Bahla student start-up wins first prize for craft selling app

AMAL AL RIYAMI

NIZWA, SEP 19

A mobile application to sell traditional crafts won a student start-up from Bahla first place in the schools in a competition organised by Injaz Oman Foundation. It will represent Oman at the Arab level.

Craft from Belarab bin Sultan School developed Hrfah app aimed to market traditional crafts. The supervisor of the project, Bader al Humaimi, said: "Our students possess great potential and abilities. They can achieve great things in life if there is someone to inspire and motivate them. The school is the strong engine of this determination, and therefore we are always keen to provide professional guidance to the students. The school is keen to participate in competitions like the one conducted by Injaz Oman to encourage students to establish start-ups.”

" This year, our student company tapped smart applications to market the crafts of Bahla in particular and Al Dakhiliyah in general. It focused on the cultural heritage like pottery, palm fronds and silverware. This helped them to win the award,” al Humaimi said.

Azzan al Busaidi, the trainer on the team, said: “I congratulate the student company Craft for winning first place and representing the Sultanate at the Arab level. Hrfah app facilitates marketing of craft products and their delivery to all governorates instead of focusing in specific states. Members of Craft Company have proven the determination to work with a product that keeps pace with the times. We noticed their professionalism throughout the competition.”

Issa al Rajhi, Career Guidance Supervisor, said, “The students at Belarab Bin Sultan School set up Craft backed by the school’s career guidance specialist and under the supervision of the Vocational Guidance and Student Guidance Department. Thanks go to the school administration and to my colleagues in the vocational guidance department, the students we won the award. Last year we won first place for the best product in this competition and we are pleased to represent the Sultanate this year in the international forum. We hope to win more prizes.”

Hilal al Riyami, School Principal, said: “We congratulate the team for winning first place in Injaz Oman Competition. The company specialises in online marketing of traditional handicrafts, which comes in line with the requirements and directions of the government to give market access to Bahla crafts people’s products. The team has vowed that they will continue to work and will not stop at the Injaz Oman award or the Injaz Al Arab competitions. They will seek to create more job opportunities. Our goal is to build a sustainable professional center in the school that creates generations of entrepreneurs.”

Osama bin Nasser al Rabkhi, who is a team member, said, “After the stress and efforts, we thank Allah for obtaining the first place for the best company in the Sultanate. My role is CEO of Craft Company. We have always been keen to work as a team and benefited from each other's experiences. And we are ready to go for the next stage and represent the Sultanate at the Arab level.”