BEIRUT: A group of female entrepreneurs from Beirut’s southern suburbs launched their own brand of hand-crafted traditional Lebanese souvenirs, sweets and jewelry Tuesday among the hustle and bustle of the country’s prestigious “Afkart: Lebanese Designers Christmas Exhibition.”
The week-long fair, now in its fifth year, is known for displaying handiwork of up-and-coming Lebanese designers and bringing them to the attention of pre-holiday shoppers and well-established brand buyers and personalities.
Named “WID” after the dual connotations of warmth and affection, as well as the wooden tool used to guide farmers during plowing and associated with fertility and productivity, the “company” has helped the 11 women learn new skills and become more independent.
“This [project] allows women to become more involved in society,” said a founding WID member Colozar Asmar. “It brings out some of our hidden talents, because some women in this project haven’t been given the chance to practice them.
“This our first event outside Dahiyeh and we hope to organize more events [like it],” she said
WID is supported by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Art Gold Lebanon project and the development wing of Italy’s southern Puglia region which seeks to encourage women from numerous municipalities in the southern suburbs to form small businesses and flourish from their talents.
UNDP Art Gold originally selected some 25 women already enrolled in municipal development schemes for training in the hope they would eventually go on to produce and manage their own company and encourage others to do the same.
“The process was difficult at first and some of us dropped out because their aim revolved around the financial beneficiaries,” said Asmar.
“Others were probably restricted from being out by their husbands and some just didn’t click with the group but those [that are] now together actually aim to bring out the different talents women have by offering different roles.”
After just one day WID has managed to sell an encouraging amount of freshly baked cookies that sit nestled in hand-woven baskets and flashy packaging made from scratch by WID.
Despite the growing pains and pre-exhibition nerves, enthusiasm is now riding high and by the end of the fair the women hope to make a substantial profit, as well as a solid name for themselves.
UNDP will continue to provide support for the group but it is hoped that if WID proves to be as successful as expected, the pilot scheme will be rolled out across other regions.
“So many women out there hope to make something out of their work and when they manage to do so you see this immense sense of satisfaction, and a big change takes over,” said UNDP Art Gold local economic specialist Hania Chahal. “This [process] is extremely self rewarding.
“This is the brand unveiling, so where the women will go from here we do not know, but they have a good-quality product and a solid selling point. They also all now have an individual skill, be it weaving, baking or stitching, and we think that by working together they will go far.” – With additional reporting by Sara Salman
- The Daily Star
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(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)