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Muscat: A senior Sultan Qaboos University official has called for joint government and private sector initiatives to encourage women's participation, especially in the community development.
"It is important to have governmental and private sector establishments standing side by side to boost women's participation in community development," Sayyida Muna Bint Fahad Bin Mahmoud Al Said, Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for External Co-operation at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), said at a function held to honour members of the Sidab Women's Sewing Group (SWSG) on Monday night.
The SWSG is a non-profit, non-governmental social project that helps women from the fishing hamlet of Sidab earn some income through sewing activities, the products of which are directly marketed by the group.
The group was started with four women from Sidab by US-educated banker Badriya Al Siyabi and in four years it has grown to around 35 active members. The group now also has support from Shell Development Oman.
"This distinctive social project reflects the capabilities and creativity of the Omani people in different fields," said Sayyida Muna. The members make shopping bags, tissue box covers and bottle covers made of calico and decorated with traditional Omani designs.
Shell has supported the SWSG by providing a training and development programme, allowing the group to develop not only their sewing skills, but also their management and marketing capabilities.
Talking about Shell's backing, Al Mutassim Bin Said Al Sariri, Social Investment Manager at Shell Development Oman, said: "We renovated one of Sidab's programme rooms and converted it into a gallery to display all the products."
Sixty-three women, who either visit the SWSG premises in Sidab or take work at home, were honoured by Sayyid Muna at the function held at the Shangri La's Barr Al Jizza Resort and Spa.
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