RIYADH — The Saudi-registered Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation chaired by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal participated in the Hawiya 2 (Identity 2) event through the Seleslah Center for Arts and Heritage in Jeddah last Saturday. The event was organized by Al-Faisalya Women's Welfare Society led by Princess Fahda Bint Saud at Park Hyatt Hotel. Held under the support of Princess Mashael Bint Abdulaziz, the event was attended by many women leaders and professionals. It aimed at empowering Saudi women at the Seleslah Center economically, develop and market their products locally and globally. It also sought to promote Saudi heritage and culture and support orphans sponsored by Al-Faisalya Society. A gown designed by the women in Sleslah Center was sold in an auction for the benefit of the Orphans' Center at Princess Hessah Bint Khalid Center for Social Development. Princess Fahda said Hawiya is of great significance because of its role in connecting the new generation of young Saudi women with their heritage. She added that this year's products line reflected long hours of dedicated efforts in detailed designing. This year's event also witnessed the launch and expansion of the new Hawiya center, which specializes in designing and producing apparel and jewelry in partnership with a number of local designers and artists. Seleslah Center is considered one of the most important projects of creative handicrafts (Taseel) as part of Alwaleed Foundation's Women's Empowerment Initiative (Hama). Hama aims to support women's empowerment issues, emphasize their leadership within society, develop their productivity and enhance their capacity in functional and technical fields. Saturday's event was also attended by Najla Tarabzouni, communications and media manager and Noura Al-Ghunaiman, coordinator at Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation. Meanwhile, the foundation extended its support to a course of psychotherapy art for the benefit of the Charitable Society for Autism Families in Riyadh. The course aims to train specialists of art therapy, which has been scientifically proven to be effective in modifying the condition of autism and other psychiatric diseases. The course will be supervised by academics with field experience, specializing in every aspect of the course session, which will be held by the Autism Research and Treatment Center licensed by King Abdullah Institute for Research and Consulting Studies at King Saud University. The course, which aims to train 20 specialists (male and female), will be held over two sessions a year. The Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation is involved in a wide spectrum of humanitarian and philanthropic activities in more than 80 countries. Its main focus areas have been strategic initiatives, ranging from disaster relief and community development to women and youth empowerment, as well as promoting intercultural understanding. — SG
