Abeer

“I thought building a family would be the best thing in my life. I never imagined I wouldn’t be able to feed my children.”

Abeer, a 34-year-old Palestinian refugee from Gaza and mother of two, bears the full responsibility of providing for her family. Her husband is disabled and unable to work, and as an orphan herself, Abeer also cares for her two younger sisters.

In 2018, when the United States cut funding to UNRWA (the UN agency for Palestinian refugees), Abeer lost her job as a teacher in one of their schools—and with it, her only source of income. Determined to support her family, she started working as a tutor for neighborhood children. Sadly, given Gaza’s catastrophic economic situation, this was not nearly enough.

Refusing to give up, Abeer learned embroidery and traditional handicrafts, joining the social enterprise Piece of Palestine, which employed women in Gaza to create embroidered products. She became a key member of the team, specializing in bags, shawls, and accessories. However, the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic forced the enterprise to shut down.

Abeer decided to continue embroidering independently, and it is primarily thanks to your support that she has been able to provide for her family.

Given the current situation in Gaza since October 7, 2023, her products are unfortunately not available at this time.