"Voices of Marsh Women for the Environment" Festival

About the festival

The "Voices of Marsh Women for the Environment" festival took place on Friday, 2 October 2026, at the Palm Garden in Al-Amarah. It aimed to create an open, inclusive public space where women, especially women from the marshes, along with young people, families and the wider community, could take part and engage on the environment, heritage and the role of women.

Activities

• An exhibition of products and work by marsh women
• A bazaar of local products
• Children's activities and a drawing competition
• A panel discussion on women, the environment and the community
• Poetry, music and theatre performances
• An art corner with artists from Maysan Governorate

Volunteers and young people from Maysan helped organize and run the festival.

Results

• An inclusive public space that brought together women, young people, children and families.
• An opportunity for marsh women to show their products and work, rooted in the environment and local heritage, to the public.
• Greater awareness of the role marsh women play in preserving heritage, traditional crafts and the environment.
• Space for dialogue and exchange through the panel discussion.
• Young people and volunteers involved in planning, organizing and running the event.

What we learned

Combining women's issues, the environment and heritage in artistic, cultural and interactive activities brings environmental messages closer to people and encourages participation and dialogue. Volunteering and local partnerships proved able to support community initiatives.

Next steps

• Support marsh women through ongoing exhibitions, bazaars and activities.
• Turn ideas from the panel discussion into practical initiatives.
• Strengthen partnerships with local institutions, universities and volunteer teams.
• Expand environmental and community activities to other areas of Maysan Governorate.