Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar kisses a child at the launch of the first festival for families with handicapped members in Riyadh on Wednesday. At right is Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. (SPA)

Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar inaugurated the first festival for families with handicapped members at the King Fahd Cultural Center (KFCC) on Wednesday evening.

The festival, which will last for three days, features a bazaar that displays handicrafts and other products made by families which have members with physical disabilities.

“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman always asks us to take care of the less advantaged and to consider doing so a high priority,” Prince Faisal said. “This charitable event is in line with the king’s directive so I commend those who organized this event for the first time.”

“It is a meaningful idea that focuses attention on a segment of our society which deserves full respect and support for its work and is a duty upon us rather than a request,” he added.

Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) and chairman of the Saudi Handicapped Children Society which organized the event, was also present.

“What these families are displaying in order to earn a decent income is part of the handicrafts that we encourage most strongly at SCTNH. Handicrafts are an important part of what is known as the new economy,” Prince Sultan said, praising Prince Faisal for his support of the idea and the event.

During the ceremony, Prince Sultan honored the government departments and companies that sponsored the event. These include the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Riyadh Municipality, SCTNH, the National Program for Trade and Handcrafts, KFCC, and the Integrated Content Company.

The festival aims to introduce the families and their handicapped members who produce works and crafts and create a venue for selling their products.

The festival which closes on Friday, includes plays and performances based on tradition and folklore, a museum, a sample of children being educated in a traditional school called Kuttab and a traditional public majlis.

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