A variety of colorful crocheted items including teddy bears, coasters, handbags, hats, scrunchies, vases with heart-shaped flowers, among many others, are displayed in a hall in Upper Egypt's charming city of Aswan.
The exhibition of handmade products is organized by Egypt's National Council for Women (NCW) on the sidelines of the ongoing sixth edition of the Aswan International Women Film Festival (AIWFF), which opened on Feb. 23 and will conclude by the end of the month, according to Xinhua.
"The NCW offers opportunities for a lot of women here to take part in exhibitions and helps them develop their projects and introduces them to new markets," 28-year-old crafter Fatma Kamal said.
"My wish is to see my project grow and to have my own brand and a place for my products," she added, noting this event is an opportunity for craftswomen to market their products and be introduced to more customers.
The handmade pieces on display include embroidered and crochet products, leather-straw handbags, beaded ornaments, paintings and other items.
Zainab Abdel-Rahim, a 30-year-old woman with deafness, displayed her charcoal paintings of dark-skinned female faces symbolizing Aswan women. Her works also include an oil painting featuring the iconic Philae temple complex in Aswan.
In another corner of the hall, Neama Khalafallah, in her late 20s, was using a bead loom to create handmade beaded products, such as cellphone pouches, key holders, earrings, bracelets, and other ornaments.
"I take training courses with the NCW and apply them in a little project with my family members," Khalafallah said.
"We would like everyone to come, visit and encourage us. Moral support is more important to us than financial support," the young woman added.
The NCW provides training for thousands of women nationwide to develop their craft skills, market their products and connect them with business leaders.
May Mahmoud, head of the women business development center at the NCW, said the center is mainly concerned with economic empowerment of women across the country.
"When a woman is economically empowered, it means that she has an income to provide for herself and her family side by side with her husband," the official noted.
"A woman's social and political empowerment comes after her economic empowerment," she emphasized.
Mahmoud Khallaf, a physical therapist from Cairo who came to Aswan for a medical conference, bought two bead necklaces, one for his daughter and another for his wife, and a key holder, in the shape of Nubian cartoon character Bakkar, for his son.
"This is my first time visiting Aswan. It's a beautiful city with very friendly people. So I believe their handmade products are unique, rare and of high quality," he said.
Another customer was Aida Schlaepfer Al-Hassani, a Swiss filmmaker of Arab origin who has a documentary film competing at the week-long AIWFF.
Al-Hassani bought a couple of bracelets made of colorful beads and stones, along with two coasters.
"I like to encourage handmade crafts and we in Switzerland love such unique items. The best souvenir you can get from a country is that made by the hands of its people," the Swiss woman added
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