The Ministry of Social Development and Family, represented by the Family Empowerment Department, has organised a distinguished workshop for owners of productive projects (Al Watan) under the title “Palestinian Embroidery on Etamine Fabric: Stitching and Craft.”

The workshop was held in cooperation with a group of Gazan women residing in Al Thumama Complex, on Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 4:30pm to 7:30pm at Development Center, Qanat Quartier, The Pearl-Qatar.

The workshop aimed at providing practical and theoretical training to participants on the art of Palestinian embroidery on Etamine fabric, which is part of the rich cultural heritage of the Palestinian people.

Etamine is a type of fabric widely used in the art of Palestinian embroidery. It is characterised by its even texture and the threads arranged in a grid, which facilitates the embroidery process on it.

Palestinian embroidery on Etamine fabric also represents part of the rich cultural heritage of the Palestinian people, and it is an art that expresses identity, stories and traditions. By supporting and promoting this art, an important part of Palestinian history and culture is preserved for future generations.

The women of Gaza provided training sessions that included examining different embroidery techniques, the use of colors, and traditional and modern designs, and explaining some common symbols in designs, such as the eight-pointed star, birds, flowers, and plants.

This workshop touched on how to develop embroidered items and easily incorporate them into many products and designs for clothing products, abayas, home accessories, and bags to be competitive in local and international markets.

For her part, a representative of the women of Gaza expressed her thanks to the Ministry for this opportunity, and praised the great interaction of the participants and their desire to learn this ancient art.

She emphasised the importance of Palestinian embroidery as a means of expressing Palestinian identity and culture, as well as improving income and supporting owners of productive projects for marketing their products, expanding their businesses, and achieving sustainable growth.

Speaking about the workshop, Director of the Family Empowerment Department at the Ministry of Social Development and Family Fatima Al Nuaimi stressed the importance of such initiatives in spreading the culture of awareness of preserving handcrafts in Qatari society and preserving the Palestinian heritage and transmitting it to future generations, in addition to empowering women economically by providing new job opportunities for them.

This workshop comes as part of a series of events and programmes organised by the Ministry of Social Development and Family for supporting productive projects and handicrafts, and encouraging innovation and creativity in Qatari society, while preserving the diverse cultural heritage. 

This is within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to promote heritage crafts that contribute to economic and social development process.