Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette Saudi women making cupcakes at a factory in Jeddah. Women have always had an unavoidable love affair with chocolates and it turns out that there is more than one good reason for loving them. Dark chocolate is actually good for your heart. The flavonoids (anti-oxidants) found naturally in chocolate lower the risk of heart disease by preventing the fat in the blood from oxidizing and clogging up the arteries. Studies have also shown that eating a small portion of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Ladies, remember a small piece not a whole chocolate bar. Eating chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins in the brain which give a feeling of well-being and also the production of serotonin which acts as an anti-depressant. Saudi women in Jeddah have discovered yet another benefit of chocolate; making and molding them attractively to sell them in the market at competitive rates; thereby finding a perfect solution to unemployment. Dalal graduated four years back with a bachelor's degree in sociology. Since then she was searching for a job but unfortunately wasn't able to find one. When she heard of a chocolate factory in need of women to prepare exquisite sweets to be distributed to shops throughout Jeddah, she seized the opportunity and applied for a job.
“My life of boredom and emptiness has been turned 180 degrees into a life of activity, vigor, learning new skills, and doing something for my community. Working at the factory requires patience and precision because we have to make perfectly shaped chocolates and delicate sweets. There is also a lot of physical exertion involved, but I am enjoying it, along with the 24 other women working here that I have met and became friends with,” said Dalal. “I was in a financial crunch so this job came at a much needed time as it has provided me with a reliable source of income for my family. At the factory I work in the packaging department and decorate the chocolate boxes,” said Umm Khalid. “I was quick to learn the skills needed at the factory because much of the work we do here in the kitchen is similar to what we do in our own homes, but of course here more professionalism is required. Ever since I took this job, I have felt more active, productive, and useful and I have developed a sense of teamwork and belonging with my co-workers. Unemployment and not filling my time had negatively affected me and resulted in weight gain, depression, and a feeling of laziness and fatigue,” said Sara, another worker at the factory. More and more well known names in the chocolate and desserts business are eliciting the help of women as the women's dainty hands make them more fit and proficient at preparing the sweet luxuries than men. In addition, women have a better understanding of the culture, tastes, and what Saudi families prefer to serve their guests. Some are mothers and others are recent graduates, but they all work conscientiously with a strong sense of responsibility and strict adherence to hygiene practices. Other women with a more risk-taking and entrepreneurial spirit have used their love of chocolate and skill at making sweet delicacies by opening their own small businesses. Arwa Abduljawad makes mouth-watering cookies, cupcakes, and what she calls chocolate lollipops. She started working from home where her customers were initially family, relatives and friends. After which, her popularity spread by word-of-mouth and she expanded her work and opened her first shop, which is now a thriving business.
