Charity bazaar returns to Nasiriyah with new features, supporting local artisans

DHI QAR — The charity bazaar for handicrafts and traditional trades has returned to the gardens of Nasiriyah Park in the city center after a six-month summer break. Organized by the “Plant for a More Beautiful Homeland” team, the bazaar has been held every Friday since 2020 in collaboration with the Women’s Affairs Department of the provincial government and the Nasiriyah Municipality.

“This year’s bazaar is different from previous years,” said Wisam Al-Asadi, the event’s organizer. “We are now collecting a small portion of the participants’ annual profits to fund tree-planting campaigns in the city. We also have an art exhibition and participation from local bookstores. We hope to expand it into a mobile bazaar that can tour tourist areas and universities in the future.”

Al-Asadi highlighted that the bazaar provides a valuable opportunity for artisans to showcase and market their products. “Since 2020, it has been a platform for various initiatives, including painting exhibitions and competitions, while also supporting community service projects, such as tree-planting campaigns.”

One of the participants, Umm Hussein, shared her positive experience: “The bazaar gave me the chance to display my products. I focus on decorating glass items based on customer requests, whether it’s painting on cups and plates or printing on them. It has allowed me to generate income for my family.”

Ruaa Raad, a member of the organizing committee, explained the choice of Nasiriyah Park as the venue. “We selected this location because families enjoy coming here during holidays, and it’s a comfortable space for participants to display their goods. Most of them are artisans, including artists and painters, along with graduates and the unemployed.”

Mohammed Salem, owner of the mobile bookstore ‘Haa’, emphasized the importance of promoting reading through his participation. “I brought books to the bazaar to encourage reading and purchasing. With the bazaar’s wide popularity, it was essential for us to be here. We hope more initiatives like this will emerge, and that we receive more government support, especially for book fairs, to promote scientific knowledge and develop reading skills in Dhi Qar.”

The charity bazaar, now featuring art exhibits and new participants, aims to continue serving as a platform for both artisans and community-driven projects. Plans are underway to expand the bazaar to various regions of Nasiriyah, including historical sites like the city of Ur and the Ziggurat, as well as universities.