JEDDAH -- The Makkah Society for Development and Social Services and the Eman Cancer Society consider women's employment and health as a key factor for a society's continued development and therefore their most important goal.
Collaborating to achieve this goal, the women's division of these two societies are organizing the 2nd Saudi Working Women Exhibition at the Jeddah International Center for Exhibition and Conferences for four days from Tuesday. The exhibition is being held in association with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
"We will provide information on the jobs and businesses available for women," said Nayla Attar, director of the women's division at MSDSS, at a press conference.
In addition to the many employment agencies and training centers participating in the exhibition, there will also be lectures and career guidance workshops by professional women in the various sectors including health, education, commerce and banking.
The opening ceremony is on Tuesday evening by invitation only under the auspices of Princess Sarah Al-Anqari, wife of Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed. The exhibition is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The objectives of the forum are to enlighten women on their career potential and rights, to develop their personal and professional skills, and facilitate direct contact between women seeking jobs and companies recruiting employees.
One of the important sections at the exhibition is for women working from their homes. It is a chance for these women to demonstrate and distribute their products which could range from research and computer work to specialized products and services.
"The producing families are families whose members work together at producing mainly handicrafts as an extra source of income," said Attar.
The goal of the MSDSS is to help people help themselves and it provides many training opportunities to such families to develop their skills and market their products, especially those living in remote areas. Their products include clothing items, artifacts, and homegrown crops and animals and other food products. These programs have been so successful that a store called Rawaj at Jamjoom Center in Jeddah and another in Makkah International Market in Makkah were opened to sell these family products.
To make the experience enjoyable and convenient for women, there will be a children's section where they can leave them at the care of professionals, as well as two cafeterias. Between 3,000 and 5,000 women are expected to attend the exhibition.
The survey conducted at the 1st Saudi Working Women Exhibition, which took place in May 2003 at the Meridien Hotel and was attended by more than a 1,000 women, showed that 96 percent thought the exhibition was a great idea and asked to have it repeated at a bigger place and for a longer period.
Maha Akeel
© Arab News 2004
