[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="Young Saudis showcase talent with a Hijazi twist" ids="64481,64475,64479,64480,64476,64477,64478"] Fatima Muhammad WHAT welcomes the visitor to the historic Balad area of Jeddah these days is the sight of an increasing number of volunteers who organize the traffic and direct people to various locations where they can experience first hand Jeddawis' traditional way of living. The number of volunteers this year is about 200, who are all members of a team called "Amirni". The youths got 15 days of training on how to organize crowds. Subhi Wael, a field leader of the team, noted that they have trained the volunteers to keep their smile even during tensed times. He said they have provided them with Hijazi outfits to represent the culture of the place. While heading to Balad one can see buildings decorated with lights and streets filled with the aroma of Hijazi spices added to tantalizing dishes. The Al-Jumaa market provides a great opportunity for the youth to showcase their business talent and creativity. The different booths in the market present food, beverages, clothes and accessories, among various other items. People come to the market before Maghreb prayer so that they can break their fast in the historic setting of Balad, said Fatima Nour, who has a booth where she sells coffee and tea with various flavors. While Nour talked to Saudi Gazette, a number of men approached her and asked for their favorite Arabic coffee or Karak tea. Asked if she has faced any problems while interacting with the crowds of men, Nour said, "I hesitated to participate initially, but my friend convinced me that everything will be normal. I have been here for almost two weeks and nothing unusual has happened; people are now easy about women selling." Nour said she makes around SR600 on good days. At another section, Mariam Abdullah and her two partners looked busy arranging their traditional handmade products. Abdullah said she had participated in a number of heritage festivals, including the National Festival of Culture and Heritage in Janadriyah as well as other festivals that take place periodically in Jeddah. She said many liked her products, the prices of which ranged from SR5 to SR200. Most people go for less expensive products, she said. Abdullah, who holds a high school certificate, said she wanted the rent prices to go down. "The SR10,000 we pay for renting a kiosk during Ramadan is well beyond my budget," she said. Bassam Bin Lajda, who holds a degree in chemical engineering, said he decided to use his talent in design and start a business until he lands a suitable job. His project is to print various designs on clothes, mugs and cushions. The average price for his work is SR30. According to Bin Lajda, he started the project along with a friend with an initial investment of SR10,000. "We bought the equipment and rented a kiosk in the market, where the rent is reasonable for start-up businesses." Asked about the support they needed as young starters, he said, "What all young men badly need to start their businesses is financing."
