Muhammed Yusuf Tapar and Mustafa Kırmızıateş
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“From Carpet to Art” project was designed as a creative and sustainable initiative aiming to empower young people through cultural expression and hands-on artistic activities. At its core, the project brought together over 80 young participants to explore traditional heritage while developing new skills and fostering social interaction. By utilizing recycled carpet pieces as both material and metaphor, the project bridged generational craftsmanship with modern creativity, promoting environmental awareness and cultural heritage.
The project was structured around two primary workshops: bag making and artistic painting on carpet fragments. These workshops were not only artistic exercises but also served as opportunities for personal development, skill acquisition, and social development. Participants learned practical techniques such as sewing and painting, but also explored the meaning of sustainability and the importance of cultural continuity. Throughout the sessions, young people collaborated, supported each other, and shared meaningful moments that contributed to team spirit and community building.
In terms of impact, the project successfully engaged participants across diverse age and gender groups, providing a safe space for expression, connection, and skill development. The exhibition held in the local community drew strong attention, revealing both the creative outcomes and the underlying social message of the project. The initiative was also promoted through social media, reaching wider audiences and highlighting the relevance of youth-led cultural preservation. Despite facing challenges in securing external workshop support and sponsorships, the project coordinator remained committed, adapting the implementation accordingly. This persistence became a point of pride and inspiration for others, reinforcing the value of self-belief and resilience.
From an environmental perspective, the project directly contributed to reducing textile waste and raising awareness of eco-friendly practices. The reuse of carpet waste highlighted a critical sustainability issue and offered a concrete solution that is both accessible and replicable. Participants were not only educated about the environmental impact of textile disposal but were also equipped with practical knowledge to apply recycling principles in their daily lives.
In terms of social impact, the project succeeded in creating a platform for youth engagement, self-expression, and community cohesion. It provided young participants with the opportunity to earn modest income, gain visibility for their work, and build a stronger sense of identity and belonging. The lessons learned from the experience reinforced the belief that creativity and culture, when combined with sustainability, can lead to powerful community-driven change.
We have focused on the sustainability by using the recycled materials and the project contributed to the environmental awareness among the young people while increasing their understanding about the waste transformation ( ReUse aspect ) and responsible production. In the long-run, we plan to establish a new working space with the project to become an atelier to promote both environmentally responsible products and increase the skills of the young people.
