Handicrafts on brink of dying out [Archives:2003/675/Last Page]
October 9 2003
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Handicraft industries as historians point out are not just tales about development of man's skills but rather a record of the way a society has developed and progressed.
In order to overcome their economic crisis, the developing countries entirely depend on establishing small enterprises especially handicrafts for their fighting poverty programs. Though the traditional handicraft is no longer able to keep pace with market consumption but still it remains as a mirror reflecting people's memory. In Yemeni markets for instance, the handicraft industry has not gained ample attention of the consumers, especially at this age of globalization and products are flooding our markets. Under non-provision of protection for those occupations many people who have been depending on these professions for developing their income would be affected greatly.
Since time immemorial, Yemen if compared to any other countries in the Arab region is famous for this industry. Skilled and dexterous craftsmen are considered the pillars behind such beautiful masterpieces.
That industry has been still handed from one generation to another. The artistry of those industries is totally based on their original legacy and that is why it has gained a wide popularity.
Despite of imported products flooding our markets particularly, handcrafts, the industry has been still lacking proper preservation effort by the government.
The United Nations Development Program, UNDP, has offered an indispensable assistance to preserve some of those handicraft industries. As a result, an agreement was signed with Urban Cultural Heritage Strategy and Development Program, UCHP to establish two centers for preserving handicraft industries, which are threatened by dying out.
One has been allocated for craftswomen and the other for craftsmen. This positive step has come as part of the government's main objectives and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, towards preserving the Old City of Sana'a and reviving those ancient industries.
The center has been established at the center of the Old Sana'a. But there are some difficulties that have been facing those craftsmen such as, assistance which has come to a halt.
It continued till 1990. It is supposed for the government to run and support this center as the UNDP does in order to provide training wages for trainers affiliated to the center. The center also lacks well-qualified cadres and support. At last, the concerned bodies at the ministry of culture and tourism have to pay full attention to these crafts. The date for declaring Sana'a as Culture Capital for 2004 is approaching. What is needed is to make Sana'a the Cultural Capital forever and not just for 2004.
Without any doubt, those industries greatly constitute to be the mainstay of supporting nation's revenues and also considered to be a significant aspect of tourism promotion.
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