Bazaar to Support Rural Women’s Activity Kicks off in Homs

Homs Grand Hotel hosts the ninth edition of the bazaar “Supporting Women’s Activity”, organized by the Businesswomen Committee at the Homs Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Rural Families Market in the Homs Agriculture Directorate .

The 3-day bazaar includes a wide variety of handmade products, antiques, ornamental plants and folk delicacies that the governorate is known for.

Afaf Al-Hassan, head of the businesswomen committee in Homs, pointed out that the exhibition is periodic and organized by the chamber in order to shed light on the various products of rural women and help them market their products  .

“We are keen every year to attract new women to participate in this event so that they can market their small businesses and create a source of livelihood,” Al Hassan stressed.

Samer Al-Safwa, treasurer of the Homs Chamber of Commerce, stressed that the bazaar includes about 45 participants displaying handmade products from various areas of the governorate, pointing out that the  bazaar   supports the most needy rural families and that the Chamber seeks through these bazaars to support micro-businesses entrepreneurs.

Tarif Mansour, assistant director of the Homs Agriculture Directorate, explained that the Directorate’s participation is represented by seven pavilions displaying distinctive rural products, all of which are sold from the producer to the consumer directly without an intermediary.

Yasser Assaf, sales representative of Al-Mukharram Al-Fawqani area, said that their participation in the bazaar includes rural food products and handicrafts with excellent and healthy specifications made by a group of rural women who run small businesses or work in their homes.

“We market these products through the Rural Products Market of the Directorate of Agriculture in the Environmental Park in the Al-Shamas area at affordable prices.” He added.

Participants Moataz al-Rifai, owner of Maya Kitchen, Mered Jabouri and Nabila Khabbaz stressed that participating in such events is a great opportunity to introduce their products and marketing them not only at the governorate level, but also at the level of other governorates.

“The outstanding handmade works and products require precision and skill in manufacturing, so we offer a product that is distinguished by shape, flavor and price,” they stressed.

Engineer Nagwa Al-Juma said  that she is  participating in the bazaar with a group of aromatic plants, annuals, flowers and fruit trees, which the Syrian environment in general and Homs environment in particular are famous for.

Fatima Khalil, who runs the family project “Nature House” said, “we participate in this bazaar with a range of hair and skin care products made from herbs and herbal oils. Our project offers many job opportunities for young women studying at the University and housewives to secure a source of income. Through our participation in various exhibitions held in the governorate and through our permanent presence in the Environmental Park, we strive to achieve more  progress in our field and provide more job opportunities.”

Interviewed by Amal Farhat