Women's work better valued

Embroidery, knitting, sewing, and decorative object works from the women's centres of Fez, on exhibition since 4 July, are worth a detour. And it is the fruit of a year of work and learning by young girls who have dropped out of school, domestic helpers, housewives, residents of hospitals and prison establishments, and even university students and teachers who join the women's centres for the learning of these trades. Women who deserve to be valued, appreciated, and recognised for who they really are. And this, regardless of their level of education and their socio-economic background. "It is a tradition of the delegation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to close the school year with an exhibition of the productions and innovations of the beneficiaries of these establishments. It is for us the culmination and crowning of a year of in-depth work and learning in the fields of textiles, embroidery, computing, aesthetics, culinary art, and training of nursery educators," explains Réda Bellarab, delegate of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Fez. And adds that, subsequently, the delegation tries to collaborate with other administrations and organisations that are interested in women and girls in order to ensure the follow-up of these graduates, whether those who create their own structures or those who are in search of a job. "These actions aim to allow these women, often vulnerable, to learn a trade while safeguarding their dignity and the results are satisfactory with the success of many projects," specifies the latter. In the nine women's centres that the city of Fez houses with the commune of Aïn Bida, professional initiation is offered to women and young girls of all ages and all levels combined, notably with theoretical training that deals with the condition of women, namely gender, human rights, the Family Code, sexually transmitted diseases... and qualifying practical training in various income-generating activities such as porcelain, embroidery, weaving, knitting, household arts, cutting and sewing, painting on silk and glass, hairdressing, aesthetics... To this are added awareness-raising missions on the fight against illiteracy and tailor-made training. And beyond these various activities, the women's centres teach their beneficiaries above all to become aware that they have value, that they can make beautiful work with their hands of which they will be proud and profit from it.

The Women's Centre is an educational and social establishment, falling under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Its services aim to strengthen the capacities of young girls and women with a view to facilitating their economic integration, to provide socio-cultural activities to promote their development, and to promote local activities. The women's promotion service supports the monitoring and financial management of the establishments of 308 women's centres at the national level, the development of programmes, and the organisation of activities carried out within these establishments.

Provider / Source : Rachida Bami, Le Matin