Islamic training workshop in Saida to empower women economically and socially

Through a joint initiative of Islamic Welfare Charity Institutions, and Imam Hussein Mosque, the “Mother’s sewing workshop” was founded in Saida in 1996 with the aim to teach girls and widows the art of needlecraft and seam stressing. In a feature published today, Al Mustaqbal newspaper shed some lights on this special workspace while interviewing the chair of the board of trustees, Hani Abu Zainab, who stressed that the aim of the endeavor is to empower women economically and socially through helping them to acquire an income generating profession. Abu Zainab went on to say that the workshop has since its inception expanded to cover the production of Umra and Hajj pilgrimage costumes and winter uniforms for students and underprivileged children. With the influx of Syrian refugees into the southern capital and suburbia, work began on a new sophisticated construction project, and a 1680 square meter land was purchased to this end in the East Saida suburb of Bramiyeh. According to the newspaper, the project was launched with financial assistances from ‘Qatar Charity’ and ‘Human Appeal International-UK’ foundations so as to accommodate a larger number of Syrian women refugees. The centre was equipped to train some 25 girls and women every year, as well as to educate and provide jobs for about 40 Lebanese, Palestinian and displaced Syrian women. The project also included the creation of a charity market that displays new and used clothing for disadvantaged families. (Al Mustaqbal, January 26, 2016)