Saudi women are refusing to accept their unemployment by hosting a bazaar showcasing their skills and products at Sultan Mall on Saturday. More than 60 families contributed to the make-shift festival entitled “Let's Support the Productive Families” under the patronage of Prince Abdullah Bin Turki Al-Saud. Prince Turki said he hopes to give Saudi families the opportunity to demonstrate their skills making items relating to the heritage of the Kingdom. “Showing handmade products in such festivals is the only way tourists, as well as the new generation of Saudis, will know about the traditions of the Kingdom. Refai Al-Arifi, general manager of Hakan Agency for Marketing and Promotion, said that the main goal behind holding such an event is to provide women with an environment to start their small projects. According to Al-Arifi, Jeddah has always been a tourist city. So festivals like this are not uncommon, however these women are showing how they are taking the issue of unemployment head -on, which is new for the city. Some customer favorites include children's hair accessories, handmade baskets, handmade tissue box covers as well as a variety of sweets. Many of the participants in the festival did not complete their education. Women such as Nariman Hassan did not finish high school and was unable to find a job. Instead she chose to work using her hands creating small items and selling them during the summer festivals. “I've taken part in several festivals, both in the summer and the winter. The latest was the Young Business Expo two days ago,” Hassan said. “I pay thousands of riyals to rent less than a meter to show my products. At the end of a festival like this I can earn roughly SR8000.” Wafa'a Jouda, 38, a Saudi woman who graduated from King Abdul Aziz University ,could not find a job for eight years. She said she considers bazaars and festivals good opportunities to showcase her work, which she says was done all from home. __
