Traditional crafts revived in Raqqa with British support
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – The Culture and Antiquities Board in Raqqa, northern Syria, organized on Thursday an exhibition to revive traditional heritage, in cooperation with a non-governmental organization and with support from the British Council.
Muhammad Hilal, one of the coordinators of the “Raqqa Cultural Heritage for Community Empowerment” project, told North Press that the initiative is supported by the British Council, in partnership with Rehab Meet and Heritage for Peace, and implemented locally with the participation of the Raqqatna organization and the Culture Board in Raqqa.
Hilal said the three-month project includes several heritage-focused activities designed to empower the local community economically. These activities feature papyrus mat weaving mixed with traditional fabrics (known as al-zil), as well as the preparation of popular pastries such as kleija, biscuits, petit fours, saj bread, and sayayil bread.
Another aspect of the project aims to revive handwoven textiles by training young men and women from Raqqa in traditional weaving techniques, passing down skills that were once widely used in the region.
According to Hilal, the project targets the production of 80–90 textile pieces, 35 papyrus mats, and various types of pastries. The work is being carried out by 20 trainees under the supervision of three specialized trainers, each responsible for one craft.
“The main goal of the project,” Hilal concluded, “is to empower the local community economically by creating sources of income through producing and marketing these goods, in addition to reviving Raqqa’s well-known traditional industries.”