MANAMA, 19 April 2008 — Lulwa Al-Wazan, 60, makes traditional dresses, hats and ornately decorated Qur’an pouches. She said her finished products are made to look traditional.
“There were many families who were making items at home and selling them. Most of these families joined the project and have benefited a lot,” she said. “As long as I have my hands and eyes, I can carry on.”
Al-Wazan has been a beneficiary of the “Productive Families Project,” a 30-year-old initiative that is being run under the supervision of Bahrain’s Ministry of Social Development. It has encouraged low-income families to set up their own businesses.
The project has provided Al-Wazan with all the raw materials that she needs and has built a center for participants to showcase their goods.
Asma Al-Tamimi is another beneficiary of the initiative. She has designed and made women’s clothes and dresses for 15 years.
“My husband has always supported me and this is what has kept me going,” she said. “I participated in a charity bazaar once and people liked my creations. So I went to the Productive Families Project, showed them what I could do. They agreed to support me. I urge anyone who has an idea and is keen to start a business to join the project.”
Adil Al-Sahlawi joined the project two months ago.
“I make belts, handbags, mini-bags for mobile phones and leather jackets,” he said. “It was a hobby when I was young but now it has become a passion.”
Al-Sahlawi has also been abroad to learn new skills and market his goods.
“In Hawaii, I sold one jacket for $1,000. A French designer asked me to do some designs for her,” he said, adding that the project has made it easy for him to reach clients.
Intisar Al-Arifi, another Bahraini who has benefited from the project, said that she uses beads to make accessories and designs on dresses and abayas. Al-Arifi begins by drawing her designs and then she makes them using carefully selected beads. She has been making such designs for 19 years. She joined the project last year.
Haifa Al-Shurouqi, along with her husband, makes jewelry and gift boxes, and incense burners. Al-Shurouqi said she recently expanded her business to include making and decorating wooden doors and windows.
“We’re hoping to get a loan from a bank and then leave the Productive Families Project and go bigger,” she said.
Shaikha bint Khalifa Al-Khalifa, supervisor of the center where the families show their products to customers, said that the center, located in Karbabad, is crucial for the development of Bahrain.
The center, which was started last year, has a library from which participants can borrow books.
“Our aim is to support families and help them develop their projects,” she said. “We aim to do this by providing them with raw material, holding exhibitions, and providing support, encouragement and guidance.”
She added that the Productive Families Project has criteria that have to be met to join it.
“Ideas need to be innovative and strong,” she added. “They should also have the potential to develop fast.”
The Productive Families Project was launched in 1978 as a social project that aims to alleviate poverty and help families become self-productive.
