develop their skills and help break into new markets. The second project in Sulukule neighborhood of Istanbul organized workshops to help residents develop creative skills to generate income and express themselves culturally as the area faced redevelopment threats.

1. Mardin Handcrafts Design interventions for local handcrafts Çiğdem Kaya PhD Research, Kadın Emeğini Değerlendirme Vakfı (Foundation to Add Value to Women’s Labour) Istanbul Technical University Sheffield Hallam University Mardin, Turkey Keywords : production activities, craftsmanship, community-based enterprises more on: www. cigdemkaya . ne t

2. Context: Existing potential of female traditional handcrafts practitioners in Mardin, a historical town.

3. Project: Developing interventions by working together with the practitioners for their professional and personal development, breaking out from the limited local market.

4. Design role : Enablement of practitioners to make more creative and better crafted products.

5. 40 Days 40 Nights Sulukule A visibility project for an historical area under the threat of demolition and gentrification A project co-started by Sulukule Platform which is a group of activists including Aslı Kıyak İngin (an architect) Keywords : urban regeneration, cultural activities, neighborhoods More on: www.sulukulegunlugu.blogspot.com

6. Context: A historical Romani neighborhood, a planned area of urban regeneration. Local population facing the threat of loosing their identity due to the destruction of community ties linking to the territory.

7. Project: Workshops to assist residents to develop creative skills for income generation and self-expression by using these skills (such as music, handcrafts, photography)

8. Design role: Increasing the visibility and the positive qualities of the neighbourhood