The impact of microcredits on "Woman" entrepreneurship and socio-economic life: Eskişehir province sample

Micro credits, which are a financing method within the microfinance system, are widely used in the fight against poverty. In the study, the effect of micro credits given by the Turkey Grameen Microfinance Program to empower women in the fight against poverty on women's entrepreneurship and socio-economic life of women entrepreneurs was investigated. The province of Eskişehir was chosen as a sample and for the first part of the analysis, a questionnaire was applied to 250 women entrepreneurs who received credits from the Eskişehir Branch of the Turkey Grameen Microfinance Program. Survey data were analyzed by ANOVA method. In the second part of the analysis, semi-structured interview questions were asked to 50 women entrepreneurs who received credits from the same branch, and the analyzes were completed by including the effects of the pandemic process. As a result of the analyzes made; It has been determined that women prefer micro credit because it is easy to access, without a guarantor, and because the payments are weekly. It was concluded that women entrepreneurs met with other women at payment points, exchanged ideas and had the opportunity to expand their environment. It has been observed that those who receive Basic Credit for the first time contribute to the home economy with small steps, primarily in the form of paying bills, and in the future, they can come to a point where they can support their spouses and even give pocket money to their children. It has been determined that those who do not have difficulties in payments can apply for the Basic Credit many times, and those who are successful start to trade by getting an Entrepreneur Credit. It has been observed that women who start a business by taking credits gain self-confidence and become more respected in their families and in their environment. It has been understood that the rate of women who define themselves as entrepreneurs in rural areas, especially those who do handicrafts, knitting and dowry, is low. Entrepreneurial women declared that they communicated more strongly with each other during the pandemic, that they tried to look to the future with hope even if they experienced negativity, that they continued to protect their business and continue to produce. Key Words: Poverty, Micro finance, Micro credit, Turkey Grameen Microfinance Program (TGMP), Woman Entrepreneurship, Pandemic