The “With Our Hands, We Create” initiative has been launched, targeting women cancer survivors and their families. The initiative aims to empower them artistically and skillfully through training programs extending over three months. It is implemented under the supervision of the Office of the Wali of Al Buraimi, in cooperation with Samia Al-Gharibi Art Studio, and with support from Oman Liquefied Natural Gas Company. The initiative includes ten participants who are receiving training on the basics of drawing roses and flowers and applying them to canvas and leather bags, enabling them to create artistic works with a creative touch that reflects the refined aesthetic sense of Omani women. The importance of this initiative lies in its psychological and social support for cancer survivors. It contributes to strengthening self-confidence, spreading positivity, and encouraging them to reintegrate into society after their treatment journey. It also provides them with a space for self-expression through art, transforming difficult experiences into creative, inspiring works that reflect resilience and hope. The initiative also offers specialized workshops in skill development, marketing, and product packaging methods, in cooperation with various trainers and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority. These workshops aim to prepare participants to enter the creative industries sector and enable them to transform their artistic passion into sustainable economic opportunities. Artist Samia Al-Gharibi, the program supervisor, affirmed that the initiative seeks to instill a culture of creativity and self-empowerment among survivors and to highlight their ability to give and inspire through art. She praised the support the initiative has received from government and private entities in the governorate. Sharing her experience, one of the cancer survivor participants said: “Through the ‘With Our Hands, We Create’ initiative, I regained my self-confidence and learned how to express my emotions through colors instead of pain. I felt like part of a community that embraces us and gives us a new chance for life and creativity.” The initiative will conclude with a special art exhibition showcasing the beauty of the participants’ artworks and celebrating the outcomes of their three-month training journey, making “With Our Hands, We Create” a model of how art, psychological empowerment, and community support can come together in service of women and the broader community in Al Buraimi Governorate.
