JEDDAH, 30 September 2003 — Large numbers of Saudi women attended the Heritage Festival on Sunday night at the Laylaty Ballroom. The purpose of the festival was to raise money to build housing for the poor.
Last year, the Women’s Higher Committee for Social and Humanitarian Services in the Makkah Region organized a similar festival in response to Crown Prince Abdullah’s call to eradicate poverty and provide housing for limited-income families. Last year’s success encouraged the women to hold a second festival this year.
“People want to participate in charitable work by a variety of means. Providing housing is a humanitarian effort prompted by Islamic teachings and will benefit many poor families,” said Princess Sarah Al-Angari, president of the committee and wife of Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed.
The project focuses on villages where poverty, inadequate housing, disease and illiteracy are common and there is no water and electricity. The committee chose to launch its project in the village of Tufail, home to some 120 families and located 135 km south of Jeddah.
A study was conducted and a national construction company — Saudi Binladen Group — was retained to build 106 houses of which 95 have so far been completed at a cost of SR10 million. In addition to the houses, a school, a health center and a mosque will also be built and two wells will be dug.
“There is more that needs to be done and all the profits from the festival will be applied to completing the project,” said Princess Sarah.
Every corner of Laylaty Ballroom was transformed into a traditional dwelling or market displaying local crafts from each of the Kingdom’s regions. Both the organizers and most of the guests, young and old, wore traditional clothing. Traditional meals, sweets and delicacies were served and a documentary film as well as music and dance from each region were presented.
“I hope the festival will be repeated because most people don’t know about the customs and traditions of regions other than their own. This is a wonderful opportunity for Saudi people to learn more about other regions,” said Princess Norah bint Abdullah ibn Muhammad. “The festival was a great success and we raised a lot of money for the project,” said Suad Abbas, the director of the committee. The price of a ticket was SR1,000.
