Fadime Canan, a mother of 4 children in Gaziantep, is trying to maintain her livelihood while learned a job as a hand-made shoes professor to afford the education expense of her college-educated daughter and her son studying in secondary school.

Having left her husband 6 years ago and had to look after 4 children, Canan has been working alone for 6 years to afford education expense of her children both in university and in secondary school, and is doing both motherhood and paternity to her children.

Canan, who comes out early in the morning, comes to her shop near Kale Alti and starts to work by saying "Bismillah" [In the name of Allah]. She stitches up to 20-30 hand-made shoes per day with great care. Her only wish is to make her children study.

Canan said that she learned the job as a hand-make shoes to afford education expense of her children and said “I am providing my livelihood this experience with this profession. The sales are good. There is an intense demand from domestic and foreign countries. Those who think of their health, prefer this hand-made shoes [yemeni]. No sweat and smell of foot while wearing these shoes.”

Canan said that she had to work to ensure her livelihood, said: “Thank Allah, I make a living. I am doing this job for a year. My husband was a shoemaker. I started this job because my son has the same profession like his father. I have 4 children and I look after them.”

Canan added that her children also help her during the holidays, “It is also normal for my children to work because I have to look after them. They also help me, they support me, so I love my profession and I do it very well. If you do not like your business, you will not enjoy it already, and you if you love your work so that you can enjoy the work you do.” (İbrahim Koçyiğit - ILKHA)