Princess Ameerah inaugurates the handicrafts training center in Qassim, sponsored by Alwaleed Foundation

The Women's Cooperative Association "Herfa" launched the first training center dedicated to handicrafts for women in Qassim which offers training for women in several vocational sectors and is supported by the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation. The center has offered training courses to 300 ladies in areas of handicrafts, technology, arts, marketing, public relations, hospitality, sales, computer skills and management. The center aims to empower women, develop their productivity and enhance their capacity in functional and technical fields. It also aims to maintain the Saudi heritage and its identity.

HH Princess Ameerah joined HRH Princess Nora Bint Mohammed in a tour around "Herfa" with members of the Board and women leaders to observe its activities and review its accomplishments. Princess Nora noted that Herfa's partnership with Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation is an effective one that aims to preserve the Saudi heritage through developing women's skills in handicrafts.

Princess Ameerah also visited the souk of productive families and handcrafters and commended "Herfa's" efforts in training females and developing women's skills for the production of Saudi artifacts. Her Highness concluded her tour by visiting "Herfa Café" which offers traditional meals and pastries prepared and run by Saudi trained females.

The opening was also attended by members of the Alwaleed Foundation: Mrs. Nora Al-Malki, Executive Manager of Development Projects, Ms. Najla Tarabzouni, Communications and Media Manager, and Mrs. Amal Al Garafi, Office Manager of the vice chairwoman.

"Herfa" seeks to achieve (sustainability) for handcraft work and handicrafts women to support productive families and Saudi craftswomen in developing their own careers to marketing and selling their products and providing all the necessary facilities for the success of their work.

Alwaleed Foundation's Women Empowerment Initiative that is overseeing implementation of Mrs. Nora Al-Malki, aims to support the greatest number of institutions that are active in raising awareness of women's legal rights. Moreover, the initiative supports vocational training programs for aspiring career women across various fields, as well as helping women with limited income learn to design artifacts. In addition to honoring women leaders and featuring their success stories in the society, in an aim to build role models for the youth. The initiative includes various groups of women, some with post-graduate degrees, and others with no university education, including women with no primary education.