Damascus countryside, Sept. 24 (SANA) A community bazaar in Damascus countryside is giving 107 women a platform to market food, handicrafts and artwork while helping them turn their skills into small businesses and sources of income.
The Rural Women’s Bazaar, launched on Sept. 20, brings together women who produce a range of handmade goods, offering them an opportunity to reach customers and develop sustainable businesses that can provide independent or additional income.
At the “Women of Qudsaya” bazaar, participants Abeer Abko and Rama Saeed Nasli showcased a project combining candle-making with resin design, a technique widely used in handicrafts, decorations and accessories.
They told SANA that their project preserves flowers and keepsakes from occasions such as graduations, weddings and births by transforming them into decorative pieces with artistic and sentimental value.
They said the project has helped supplement their families’ income amid rising living costs, while specialized training courses have helped them develop their skills.
Supporting women’s economic independence
Participant Obeida al-Masri said she launched her project more than a year ago, producing artwork from stone and crystal as well as satin crafts. She encouraged women to develop their hobbies and turn their skills into productive businesses that can strengthen their economic independence.
Lina Nadim and Fatima al-Qadri participated with homemade food products, saying the bazaar gave them an opportunity to introduce their products to visitors, showcase the quality of locally made goods and generate additional income.
Visual artist Amal al-Taan displayed works using acrylic paint, textured paste, glass painting and fabrics. She said participating in exhibitions and similar events helps artists reach a broader customer base.
A platform for handmade products
Artisan Faten Jiblaq displayed products ranging from burlap and crochet work to accessories and recycled crafts.
She said she uses simple materials, including discarded cardboard rolls and fabric scraps, to create practical items such as children’s pencil holders and food-storage containers.
Jiblaq said the bazaar allows her to promote her work, put her creative skills to use and earn additional income.
Damascus countryside Governorate has been organizing community initiatives and bazaars aimed at supporting families economically by providing spaces to display and market handmade products and helping producers reach more customers.
The main stylistic improvement is reducing repetition while retaining all the reporting. I’d consider this version ready for publication.
FJ/ABD
