Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA – The cultural event “Ishtar 2” started its activities on Saturday at Dar al-Assad for Culture and Arts in Damascus with the participation of 40 civil associations.
The event entitled “A Homeland in Woman’s Spirit from Damascus to Aleppo” included a bazaar, an exhibition for handmade and professional materials made by Syrian women and a photograph exhibition with pictures depicting aspects of the destruction inflicted on Aleppo by terrorists.
The festival comes as a continuation of the formerly held “Ishtar” activity that started last year to encourage and support small projects, in addition to highlighting the Syrian woman’s role in society and her ability to challenge troubles, said Afaf Sheikh al-Basatneh, the Media Coordinator at the Syria Trust for Development, a co-organizer of
“Ishtar 2”.
“Al-Um Bitlem” (Mother Unites) association took part in organizing and holding the event.
One of the participants noted that the event aims at conveying a message to the world that the Syrian woman still produces and works in defiance of the circumstances and challenges imposed on her and the entire Syrian people by the crisis in the country.
Minister of Social Affairs Kinda al-Shammat was present at the event and expressed the government’s support for each and every social and civil initiative that could contribute to developing local communities.
Minister of Culture Issam Khalil also was there and stressed that the Ministry pays great attention to whatever event and activity that shows Syria’s real cultural face, hailing the efforts which women put in service of the society.
The previous cultural event “Ishtar” was launched in March, 2014, in cooperation between the ministries of Culture, Information and Social Affairs, “Al-Um Bitlem” association and the Syria Trust for Development.
It dedicated its activities to help wives and mothers of martyrs, displaced women and prominent female figures in the society.
Reem/H. Said
