Productive Youth Initiative helps handicraft business expand

AMMAN — Ra’ad Al Bitar’s small-scale handicraft business gained momentum thanks to a Royal Court initiative.

As part of the Productive Youth Initiative, launched by the Royal Hashemite Court in 2019, Bitar’s received training, which helped him develop his sculpture business.

In 2013 Bitar and his cousin started learning calligraphy sculpture on ceramic in both the Arabic and English scripts. “We have always wanted to start our own business,” Bitar  told The Jordan times.

Bitar was among the beneficiaries of the Productive Youth Initiative who showcased their products to Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania last Tuesday.

According to Princess Taghrid Institute for Development and Training, which had a role in the implementation of the initiative, 35 young Jordanians have received training in the first phase to enhance the quality of their products and market them online following international standards.

In 2015, Bitar decided to open his business. He started off by taking part in bazaars. In 2019, Princess Taghrid Institute contacted him to join the Productive Youth Initiative.

“The training helped us in creating new ideas for our products,” he said, adding that he received substantive support from specialised personnel who helped him improve and market his products.

“I look forward to expanding my workshop in the future as we create more products for more clients,” he said.

“Handicraft work has always been my passion. I enjoy doing what I do, and I am grateful and happy for all the support I received from Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania,” he said.