A WOMAN CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING SHE WANTS TO

Working as a driver at Kuşadası Municipality Cleaning Department, Gamze Soykan Topal gets behind the wheel of her mini dump truck ‘Alo Waste Taxi’ and works every day on the hard-to-reach streets of Kuşadası. Starting work early in the morning, Gamze Soykan Topal said, 

“Like every job, being a driver has its difficult aspects. However, if a woman wants to, she can achieve anything.”

Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel recently launched the “Alo Garbage Taxi” application in order to provide a healthier, cleaner, and more hygienic living space for city residents. In this context, a ‘Alo WasteTaxi’ team consisting of 5 specially designed vehicles and 10 personnel was established within the Municipal Cleaning Works Department. One of the waste taxis is driven by 40-year-old Gamze Soykan Topal, who is married and a mother of 1 child. Gamze Soykan Topal and her teammate get behind the wheel from the early hours of the morning and start working. Gamze Soykan Topal, who reaches the narrow streets where it is difficult to enter Kuşadası with her skilful manoeuvres, makes a significant contribution to the cleaning efforts.

“I AM PROUD OF MY JOB”

Gamze Soykan Topal, who stated that she goes to the area where she would work in after performing daily checks of the Alo Waste Taxi vehicle she drives in, said;

“First of all, I am proud of my profession. My family, my colleagues and the municipality administration support me in every way. I used many vehicles during my time in the Cleaning Department. This job also has its difficult aspects. However, a woman can achieve anything if she wants. The most important problem I have is that male drivers do not obey the rules in traffic.”

 “LET’S NOT THROW OUR LITTER ON THE GROUND”

Stating that they work devotedly every day as the Cleaning Works Department to make Kuşadası a clean tourism city, Gamze Soykan Topal added;

 “With the number of local and foreign tourists coming to our city during the summer and holidays, our population reaches approximately 1 million. Of course, this situation also increases our burden. I want those who live in Kuşadası and come to visit the city to be more sensitive to the environment. Please do not throw litter on the ground. Let's take care to keep our environment clean.”