İGDAŞ, an affiliate of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and İstanbul Foundation have launched the “Women Engineers Side by Side” Project to increase the visibility and impact of women in engineering.
As part of the project, 34 volunteer women engineers working at İGDAŞ will mentor 34 young women engineering students who are scholarship recipients of İstanbul Foundation’s “Grow Your Dreams” program.
The initiative aims to help young women engineering candidates strengthen their theoretical knowledge with field experience, support their professional development and take more confident steps in their career journeys.
Mentorship from Women Engineers to Young Candidates
The “Women Engineers Side by Side” Project creates a strong platform for experience sharing between young engineering students and women engineers actively working in the sector.
Within the scope of the program, “Inclusivity Workshop” training was provided by İstanbul Foundation to the women engineers working at İGDAŞ. Young engineering students then joined the program through meetings focused on professional and social development.
The program consists of online sessions, one-on-one meetings and group gatherings. Participants will receive support in technical knowledge sharing, career planning, field experience and professional orientation.
“We Aim to Build a Strong Foundation of Solidarity”
İGDAŞ General Manager Nihat Narin stated that bringing the knowledge and experience of women engineers at İGDAŞ together with younger generations is highly valuable.
Narin emphasized that the project brings together the experience of women engineers working to provide uninterrupted energy across Istanbul’s 39 districts with young candidates, while also aiming to create a strong support network beyond technical development.
İstanbul Foundation General Manager Dr. Canan Aratemür Çimen noted that the project serves as a strong roadmap for young engineering candidates. She highlighted that the “Side by Side” program supports scholarship recipients not only academically, but also professionally and personally.
Strengthening Women’s Role in Engineering
The joint project by İGDAŞ and İstanbul Foundation aims to contribute to a future where women engineers are more visible, active and empowered in the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Through role model interaction, the program is expected to help young women engineering candidates build confidence and manage their career journeys more consciously.
