Women Turn Environmental Awareness into Action as Ruaa Centre Concludes Eco-Friendly Bag Training

Ruaa Centre for Strategic Studies, Consultancy and Training has concluded a four-day training course on “Producing Eco-Friendly Bags: Practical Alternatives to Reduce Plastic Bag Use”, equipping women with practical skills to help tackle plastic pollution and contribute to the protection of Yemen’s coastal and marine environment.

The course was organised as part of the “Coastal Women Leaders” project, with support from the Rapid Response Support Fund and in coordination with the General Authority for Environmental Protection.

On the final day, participants put into practice the knowledge and skills they had developed throughout the training, completing a range of reusable fabric bags and presenting products they had produced themselves. The finished products demonstrated the participants’ growing technical skills and their ability to turn environmental awareness into practical, locally produced alternatives.

The Head of Ruaa Centre, Dr Jaklin Al-Batani, said the completion of the training marked the culmination of four days of intensive learning and hands-on practice.

She emphasised that the course was designed not simply to teach women how to make eco-friendly bags, but to empower them to transform their newly acquired skills into practical solutions that can help reduce plastic pollution and protect coastal ecosystems.

“Protecting marine turtles, particularly hatchlings, requires concerted efforts to reduce plastic waste on beaches and around nesting sites,” Al-Batani said. “Producing environmentally friendly alternatives is a practical step towards protecting turtles and their habitats, while helping to give hatchlings a safer passage to the sea.”

She commended the participants for their commitment and active engagement throughout the training, expressing hope that the skills they had acquired would develop into sustainable community initiatives that support both livelihoods and environmental protection.

The products displayed during the closing session reflected the participants’ progress through the different stages of production, from fabric selection and design to cutting, sewing and finishing. The practical work demonstrated how environmental knowledge can be translated into tangible, reusable products.

The course concluded with the distribution of certificates of participation and appreciation to the trainees in recognition of their commitment and active contribution to the programme.

Through initiatives such as this, Ruaa Centre seeks to strengthen women’s role in addressing environmental challenges and promote practical community-based solutions to plastic pollution, contributing to healthier coastal ecosystems and safer habitats for marine turtles.