Money may not grow on trees, but it certainly can be raised from mud, literally. This is the message being sent across to Saudi women by Aydeena, an organization known for promoting traditional Saudi handicraft.

In a unique program that will help Saudi women make money, the organization is making efforts to impart training in making clay products for the first time in the Kingdom.

Aydeena’s foray into clay products follows its success in similar ventures, Ruwaida Al-Fadl from the organization said, and explained that training in clay production can introduce Saudi women to different job markets and boost their financial sustainability.

She said the training will be imparted and supervised by Saudi women experts who have specialized in handicrafts. “Aydeena will give priority to women from underprivileged backgrounds,” she added.

Stating that the training program with innovative ideas will be supported both by the private and public sectors, Al-Fadl said Aydeena encourages innovation among women to facilitate the creativity in them to blossom and come out with original products and not merely copy what is already available in the market.

“We want people to buy the product not only because of the context in which they were made, but because they are of good quality and they genuinely like them,” she said.

All Aydeena handicraft products reflect the true Saudi culture and they are in great demand from Saudi society. Gahwa cups designed with bits of pottery and seating material for Majlis are popular handicrafts made by Saudi women through Aydeena.

The beads they produce come in various forms and colors and they are used to make chains, bangles, earrings and other ornaments based on customer preference. “We always play with earth. Why not derive maximum benefit from this natural element?” asks Al-Fadl.