SAUDI ARABIA: A charcoal plant in Unaizah, north of Riyadh, offers Saudi women an environmental-friendly employment opportunity.

Record ID: 189467

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: A charcoal plant in Unaizah, north of Riyadh, offers Saudi women an environmental-friendly employment opportunity.
  • Date: 11th May 2014
  • Summary: UNAIZAH, SAUDI ARABIA (MAY 10,2014) (REUTERS ) VARIOUS OF VEILED SAUDI WOMAN PREPARING WHITE LIQUID WHICH WILL BE ADDED TO WASTE OF TREES IN CHARCOAL FACTORY WOMAN POURING LIQUID INTO LARGE POT WOMAN STIRRING MIXTURE VARIOUS OF TWO WOMEN EMPTYING MIXTURE INTO A PLASTIC BASIN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHAIRWOMAN OF THE QATRA WOMEN'S CHARITY ASSOCIATION IN UNAIZAH, FATIMA AL-TURKI, SAYING: "We are 22 women, we founded the association with nine board members. We have not found a headquarters for the association, so me and my children have lent our house (to be used as a charcoal factory) to the association for three years." VARIOUS OF WOMEN WORKERS POURING WHITE MIXTURE INTO AN INDUSTRIAL MIXER WOMEN OPERATING MIXER WHITE MIXTURE TURNING BLACK WOMAN CARRYING A BASIN FULL OF BLACK MIXTURE VARIOUS OF WOMAN PUTTING MIXTURE INTO A MACHINE TURN WHICH COMPRESSES THE MATERIAL AND TURNS IT INTO A CYLINDRICAL SHAPE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHAIRWOMAN OF THE QATRA WOMEN'S CHARITY ASSOCIATION IN UNAIZAH, FATIMA AL-TURKI, SAYING: "Usually a woman's role is confined to the kitchen. We show that she can fulfill other jobs just like men. We thought of a plant, a charcoal factory, because it is environmentally friendly and because those who work in the factory can earn an income to help support their families." WOMEN IN FACTORY MAKE CHARCOAL CYLINDERS CYLINDERS BEING PLACED ON A TABLE WOMAN CUTTING CYLINDERS VARIOUS OF WOMAN CARRYING A TRAY OF CYLINDER-SHAPED CHARCOAL AND PLACING IT ON A SHELF TO DRY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) WORKER AT THE CHARCOAL FACTORY, FAWZIYA SULYMAN, SAYING: "I am an employee at the charcoal factory, environment-friendly charcoal (made from) farm waste. We make two types of charcoal out of it: for barbecues and for incense. It is all made of natural materials, free of chemicals and lead." VARIOUS OF CHARCOAL CYLINDERS DISPLAYED ON TRAYS IN DRYING AREA (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED WORKER, SAYING: "I work at the charcoal factory to earn myself an income in order to help my family pay their bills. Thankfully I am happy with my work and am convinced (it is good)." WOMAN SWITCHING A MACHINE ON MACHINE CUTTING CHARCOAL FOR INCENSE VARIOUS OF WOMEN PICKING UP CHARCOAL FROM CONVEYER BELT, PLACING IT ON TRAY WOMAN CARRYING TRAY TO DRYING AREA WOMEN WALKING IN FRONT OF BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Business,Employment
  • Reuters ID: LVA12E00SLLS1D8CZ3X2ZSIOVQZZ
  • Story Text: In a country which bans women from driving, opening a bank account or travelling overseas without their father's or husband's permission, a business in the Saudi city of Unaizah offers woman a rare opportunity to make a living.
    Sponsored by the Qatra Women's Charity Association, the charcoal plant makes natural charcoal out of farm waste in the central city, located in al-Qassim Province, some 350 kilometres (217.4 miles) north of Riyadh.
    The region, home to more than seven million palm trees and thousands of farms, produces tonnes of waste from trees and fronds. Instead of burning the waste, the organisation uses it to make environmentally-friendly charcoal and help women provide for their families.
    Fatima al-Turki, who founded the women's charity, said a lack of resources prompted her to turn a part of her home into a small charcoal factory, which employs a group of six Saudi women.
    "Usually a woman's role is confined to the kitchen. We show that she can fulfill other jobs just like men. We thought of a plant, a charcoal factory, because it is environmentally friendly and because those who work in the factory can earn an income to help support their families," al-Turki said.
    She said she taught the women how to use the factory machinery and how to manufacture natural charcoal to be used mainly for heating, grilling and incense.
    The plant waste is brought to the factory by a contractor. The workers then filter the waste, blend it with various materials and cut the final mixture into small cylindrical-shaped pieces. They dry and package the charcoal, then hand it over to other family members, who take care of marketing the product in various Saudi cities.
    Employees at the factory said their product was entirely natural.
    "I am an employee at the charcoal factory, environment-friendly charcoal (made from) farm waste. We make two types of charcoal out of it: for barbecues and for incense. It is all made of natural materials, free of chemicals and lead," said employee Fawziya Sulyman.
    Another employee said the job allowed her to makemeet.
    "I work at the charcoal factory to earn myself an income in order to help my family pay their bills. Thankfully I am happy with my work and am convinced (it is good)," added another worker.
    The women's charity says the factory produces around 300 kg (661 lb) of charcoal per day and says it hopes to expand production and hire more women in the future.
    It also hopes a government ban on the cutting and selling of trees for firewood will help them reach new markets.
    Restrictions on where women can work in the Muslim country are steadily being relaxed. In the past few years, women have been allowed to replace men as sales professionals in lingerie and cosmetics shops and to work as waitresses in the women's sections of restaurants.
    King Abdullah has pushed for cautious social and economic reforms in the world's top oil exporter, including efforts to give women a more prominent role in society.
    But the King's reform efforts, such as appointing women to the advisory Shoura Council and promoting female employment, have sometimes incurred opposition among conservatives in the country's powerful Wahhabi clergy.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register