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Jordan: Empowering Women, Emos and Live Mesh

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Jordan, Arts & Culture, Citizen Media, Economics & Business, Ideas, LGBTQ+, Technology, Women & Gender, Youth

Jewelry desigher/activist Nadia Dajani talks to 7iber.com [1] about her profession, and how she empowers women in Jordan by teaching them how to make and sell handmade well-crafted jewelry:

Nadia Dajani is a rare woman who has been able to combine her talents, unique upbringing and passion to succeed on her own terms in Amman. Even rarer, she is bringing other women along a parallel path with her from some diverse regions of the Middle East. We had the privilege of learning more about Nadia herself, her work, and the where she is taking her expanding vision.

7iber: In addition to being an artist and business woman, you created a new niche in empowering underprivileged local women.

ND: I am a strong advocate for corporate social responsibility, and giving back to the community and to society inspires my work. All our products are handmade in Jordan by Jordanian ladies. Till now, I have trained over thirty needy women in the art of jewelry making in order to provide a livelihood for their families. Most are illiterate, have no education, some even physically challenged, but they are now learning the same principles which propelled me at St. Paul’s. Many have natural artistic inclinations, but of course, had no outlet for these artistic tendencies. I look for women who are enthusiastic about wanting to learn, and to create- for if the love of making a piece is missing, an element of its beauty will be lacking as well. It has been a joy to watch the ladies come alive as their creativity is integrated into satisfying work. They are reflecting the true soul of our country. Through their work, one has built an extension on their small home, another put her daughter through nursing school, and by and large, their self confidence has increased as well as their sense of identity as they have pride in their abilities and their talents.

The Arab Observer [2] talks about the perception of teenage-adopted emo culture amongst older traditional writers:

So you have been to the mall, and were appalled of the behavior of teenagers?
It is not those who smoke that bothered you,
neither those young boys harassing young girls
or even those bored ones, not knowing how to spend their spare time except by strolling back and forth in boredom
What bothered you is their looks!
Guys don't look like “men”? huh
Girls don't look like “women”? huh

It is a totally new culture that you can't understand
so you freak out and warn of a disease!
Satanists are on the rise!
and then you discover homosexuality
It spreads like a cholera for the lack of strict rules! no?
and then
this is something new
a catch for the attention your readers
EMOS!

And Qwaider [3] talks about the new software from Microsoft Live Mesh, which lets you synchronize all your data on your computer and access them from anywhere in the world:

If you've had to share files, pictures, music, favorite radio stations or -whatever- recently you, have probably received them through this AMAZING new technology that has been -literally- long overdue. But in this connected world. There is no such a thing as too late… This Amazing video (check the awesome MacBook Air in it), shows how you can simply and easily synchronize (and simplify) your life