Denara Pop-up Bazaar draws shopping enthusiasts on “Open Day”

By Safna Mailk

Denara Training Institute held its very first Grand Pop-Up-Bazaar at its premises in Mangala Gardens, Colombo 5 recently.

Aspiring women entrepreneurs from different parts of Sri Lanka gathered to showcase a wide array of products from freshly baked cookies to brownies, pastries and handmade designer clothes at the bazaar.

The main sponsors for the Pop-up bazaar were Multilac Group and the Diamonds. Around 50 stalls showcase their brand names at the fair attracting a massive number of visitors to experience shopping for high-quality products at a reasonable cost.

This open day Bazaar at Denara Institute created a platform for all types of women entrepreneurs to showcase their skills and talents to the public. The organisers also set up a play area for kids to be engaged in fun activities allowing parents to have quality time and a worry-free shopping experience at the fair.

Opening the stall, the Indonesian Ambassador H.E. Dewi Gustina Tobing said Ramadan is coming up next month and most Muslims prefer to shop early to be relaxed during the fasting month. They could find most of the products they are looking for at this fair under one roof.

She also said the Indonesian Embassy was privileged to support and take part in such initiatives which will enhance the livelihood of families since most of the women were considered the primary breadwinners in their families.

The pop-up bazaar idea was driven by Derna Training Institute with an aim to extend human capital development in the communities which will make a positive impact on the economy, she added.

The Denara Training Institute Director Fathima Aziz said they came up with this initiative to celebrate International Women’s Day upfront with a Pop-up Bazaar especially targeting women and empowering them with small-scale businesses to enhance their earnings and their communities.

Speaking about the institution Aziz said: “the Denara Training Institute was established in October 2021 with a vision to uplift women in Sri Lanka with skill development in various fields and she was happy that the institution was able to produce skilled women, who are employed and financially stabilised to build their start-up business.”

She explained the meaning behind Denara, the name has a Persian origin which means “children of heaven and earth.”

A recognised standard certification proves students their skills and abilities in the field. Aside from this getting certified builds confidence and increases job satisfaction, while enabling them to take on new challenges.

Fortunately, women who are certified by Denara Institute are widely recognised by employers. Each short course is designed for women with the right skills needed to take up employment in the respective fields and to start their own business, Aziz added.

She said the Denara Institute regularly organises projects to support women's empowerment, “the Shopping Bazaar was a huge success! As an institution, we look forward to having this Pop-up bazaar back next year.”