November 2022 – Ongoing; funded by Drosos Foundation.
Heritage Works aims to improve the social and economic standards of the people of al-Khalifa by providing training and employment opportunities in heritage industries, through three main pillars:
Athar Lina Heritage Education Program; that includes
- Teenagers program (14 – 17 years): developing research and design-thinking skills through training programs that introduce heritage as a potential field of study and career path.
- Young Adults program (18 – 27 years): offering vocational training in the fields of conservation, crafts, and community activities coordination.
- Women’s program (18 years and above): developing self-expression and personal skills in parallel with crafts, design, and technical skills.
Nareng; formerly the Athar Lina Line, is the outcome of collaborative efforts to offer contemporary products and services stemming from the heritage of al-Khalifa by its people. Proceeds generated from the line are used to sustain the education and training programs.
Discover the products at www.shopnareng.com.
Outreach and Tourism Promotion; Heritage Works also focuses on organizing events to promote al-Khalifa’s heritage and encourage tourism in the area. The main event fulfilling this purpose is the annual Spend the Day in Khalifa (2013-present), an event that is supported by this project since 2023.
The activities offered within this project are made possible through multiple partnerships and collaborations with individuals and institutions working in all fields of heritage industries. Heritage Works is run by the BEC with funding from Drosos Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Solidarity.
Heritage Works builds on the experiences of Athar Lina Initiative in heritage education and industries since 2012. Initially, the focus was to cultivate a connection between the children in al-Khalifa and their heritage through the annual summer camps (2014 – present). Subsequently, the focus expanded by developing the Athar Lina Heritage Design Thinking School project (2018-2022) to enhance the research and design-thinking skills of the summer camp graduates.
