Heritage of 19 countries in a charity bazaar for the ladies of the Diplomatic Club

Artifacts, handicrafts and food products representing the heritage of 19 countries were exhibited in the charity bazaar held on Saturday by the ladies of the Diplomatic Club in Syria at the Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus.

The profits of the charitable bazaar go to civil associations that care for orphans, disabled, elderly and widows in the city of Aleppo. Representatives of a number of associations attended the opening of the bazaar  with the participation of small business owners from different governorates.

The opening of the bazaar included the presentation of drawings and messages for children from Aleppo, in which they expressed their hopes for the future, and a lyrical piece presented by opera singer Somaya al-Hallaq.

In a speech during the opening ceremony, the President of the Diplomatic Club, the wife of the South African Ambassador to Syria Reneva Fourier, stressed that the bazaar is a sign of international cooperation and solidarity with Syria and its people, and an opportunity to express the strength of those relations.

Honorary President of the Syrian Diplomatic Club, Shukria Al-Miqdad, indicated that the bazaar is a voluntary and charitable work, in addition to being cultural, social, humanitarian and heritage activity that expresses solidarity and interaction between diplomats and the Syrian society. 

The participants in the bazaar expressed their solidarity with Syria. Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, Barry Gilder, noted  that his country participates in a number of hand-made products that show the African heritage.

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Syria and Lebanon, pointed out that the donations during the bazaar contribute to alleviating the suffering of people due to the effects of war, pointing out that Sri Lanka, which suffered from the war, today sends a message of solidarity with the friendly people of Syria by supporting the sale of products and projects to Sri Lankan women seeking to improve their economic conditions.

In turn, Dr. “Rokhsana Khan,” the wife of the Pakistani Ambassador to Syria, indicated that the handicrafts, accessories and bags displayed in her country’s pavilion are made by Pakistani women seeking to market their products within small projects in the villages and towns of Pakistan. The profits of these products will help women and children in Syria, she added.

For his part, the cultural attaché at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Damascus, Timofey Bokov, drew attention to the importance of the diplomatic club’s activity in the charitable field. He noted that his country always participates in such events to provide humanitarian aid as it is an occasion to display handicrafts and traditional and popular artifacts that those interested can purchase.

Chargé d’Affaires of the Sudanese Embassy, Tariq Abdullah Al-Tom, in turn, highlighted the deeply rooted friendly relations that unites his country and Syria. Sudan participates in various exhibits representing the various cultures in his country.

Hala Al-Aklouk from the Palestinian Embassy in Damascus affirmed that her country’s participation is a mutual message of support between the two countries, clarifying that the exhibits are works of the Palestine Girls Club Foundation that express the Palestinian heritage.

The wife of the Ambassador of the Republic of Venezuela in Damascus, Jessica Gonzalez, indicated that the products offered by the embassy focus on the artworks of the Venezuelan Indians, in addition to displaying traditional Venezuelan musical instruments such as the guitar and the quarto.

20 women from Al-Suwayda and its villages presented handicrafts and their small projects with the support and finance of the  United Nations Development Program. 

In turn, a number of members of the associations that benefit from the profits of the bazaar, who came from Aleppo to Damascus, clarified how to benefit from these donations.

Opera singer Sumaya al-Hallaq, who presented during the bazaar a song from the international play “Carmen”, indicated that she works with one of the charitable associations benefiting from the bazaar in Aleppo, which seeks to educate children through music, drawing and psychological support.

Minister of Education Dr. Darem Al-Tabbaa, a number of members of the People’s Assembly, directors of departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, ambassadors and diplomatic missions accredited in Damascus and members of the Diplomatic Club attended the opening ceremony.

Inas Abdulkareem