The 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Office of Supporting Women-Bearing Women at Nahdhat Bahrain Girl Association

24-12-2019

Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, the training workshop “Empowering Women Heads of Households: Development and Challenges” was inaugurated today, Sunday. Organised by the Bahrain Young Ladies Association to mark the tenth anniversary of the Society’s Office for Supporting Women Heads of Households, the event was attended by the Chairwoman of the Society’s Board of Directors, Ms Samira Abdullah, together with specialists from inside and outside the Kingdom of Bahrain, including relevant civil society organisations, as part of an exchange of expertise on programmes to empower women heads of households. This specialised two‑day workshop will address key themes, notably an examination of the lived reality of women breadwinners in Bahrain, identifying principal causes and consequences; economic, social and psychological challenges; access to service sources; family issues; and gaps in social performance. It will also consider the role of non‑governmental organisations and governmental organisations in supporting women breadwinners; the shift in support from maintenance to empowerment; performance measurement with proposed development opportunities; and how to leverage successful international experiences alongside economic‑empowerment programmes within the Society’s projects. In his opening remarks, Humaidan praised the Bahrain Young Ladies Association, founded in the 1950s, and its many initiatives to support and empower Bahraini women. These include the Office for Supporting Women Heads of Households, which complements state institutions and bodies such as the Supreme Council for Women and the Royal Charity Organisation to advance women’s economic and social empowerment. He highlighted the Ministry of Labour and Social Development’s support for Bahraini women through state social assistance for women breadwinners and those on limited incomes; training, employment and unemployment‑insurance programmes—of which a large share of beneficiaries are women; and encouragement to participate in the Khatwa Home‑Based Business Programme. Humaidan commended the Association’s initiative to honour the late Mrs Wedad Al Maskati and the importance of commemorating her at this event; she was a pioneer of women’s work in Bahrain and a leading figure in civil society organisations and women’s associations in the Kingdom. For her part, the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, Mrs Samira Abdullah, reviewed milestones since the Association’s founding in 1955, including laying the foundations of women’s civil‑society work; advocating for women’s rights and issues; and elevating women’s cultural, educational and social standing so they contribute positively to development across fields of work, growth and construction. Day one featured a presentation documenting the work of the Office for Supporting Women Heads of Households affiliated with the Bahrain Young Ladies Association. The programme also honoured the late Ms Wedad Al Maskati, a founder of both the Association and the Women Head of Household Support Office, and recognised sponsors and supporters, including the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, and the Rashid Al Zayani Charitable Foundation, alongside distinguished participants from the Office’s projects. The second day will comprise training and skills development for women heads of households.