An alternative to Barbie and Cindy: the Berivan doll of Şırnak

The Berivan doll is a cloth doll stuffed with wool and dressed in local clothing and made by local villagers. The Berivan Baby Doll Project was put into action by the İdil Provincial Governor’s Office and supported by the Prime Ministry’s Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Administration. Thanks to this initiative, a story that has been known and told throughout the region for many years is now spilling over into the toy sector. What’s more, famous Turkish fashion designer Cemil İpekçi is lending his sense of style to the design of the Berivan baby doll.

The workshop established for the production of the Berivan doll is already operational, and a group of 12 course participants and four specialist teachers have begun producing new designs. These new Berivan dolls will be dressed only in traditional local clothing and will have interchangeable outfits that can be decorated to the taste of the doll’s owner. Plans are to distribute the Berivan doll in both domestic and international markets.

Ministry of Culture already placed order for 500 dolls

The goal of the Berivan doll project is to boost employment while also increasing the involving of local women. İdil Provincial Governor Adem Kaya, who says they would like make a difference in the status of women in society, notes: “Berivan was an orphaned girl, according to local legend. Our desire is to support orphaned girls and children in the region, and we are backing this project in order to draw attention to all the girls who have fallen victim to honor killings in the region.”

Faruk Kaplan, main project coordinator, also points to the desire to see more attention paid to the trend of honor killings in the region as being a driving factor behind this doll project. Kaplan says that the Ministry of Culture has already placed an order for 500 of the dolls and that these dolls will be presented as gifts to state officials on the March 21 Nevruz holiday.

Two of the young women hard at work at the doll workshop are 18-year-old Çiçek Şekirde and 19-year-old Zekiye Barış. Both young women are extremely happy with the project and are pleased to be able to earn incomes and help their families. Both also express hopes that orders for the dolls in the coming period will only continue to increase.

Story of Berivan passed from generation to generation

The story of Berivan is one about a young girl believed to have lived in the village of Kırca, near the Şırnak district of İdil. It is a story that has been told for decades, although no one really knows if the story is true. It is said that Berivan was orphaned when she first lost her father and then her mother. The 12-year-old girl had to go to live with her older brother, but soon fled her brother’s home to escape the unfair treatment by her sister-in-law. She sought shelter in the forest near the village where she was soon befriended by a doe that lived in the forest. Berivan eventually started to milk the doe on a daily basis and would take the little bucket of milk back to the village. Unfortunately this sparked gossip and her brother suspected that his little sister had fallen in love with a shepherd, who he assumed must be giving her the milk. One morning, Berivan’s older brother secretly followed her into the forest. He found Berivan sitting on a stone, as she always did while she waited for the doe to appear. He took out his hunting rifle and shot her. As she fell to the ground, Berivan called out to her brother: “Oh brother of mine, if you had only waited a little longer before shooting me, you would have seen who I meet with every day. Please, don’t remember me as having been bad.” After this, Berivan died.

Berivan dolls are hope for young girls

İdil Provincial Governor Adem Kaya: Designs for these dolls are being created by fashion designer Cemil İpekçi. The goal of our project is to see more women involved in society and to increase employment opportunities for local women. We want to make a difference in the status of women in society. You know the story of Berivan. Berivan was an orphan. We are championing this project to support other girls like her. We want to draw people’s attention to the victims of honor killings.

Project coordinator Faruk Kaplan: There are currently 12 course participants and four specialists working on the project. Our goal is to improve the status of women in the region and to offer them opportunities for employment. The Berivan baby doll also draws attention to honor killings. Famous fashion designer Cemil İpekçi has volunteered his creative talent to help with design and marketing.

Fashion designer Cemil İpekçi: Women in this region have always experienced problems. I will continue to offer my support and be involved in projects that help women and children. I believe that the sad story of Berivan will be replaced over time by a happier ending. Of course, the Berivan doll cannot and will not compete with dolls like Barbie and Cindy. After all, Barbie and Cindy are fairy tale dolls. But the Berivan doll is linked to a real story. Maybe this doll will help put an end to honor killings.