The Heritage House, one of the Qatar Social Development Centre’s projects, aims to offer training to the youth in traditional crafts and ensure the continuity of such practises among the new generations of the Qatari society.
The project will also promote the preserving of artisan products, in addition to developing new means to adapt such activities to new international market requirements. Creating new employment opportunities in artefact industry will be also targeted, especially for women.
The House will organize training and counselling sessions for those who are interested in pursuing a career in handicrafts. It will also promote traditional manufacturing specializations, such as sadaw (weaving wool manually), embroidery and naqdah (needlework using gold and silver threads). Naqdah is usually applied in embroidering women’s head covers, men’s robes (bishts), wedding dresses.
The project will also organize field shows in various government organs and bodies as part of these latter’s different activities. The House will particularly participate in relevant local and regional expositions with the aim to promote Qatari traditional manufacturing.
The Heritage House works according to a specific mechanism that involves the preservation of the Qatari heritage and reviving women traditional vocations through targeted promotional and marketing activities.
The House will also offer training opportunities to members of low-income families who are interested in pursuing a career in traditional vocations.
Through this project, the Social development Centre will emphasize the importance of bringing life into tradition through preparing the young generations, especially among women. What will be produced from this venture will also add value to tourism.
The project took part in the Doha 15th Asian Games 2006, where craftswomen created souvenir items for the event. Their products are now permanently displayed at Al-Rumailah Garden.
The Heritage House was initially created in 1998 as a heritage and arts unit at the Vocational Training Department in the Social Development Centre. In 2001, the unit was separated from the centre and was affiliated to the Projects and Investments Department.
The Social Development Centre is a non-profit organization that was created in 1996 under the sponsorship of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Misnad, consort of the Emir of Qatar.
It aims to promote the role of family in society and preserve its integrity and social and financial stability, in addition to assisting low-income families and providing work opportunities and productive projects to their members.
Among the Centre’s tasks also observing the various social phenomena, carrying out relevant scientific studies in this regard as well as providing appropriate suggestions to decision makers.