Bedouin masks for the environment

Salam Aleikum! (May peace be with you)

In line with current events in the world and Oman, I decided to write a little about the use of reusable masks in times of COVID19. More and more, we see people wearing masks on the streets of our cities. Some to prevent self-infection, others to avoid contagion.

Unfortunately the use is negatively affecting the #environment.

Disposable masks, although they protect us from the spread of the coronavirus, later end up on the streets, in the seas and in nature, causing problems in the environment, affecting wildlife and polluting. That is why, within our small contributions, we must try to make our behaviors more #sustainable, trying to save the planet using reusable and ecological products.

The pandemic has triggered plastic consumption worldwide. And when single-use plastics were about to be buried, the pandemic reached out to them. In Oman the use of single-use plastic bags seems to be coming to an end soon. The Environment Authority has confirmed that it will implement the decision to ban single-use plastic bags in the #Sultanate, starting in January 2021. Although there is still some way to go in environmental improvements.

My contribution is insignificant, it does not have a high impact on the environment.

Perhaps the problem is that we all see change as something distant and difficult to make, nothing could be further from reality, since small changes make big differences. Our individual contribution is important. If we put together small efforts we can make a big difference. A great example is the contribution of the women of Sidab, in the city of Sidab in Oman. The Sidab Women Group is an environmentally friendly project that is based on the manufacture of reusable bags that replace plastic ones, in addition to other products such as masks, and nets to weigh fruits and vegetables.

 

The Sidab Women Group is a model for the empowerment of low-income #Omani women in Sidab city. It transforms housewives into producers, training them to sew bags, masks and different ecological products, which are characterized by a modern design inspired by the cultural heritage of Oman.

 

The bags are made in different shapes and sizes from cotton and knitted fabrics that are woven, traditionally or manually. They are natural materials that are not harmful to the environment and wildlife. They also have a traditional implication as they are related to textile materials made from knitted fabric, which is used to make many garments and items that decorate traditional Omani homes.

The idea was born in 2004 with the benefit of low-income families in the city of Sidab in the governorate of Muscat. Initially they were marketed for #tourists who came to visit the Sultanate. Demand for the bags increased, as did the number of women joining the project, followed by the expansion stage and the rental of a special project site in #Sidab.

Despite the modest beginning about 13 years ago, there is now a center equipped for the project that includes 10 modern machines for the production of bags, as well as special places for sewing. About 30 women currently work in sewing with experience in sewing bags. The Sida women’s group has participated in many activities and exhibitions organized by schools, institutes, hotels and museums. In previous years they have had requests from various government and private institutions to design special bags for the meetings, activities and conferences they organize.

The group promotes the project through social networks, participation in promotional events and meetings with tourism groups. Currently this has decreased due to the current situation with #Covid19. That is why community support is important. With leaving and entering our homes so many times, we need more masks to avoid contagion and maintain hygiene. Instead of using disposable masks, you can support this local initiative and get reusable masks for you and your family.

Personally I decided on an Omani style, or rather #Bedouin style, because in addition to supporting the Sidab women’s organization (#SidabWomen) in the town of Sidab, surrounded by its mountains and with small and picturesque mosques, I like that style, especially to use when exploring Oman with my family. The women of Sidab made a unique design for me, which you can also have if you wish.

This mask is made by imitating the fabrics of nomadic villages and towns in the Middle East. For centuries, the Bedouins have been making their fabrics, originally made with goat hair or sheep or camel wool cloth. Obviously my mask is not made of that material, since now there are reproductions and designs of Bedouin fabrics with synthetic or cotton threads, like those of my mask, but it is still special. It fulfills its function of covering the nose and mouth, but it also gives a different touch while protecting me and other people from the virus.

Take a look at their Instagram account Sidab Women and if you are in Oman visit them and support them by comparing their products, which are always original gifts to bring to family and friends as a souvenir from Oman.