- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudis look to the past to build future
- Date: 24th June 2013
- Summary: AL-METHNAB, SAUDI ARABIA (RECENT - JUNE 13 ,2013) (REUTERS ) VARIOUS OF TWO ELDERLY CLAY BRICK BUILDERS SINGING TRADITIONAL SONG AND TEACHING SAUDI STUDENTS HOW TO MAKE CLAY BRICKS STUDENTS MAKING CLAY BRICKS (AUDIO OF SINGING IN BACKGROUND) ELDERLY BUILDERS SINGING / STUDENTS WORKING IN BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE TEACHER, ALI AL MARZOQI, SAYING: "This course is to explain to students the process of building old buildings, from the foundation, to the construction and, the type of bricks. Even the students themselves will learn about the professions of their parents and their grandparents, to gain knowledge about something that could disappear.'' VARIOUS OF CLAY CASTLE IN THE AL-METHNAB TRADITIONAL VILLAGE CASTLE DOOR VARIOUS OF STUDENT MAKING CLAY BRICKS IN WOODEN MOULD WITH ELDERLY BRICK LAYER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TEACHER, IBRAHIM AL HAMDAN, SAYING: ''I hope, god willing that the Saudi will know (to learn old building methods) so as not be cheated by others. This profession was carried down by people. We're teaching them this, and even if they don't use it, it's enough to have an idea of it. The state didn't hesitate to give every effort to support it.'' STUDENT CARRYING CLAY TO MAKE BRICKS VARIOUS OF STUDENT MAKING CLAY BRICKS STUDENT WALKING THROUGH GATE TO CLAY BRICK BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SITE VARIOUS OF STUDENT RELAYING CLAY BRICKS ON CONSTRUCTION SITE TRAINER BUILDING WALL WITH BRICKS HANDED OVER BY STUDENTS WHILE SINGING TRADITIONAL SONG (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MIDNAB MUNICIPALITY, MOHAMMED AL HAWAS, SAYING: ''We made sure in this workshop that there would be a mix of participants, between the students, and the craftsmen who have the knowledge, and engineers who have the technical skills, who see things from a technical point of view, and engineering point of view.'' VARIOUS OF TRADITIONAL CLAY HOUSES IN THE AL-METHNAB TRADITIONAL VILLAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) STUDENT, SULAIMAN AL RADI, SAYING: ''It's true, that is a tough profession, and I didn't do it during that time. But now it's easier maybe because there are labourers. I feel that it's interesting, even if it is a bit difficult.'' VARIOUS OF TRADITIONAL CLAY HOUSE IN THE AL-METHNAB TRADITIONAL VILLAGE ARABIC COFFEE POT FIXED AS DECORATION ON CLAY WALL TRADITIONAL HOUSE IN THE AL-METHNAB TRADITIONAL VILLAGE
- Embargoed: 9th July 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: History,People
- Reuters ID: LVA9LKMJZGR97XXR15642AS1DH46
- Story Text: Young Saudi men are learning how to build traditional houses using techniques used by their forefathers.
In Saudi Arabia's Al-Methnab's heritage village, the young men are getting their hands dirty, making clay bricks from scratch.
The project is part of an initiative to teach the men not only construction techniques, but to keep the skill of clay brick building alive.
"This course is to explain to students the process of building old buildings, from the foundation, to the construction and, the type of bricks. Even the students themselves will learn about the professions of their parents and their grandparents, to gain knowledge about something that could disappear,'' explained one of the teachers, Ali Al Marzoqi.
The men are taught how to make the clay, which is then put in a mould to make the bricks and then left in the scorching sun to dry.
Even though the men may not build their own homes this way, those involved in the course say it's important for them to know about the techniques.
''This profession was carried down by people. We're teaching them this, and even if they don't use it, it's enough to have an idea of it. The state didn't hesitate to give every effort to support it,'' added teacher Ibrahim Al Hamdan.
Engineers and builders are also teaching the workshops, offering support to the students along the way.
The work may not be for the faint hearted, it's labour intensive and involves lifting heavy bricks, something that some of the young men aren't used to.
''It's true, that it is a tough profession, and I didn't do it during that time. But now it's easier maybe because there are labourers. I feel that it's interesting, even if it is a bit difficult,'' said student Sulaiman Al Radi.
Al -Methnab is in the al-Qassim region, home to a number of heritage sites and traditional mud houses.
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