Women's Groups In Oman

T-Mag Wednesday 17/May/2017 20:06 PM
By: Times News Service
Women's Groups In Oman

Recently, while watching Bahubali 2, an Indian film that has piqued the attention of global audience for setting up a cinematic benchmark, I was left mesmerised. However, the reason why I went gaga about the movie was not just seeing the glitz and glamour of its making but at how the female protagonist was portrayed in the film. Devasana is everything that Indian cinema needed and perhaps never had. Strong, bold, brave, opinionated, shrewd, and yet feminine, this woman warrior breaks numerous stereotypes that the society attaches women with; be it the delicate damsel in distress incapable of taking things in her own hands and waiting for her knight in shining armour to sort her life or a gold digger who is impressed by wealth and expensive gifts.

This was a fictional film with fictional characters from a land far away. However, every country has its own share of women that are reaching out to people, making a difference, and proudly donning their femininity to break these notions.

In Oman women are already empowered and strong minded who have important roles to play in all spheres of the society. Oman was a pioneer in introducing women in the cabinet and council of ministers, thanks to the forward thinking governance and of course our ever-progressive ruler His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. When such ambitious women come together with a fixed set of goals and aims, then there is nothing that can stop them from achieving it. Here are the three most active women’s group in Oman.

Women’s Guild Oman
While human beings are social animals, women are super social beings who have a dire urge to communicate and socialise. This makes WGO an ideal platform for women belonging to different nationalities, ethnicities, and backgrounds to get together, meet each other, and participate in the various events organised by them.
Founded in 1973 by Hilda Staal, the group had its first meeting with 13 women at Hilda’s home. The group ended up raising OMR 700 from their very first event. The group steadily grew in popularity and number attracting attention for their noble deeds and energetic presence, which has resulted in it growing to over 1,800 members as of 2016. They are actively involved in charitable activities throughout Oman and last year they managed to gather OMR 24,000. WGO, apart from organising events for various charitable organisations, such as coffee mornings where members get together on a Wednesday and chat and discuss about a wide range of topics, the craft fair in which women, both members and non-members can keep their creativity on sale.
Email: [email protected]

Sidab Women’s Group
The group was founded in 2004 by Badriya Al Siyabi with a clear aim of making women a significant earning member of the family. The group was all about pushing women from the coastal town to pursue their skill and turn it into an earning job.
Talented women who would sew or make creative crafts and traditional artefacts were given an opportunity to publicly display and sell their work and earn out of it by means of the group. Today they have more than 100 members, some of whom do exhibitions in Oman and abroad on a regular basis.
Sidab Women’s Group have helped many women especially those living in the interiors of Oman to gain confidence and feel like an important part of the family contributing to the expenses of the household and making them realise that they have got the power.
Contact: +968 9988 1971

American Women’s Group
Although it is called the American Women’s Group, the membership of this organisation is open to all. Started by the then US ambassador’s wife in 1975, the group has taken off with 20 American women to a huge multicultural group with residents belonging to various nationalities exchanging ideas, and participating in various cultural and social activities. The group, which gives due importance to community development has a number of departments including charity, political-economic, and many more, with a member heading the department. The members of the group make a conscious effort to interact with people of different cultures and communities in order to understand the customs and traditions especially of Oman.
Email: [email protected]

[email protected]