“I thought that building a family would be the best thing in my life. I never once thought that I wouldn’t have the means to feed my children.”
Abeer is a 34-year-old Palestinian refugee from Gaza and a mother of two. She is the sole provider for her household as her husband is disabled and unable to work. Additionally, she is an orphan and has the responsibility of caring for her two sisters.
Due to the cessation of American funding to UNRWA (the UN agency for refugees) in 2018, Abeer lost her job as a teacher at one of their schools and thus her only source of income. She had to find another way to support her family. She initially started working as a tutor for her neighbors’ children. Unfortunately, due to the dire economic situation in Gaza, this was not enough.
Abeer then learned to make handmade products by taking embroidery and craft classes. She joined the social enterprise Piece of Palestine, which employed Palestinian women from Gaza to make embroidered products. Abeer became a key member of the enterprise, specializing in bags, shawls, and accessories. However, the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the enterprise to close its doors.
Abeer then decided to continue embroidering independently, and it is mainly thanks to you that she can provide for her family.
Considering the current situation in Gaza, her products are not currently available.