HE Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, the Minister of Social Development and Family, opened the second edition of the exhibition of national productive projects, ‘Home Grown’s Bazaar’, during the Holy Month of Ramadan at the garden of the Museum of Islamic Art. The five-day event is being held in cooperation with the Museum.

The number of participants in this year’s bazaar reaches 20 projects, ranging from productive projects ‘Home Grown’ that include food products, local foods, textiles, various handicrafts, workshops for children, ceramics, honey, baked goods, coffee, ice cream, roses and social initiatives that aim to raise community awareness of the importance of sustainability.

In her statement on the occasion, Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs at the ministry HE Sheikha Shaikha bint Jassim Al Thani said the family sector, represented by the Family Empowerment Department, encourages and supports innovative and creative Qatari youth in all fields.

She noted that this event is held as part of keenness to achieve the ministry’s vision towards directing the efforts of institutions concerned with women and families economically, encouraging them to be self-reliant and developing and implementing projects to support and develop entrepreneurs through training and providing auxiliary services as well as providing areas to market their products.

She added that the Family Affairs Sector always seeks to encourage the owners of productive projects by providing a sustainable environment in coordination with the relevant authorities to facilitate the marketing of the products of the productive projects’ owners as well as supporting development initiatives directed at empowering individuals and families economically, in addition to providing guidance, technical consultations to achieve stability for owners of national productive projects in the country.

Sheikha Shaikha said work was done to develop the second edition of the bazaar by increasing the number of participants, adding social initiatives and international painters, and focusing on products that are characterised by sustainability and recycling. 

She stressed that the national productive projects are one of the most important strategies for the family sector in the ministry to provide protection for some families that produce many food products, crafts and handicrafts, pointing out that the success of these projects pushes young entrepreneurs and families to replicate them and search for entrepreneurial ideas to develop them.

She noted the ministry’s keenness on participating in ‘Home Grown’ projects in many events in the country, and considered this participation a great opportunity for families to present their home projects and introduce the public to the most important Qatari products that bear the ‘Home Grown’ identity.

Director of the Museum of Islamic Art Shaikha Nasser Al Nassr said the cooperation between the Ministry of Social Development and Family and the Museum of Islamic Art by hosting a ‘Home Grown’s Bazaar’ for national production projects’ in the Museum’s Garden, comes as part of Qatar Museums’ efforts to support project owners and promote the culture of sustainability.

She added that this cooperation includes diverse programmes like seminars and training courses, noting that various activities will be organised during the bazaar, including drawing sessions and workshops for children, in addition to distinctive educational programmes. She hoped that this cooperation would continue an annual basis.