KSU held recently three-month, two-days-a-week courses for women in the maintenance of electrical appliances, medical and sanitary instruments, air-conditioners, computers, coating works, and so on. The university arranged specialized laboratories and workshops equipped with electrical appliances, health and sanitary instruments and the like.

It is nice to point out that there has been tremendous response from young Saudi women; there's a waiting list for future courses where a third of the seats are reserved for university students, a third for government employees and a third for women who are neither students nor public workers. Women who complete the courses can find employment at women's colleges and schools for girls, for example.

The Gulf Young Women Society of Alkhobar recently held a graduation ceremony of the first batch of 25 young Saudi women who completed its home health care program. The society is going to provide training to the second batch of students comprising 50 young women who belong to families sponsored by the organization.

Princess Jawaher bint Naif, the wife of the Eastern Province governor, has said this campaign is aimed at eradicating poverty and unemployment as well as to offer opportunities to women with spare time on their hands who are interested in making some money. She also highlighted the keenness in protecting them and preventing them from being subjected to any troubles. There are women supervisors who accompany them in the initial days of their work. One problem faced by these graduates is the lack of acceptance of their jobs among members of their family.

This project, the first of its kind among young Saudi women, is being implemented in the Kingdom for the first time. This is an initiative of societies engaged in social service. This provides young women graduates an opportunity to acquire skills, as well as to obtain certificates to pursue their careers in providing health care for the elderly, people with special needs and the newborns. They engage in such jobs after completion of a nine-month training course.

Any step aimed at addressing unemployment should be encouraged and supported. These are noble jobs for women that requires our encouragement and respect.

Yes, we are not accustomed to see a woman carrying a screwdriver to repair a tap or an air-conditioner. What prevents her from doing such jobs?