Helping other women find their own writing voices

By Khulood al Eisaii

Creativity, when nurtured, is like a sapling that bears flowers and fruits. Expressing this creativity is allowing it to breath and thrive but remove the expression and creativity dies. When someone knocks at the soul’s door to bring out the beauty that lies within in the form of poetry, a story, or to pen down the flow of thoughts, what more would one want?

Aisha bint Abdullah al Seraihiyah is one such guiding force who has emerged as a North Star, bringing out the hidden talents of women in Dhofar and giving them a canvas on which to paint their thoughts in the form of stories and articles. As a result, Omani women writers have emerged significantly in the Governorate of Dhofar.

Al Seraihiyah is a driving force that encourages women writers to develop their skills. She believes that women should forget their makeup and focus on revealing the hidden beauty of their experiences and thoughts. She founded the “Noon al Niswa” (Women Cultural Council), a non-profit organisation that is first of its kind in Dhofar.

She has been the Director of Coordination and Programmes at the Omani Bahja Association for Orphans since its inception. In 2020 and 2021, she worked as Secretary of the Omani Society for Writers in Dhofar.

“We are currently holding comprehensive workshops for women in the Dhofar governorate every Saturday, with more than 30 women participating, to empower them and enhance their self-confidence and talent,’ said Aisha.

“Due to this intensive training, we were able to publish the first part of ‘Yastroon.’ As we continue these trainings, we can now publish the second part with a new group of women writers”, she added.

Aisha began reading at a young age after being inspired by her father, who was also an avid reader. Since such a young age, she has been a reader ever since. She read about politics, economics, cultural studies, and poetry, and from their her reading interests grew.

She regularly contributes to Al Roya magazine, Oman Daily newspaper, and Gulf Views magazine. Her writings range from short stories to literary essays. She has published several books, including two individual books, the first titled ‘Stones of the Seventh Dawn’ and the second ‘Transient Betrayal’.

She has also contributed to three books with a group of writers from inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman from Arab countries. Her first book, ‘A First Alphabet’, the second book ‘A First Alphabet Part Two’ and the third, ‘When the words are papered’, is a collection of children’s stories.

Aisha conducts workshops on developing writing skills related to cultural or literary aspects in cooperation with the General Directorate of Education. This initiative started in 2020, after the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic as a women’s cultural platform, including a group of female writers.

According to Aisha, among the cultural initiatives in the Sultanate of Oman, the ‘Noon al Niswa’ Cultural Council was officially announced in the Governorate of Dhofar, on November 15, 2022, under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Noon al Niswa does not merely symbolise women or feminity. It is a project that helps give voice to the unspoken and unwritten yet somewhere thriving thoughts.

Aisha and her group members are working relentlessly to make the Council a positive addition to supporting the cultural movement in the Sultanate of Oman. In addition, this non-profit organisation helps in spreading social awareness through literature.

Saeeda al Baramiyah, Tali’a al Shahriyah, and Hana bait Salim are three important names of writers who supported Aisha’s vision of working further on this initiative. Being the first one of its kind, the female writers of Dhofar appreciate this initiative wholeheartedly.

Noon al Niswa aims to train talented women with something to say by following up and supervising them until they begin their literary journey through free voluntary training workshops.

Aisha’s message to the women is to read thoroughly and believe in themselves while voicing their opinions through creative writing. Noon al Niswa provides skills and encourages every budding woman writer.