RIYADH: The Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Fund to support women’s project signed a cooperation agreement recently with the British Council in the Middle East to utilize Springboard Women’s Develop-ment Program. The program is to be held at Princess Jawaher Bint Naif Center for Women’s Research and Development.
The organization aims through this agreement to achieve more channels of development and abilities for women. The program has been translated into more than 20 languages, including Arabic. The program has won many international awards in the UK, including the British National Training Award. The goals of the program coincide with the goals of Princess Jawaher Center, which aims at raising the status of Saudi women to enable them to play roles in social development. The program provides the necessary tools for women to acquire self-confidence and some skills to aid her fulfill her goals and adapt to them.
Springboard comprises five major parts, four workshops, and includes a textbook containing scientific and practical activities, original role models and guest speakers for each workshop. Thus Princess Jawaher Center will sponsor this developing program three times per year.
Meanwhile, Naif Al-Fayez recently became the first Saudi finalist for the International Young Entrepreneur Awards, a part of the British Council’s Young Creative Entrepreneur program that began in 2004. He will now head to the UK to meet — along with the other nominees from other countries — with distinguished artists and performers. Al-Fayez was chosen from 16 Saudi artists who applied to the first stage of the award by a judging committee composed of representatives of the British Council and Ahmad Al-Huthail, a representative from the Saudi Theater Society.
According to Amani Fairak, assistant director of creative projects at the Arts and Science division in the British Council said: “We support financially and emotionally the young artists on the basis of their distinguished performance skills and the ability to present projects to enhance the artistic movement.” The award has eight branches and nominees are presented through the British Council’s 110 offices around the world. This was the first time the award was dedicated to visual art.
The British Council had determined participants to be of Saudi nationality and between 25 and 35 years old. Nominees should be working in the field of visual arts. Nominees are also expected to market visual arts in the Kingdom and enjoy leadership skills to bring out the artistic skills. Knowledge of the English language is essential.
