Muscat: The Omani Women's Association (OWA) in Muscat is participating in the 26th Muscat International Book Fair (MIBF) at the Oman International Convention and Exhibition Center through a special pavilion in the exhibition. The pavilion showcases the role of women, their entrepreneurial activities, and products they make at home or craft centres. The women are also taking part in many cultural activities (lectures and dialogue sessions), art workshops, and a permanent exhibition to display plastic art, calligraphy, and sculpture paintings.
Omani women have always been actively taking part in international cultural events and exhibiting the roles played by the OWA.
In the MIBF there are 114 cultural activities. The OWA is taking part in some of the important events related to their local community engagements.
The OWA's stall has emerged as an important joint for those interested in the association's activities, as some volunteers are seen displaying and selling the association's publications, garment products, silver collections etc.
There has been a visual presentation detailing the association's activities, events, and achievements, as the OWA claims to have implemented a number of technical workshops during the exhibition period.
The association's events include a drawing workshop, sailing with colours workshop, reading stories for children a recycling workshop, a paper-wrapping workshop a Diwani calligraphy workshop, a lecture "education begins with who", and an initial dialogue session on citizenship and its impact on the development of culture and community development in the Sultanate of Oman.
Najat bint Saad al Busaidi, Head of the Media Committee of the Omani Women's Association, said: "Women aim to register their presence at the 26th Muscat International Book Fair to enhance awareness and knowledge of the Omani woman through by taking part in the Book Fair, Omani woman always stood for development along with men to raise social awareness and support cultural, intellectual and economic movements.
The OWA corner was distinguished by the attendance of a number of publications by the Omani Women's Association members, like Shurooq magazine and social studies prepared by the members to know the community needs and priorities upon which the association set its plans.
The association's corner attracted visitors for its display of art and craft works, distinct Omani jewellery, paintings and products like environmental bags. The association has successfully produced environment-friendly women's and men's bags that also have a touch of Omani heritage.
Badriya bint Nasser al Wahaibi, a member of the Development and Innovation Committee of the OWA, mentioned that the association will arrange a dialogue on 'The priority of citizenship, identity, heritage and national culture and its impact on the development of culture and community development'.
It will be held on the sidelines of the exhibition on Saturday (March 5) with the participation of the members of the association, specialists from the State Council, Sultan Qaboos University, Shaikh Ali al Mahrouqi, Member of the State Council and International Ambassador for Social Responsibility and recipient of the Excellence Award in the field of Social Responsibility for the year 2021, Dr Hamid al Saidi from the Ministry of Education.
The discussion will focus on Oman's Vision 2040 and its impact on the development of culture and community development, civil associations, including the OWA, in promoting digital citizenship in light of globalisation, the industrial revolution and information and the role of social media in promoting the values of citizenship and preserving the Omani identity.
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