Puppet shadow theatre workshop held for counsellors in Oman

Muscat: An advanced puppet shadow theatre workshop was conducted for the Ministry of Social Development’s counsellors to help them create awareness on social issues.
The UNFPA’s (United Nations Population Fund’s) sub-regional office for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries held a puppet shadow theatre workshop called ‘Noor Omani’ at the Majan Continental Hotel from September 4 to 8, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD).
Speaking at the occasion, Salah Al Saleh, programme analyst of UNFPA GCC said, “This is the third time that we are doing this project, along with the Arab Puppet Theatre Foundation based in Beirut. The workshop will train MoSD field workers to use this art form and enhance the effectiveness of their work in communicating the right messages to their target group, including orphans, troubled children, families and others.”
The goal is to build the communication skills of the field workers through the fusion art of Puppet Theatre and shadow techniques, to ensure an entertaining and effective outreach to various target groups that include families, children, parents, teachers and others about relevant social issues.
All 23 participants are from the Directorate of Guidance and counselling at the MoSD.
Besides the above, the UNFPA GCC also organised a two-day training session on advanced techniques of shadow theatre for Y-PEER Oman, the Youth Peer Education Network in the country, which is a UNFPA supported global network of young people who are civic-minded and volunteer to educate their peers about all social and youth relevant issues.
“This form of communication tool is a creative method, and we have tested its success through our previous collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, the Oman Disabled Association, and the Association of Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs and Y-PEERs through their edutainment activities. The duration of the performances is flexible, content and situation-based, and can vary from two to 20 minutes on various causes that are relevant to society.”
“It is an important tool to address sensitive topics in a fun, playful, but also emotional manner. The art form also stimulates the use of one’s imagination and seeing life from different perspectives,” Al Saleh added.