12.07.2026 19:11
Nehir Habiboğlu, 15, who started learning a trade in her father's auto repair workshop in Hatay 7 years ago, has been training the masters of the future by passing on the knowledge she gained from her father over the years to the apprentices in the workshop.
Nehir Habiboğlu, a 15-year-old living in the Günyazı neighborhood of Antakya district, has been learning a trade alongside her father, Güven Habiboğlu, who has been an auto mechanic for 7 years. Never tiring or getting bored, Master Nehir works at her father's auto repair workshop and continues to improve herself in the profession she learned from her father. Master Nehir, whom visitors to the workshop seek out with their eyes, can perform vehicle maintenance and fix transmission and engine problems on her own.
ANTAKYA'S "MASTER NEHIR" Habiboğlu attends school from morning until noon and spends most of her time after school working alongside her father. Nehir Habiboğlu, who wants to become a mechanical engineer when she grows up, is known to customers as 'Master Nehir'. As the 'Princess master' of the auto repair workshop, Master Nehir has been teaching everything about vehicle maintenance to 5 apprentices at the workplace for 2 years. Trying to teach her apprentices everything from vehicle maintenance to engine disassembly, Master Nehir passes on the knowledge she has gained from her father over the years, providing training.
"I HAVE 5 APPRENTICES HERE, AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR 2 YEARS" With schools on break, Nehir Habiboğlu, who has started helping her father full-time, said: "I am 15 years old. I have come this far thanks to my father. Right now, my father and I repair vehicles. We work on transmissions, engines, shock absorbers, brakes, and maintenance. We arrive at 8 a.m. and our shift ends at 7 p.m. Many vehicles come in, some with transmission problems. So issues can arise with the transmission control units. There are also problems like oil leaks from the engine, and they come for maintenance. I train the apprentices. Together with my father, we strive to improve our staff. I try to show my staff what my father taught me. I have 5 apprentices here, and we have been working together for 2 years.
"MY FATHER'S SUPPORT MAKES ME PROUD" They have reached my level, at least a little. I think I have been doing very well so far. I love the shop and the job. My father's support makes me proud. I also feel proud when I teach my staff. My staff feel proud too. My goal is to open a big shop for myself in 6 years. I want to open my own workplace and employ female friends like myself. I want to elevate my workplace with their help. My friends invite me out, but my priority is work.
I can meet my friends later, but I can't leave work. I'm starting 9th grade and I'm a MESEM student. On holidays and in my free time, I come to my father's side. We let the lamb go and took on apprentices instead. My staff are doing very well. They know how to address customers and are learning the job. This job can be difficult, but we must overcome every difficulty. I am sure I will overcome that difficulty."
"MASTER NEHIR GIVES ALL THE NECESSARY LESSONS TO THE INTERNS" Güven Habiboğlu, who wants his daughter to become like Turkey's leading businesswomen and says he will provide the necessary support, said: "I saw such enthusiasm in my daughter Nehir 7 years ago and decided to take her under my wing. During school terms, she would go to school and then come to me after school in the afternoon. During school breaks, she spends 24 hours with me. When her girlfriends invite her out, she says 'I have work. Work comes first, I can only meet on Sundays.' Nehir rose step by step over time. Thank God. Now I have a daughter who is capable of performing vehicle maintenance, computerized fault detection, and everything. We currently have 5 interns, and I am very comfortable with this. Master Nehir herself gives all the necessary lessons to ensure all interns learn. She gives both theoretical and practical lessons on the vehicle. While working, she tells her staff the names of the parts one by one, showing how to disassemble, clean, and reassemble them. I only deal with incoming customers. I don't do anything else. I wholeheartedly support the idea of opening a business. I hope she becomes a business owner by following the example of female colleagues who own workplaces like her in Turkey."
Apprentice Demir Tezci, who says he has learned everything about vehicle maintenance thanks to Master Nehir, said: "First thing in the morning, after opening the workshop, we clean and arrange the tools. We wait for Master Nehir to arrive. After Master Nehir arrives, we work with all the staff. We try to learn the job under Master Nehir's guidance. We come here 5 days a week for our internship. We have been working with Master Nehir for 2 years. Here we learn how to remove and install transmissions, engine disassembly, and everything. I am happy doing this job, and I want to open my own workplace in the future."