"Connected Women" Project Generates Over 43 Million TL in Social Value Over 4 Years

The "Connected Women" project, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education General Directorate of Lifelong Learning and the Vodafone Foundation, continues to empower women to engage in economic and social life. Since its inception, the project has generated over 43 million TL in social value, with each 1 TL invested this year yielding a social gain of over 14 TL.

Launched with the objective of advancing digitalization in society, supporting women’s empowerment, and enhancing their participation in the workforce, the "Connected Women" project has successfully completed its third year. In partnership with the Ministry of National Education and the Vodafone Foundation, the project has provided Digital Literacy and Digital Marketing training to approximately 35,000 women across 20 provinces . According to the social impact analysis report prepared to assess the project's outcomes, more than 43 million TL in social value has been generated through these trainings. Each 1 TL invested in the project this year saw a 1.5-fold increase compared to the previous period, resulting in a social return of more than 14 TL .

Cengiz Mete, Director General for Lifelong Learning at the Ministry of National Education , stated:

“As the General Directorate of Lifelong Learning within the Ministry of National Education, we operate under the principle of ‘Education for everyone, anytime, anywhere, to prepare fulfilled individuals for life.’ We deliver lifelong learning opportunities through a wide range of courses and initiatives in general, vocational, and technical fields, accessible to individuals both within and outside of formal education. These activities are supported by 3,741 non-formal education course programs offered across 1,000 public education centers and 31 maturation institutes throughout Turkey. Moreover, we collaborate with our stakeholders on various projects aimed at enhancing the professional, social, and cultural development of our participants.

The 'Connected Women' project, realized in partnership with the Vodafone Foundation, serves as an exemplary model of effective public-private collaboration, harnessing the power of digital tools to unlock the potential of women. We are pleased to witness the significant improvement in digital literacy, knowledge, and skills among the tens of thousands of women who have participated in this initiative. It is especially gratifying to see these advancements reflected in enhanced self-confidence and motivation, empowering women to contribute more meaningfully to the economy and society.”

Hasan Süel, Chair of Vodafone Turkey Foundation, stated:

“As a purpose-driven company, we strive to ensure that the digital future includes all segments of society. The ‘Connected Women’ project is an embodiment of this vision. Our primary goal is to introduce women to the digital world, equip them with digital literacy skills, empower them in social life, and connect them with potential digital employment opportunities. Through this project, we have provided digital literacy and digital marketing training to nearly 35,000 women across 20 provinces to date. We also continuously measure the impact of our initiatives. According to our latest social impact report, the project not only enhances women’s digital knowledge and skills but also plays a significant role in boosting their confidence and motivation, raising awareness about the importance of the digital world, and fostering supportive relationships. Additionally, we observed that every 1 TL invested in the project this year has generated over 14 TL in value, representing a 1.5-fold increase compared to the previous period. All data indicate that we are achieving impactful results aligned with our project’s objectives. As Vodafone Foundation, we will continue standing by women.”

Increase in Digital Skills and Knowledge

Under the “Connected Women” project, the most significant change observed among digital literacy participants was a nearly 44% increase in their digital knowledge and skills. Trainers involved in the project reported that the greatest transformation among digital literacy trainees was in their awareness of the importance of digitalization, with a 67% improvement in this area. Meanwhile, from the perspective of digital marketing trainees, the largest change was a 43% increase in their digital marketing knowledge and skills, followed by a 32% increase in motivation for business development. Trainers also noted that the most significant improvements among digital marketing trainees were in building supportive relationships (75%) and increased confidence and awareness of the importance of digitalization (70%).

The project also had a noticeable impact on the trainers themselves. Both digital marketing and digital literacy trainers reported the most substantial improvements in the development of their knowledge, skills, and competencies.

Changes in Digital Habits

Interviews conducted with the finalists of the Digital Marketing Campaign Competition , as part of the analysis, revealed several positive effects in areas such as reputation building, strengthened self-confidence, motivation for planning and consistent work, business growth, increased sales, and follower growth. When evaluating the impact on changes in participants' digital skills and habits, the most significant behavioral improvement was observed in the effective use of digital tools and the ability to conduct sales via mobile platforms and the internet.

Special Training for Earthquake-Affected Regions

As part of the “Connected Women” project, “Introduction to the Digital World” seminars were added to this year’s training offerings. These seminars were specifically designed to meet the needs of women affected by the February 6th earthquakes in Adıyaman, Hatay, and Kahramanmaraş, and were delivered at public education centers and container cities in the region to contribute to the well-being of the participants. Reaching over 8,000 women , the seminars provided information on digital tools that could be used in daily life.

The most significant progress among participants was in conducting banking transactions through digital platforms, with a 19% increase. Additionally, there was an 18% increase in the ability to make sales via mobile phones and the internet. Following the seminars, there was a notable rise in the number of women shopping online, while the percentage of women using digital tools for government services, such as e-Government and e-Nabız, reached 94%. Moreover, 56% of the women reported an increased desire to learn and use new applications on the internet and mobile devices after receiving the training.

Social Return on Investment (SROI) Methodology Applied

The Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology was employed in the "Connected Women Project Social Impact Analysis" to measure the social value generated by socially driven initiatives. Through SROI, the impact of change is calculated in a way that encompasses both the stakeholders experiencing the change and those influencing it. The SROI analysis aims to understand the social changes created among stakeholders through field studies, narrating the story of this change by representing it in financial terms. This approach allows for the calculation of a ratio that reflects both social gains and costs. For instance, an impact ratio of 2:1 indicates that for every unit of investment, two units of social value are created.