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LEVEL B2

Shadowing the newsreader

Listen to the newsreader read out each line and then practise saying it. Record your own voice line by line and submit your voiceover.

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Overlooking the city of Antakya in Hatay province, Turkey, is the silk workshop of the Duman family.

For decades, they've been involved in silk production, in an area located on China's ancient silk road.

Emel Duman has re-established the traditional manner of producing silk which isn't cruel to animals.

She only uses the tiny silk cocoons once the silkworms have become adult moths and flown off.

As a result, the cloth is known as 'peace silk'.

But following February's disastrous earthquake, which resulted in 50,000 deaths, this family turned their attention to supporting others.

Homeless, they were forced to move into the silk workshop and they allowed 100 other people, also without a roof over their heads, to base themselves there.

While the business, which functions as a cooperative, had around 70 staff - mainly women working from home - a mere seven are back.

The Dumans were unsure if silk production could carry on.

Support arrived from the International Organisation for Migration, which relocated Syrian refugees to help restart production in the family's business.

Emel's now requested a 'protected designation of origin' for the 'peace silk of Hatay', which will add to its value.

Until a few months ago, this region was home to over 3,000 textile companies, employing 350,000 staff.

These days, an ancient craft is bringing fresh hope for the future.

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