The Palestinian culture, like many other Middle Eastern cultures, is patriarchal. This usually means that the men serve as heads of the households and the main providers for their families. Since the Intifada began in September 2000, it has become harder for Palestinian men to work. Employment opportunities in Israel have been severely restricted. And the economic downturn has resulted in fewer jobs in their own villages in the West Bank and Gaza. As a result of the challenging economic realities, Palestinian women are now eager to look for opportunities to train, work and generate income. The International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) in Jerusalem, funded in part by the United States Agency for Development (USAID), was been able to train more than 500 women in traditional crafts and agriculture in 12 West Bank villages during 2001 and 2002. These women, particularly ones from the northern regions of the West Bank, have mastered their skills and are accomplished producers of embroidery and agricultural products. However, the women are limited in their ability to peddle their goods because frequent closures and curfews make it difficult to get themto markets. In an effort to assist these women in sharing their products with consumers, IOCC's implementing partner, Melia Art Center of the Arab Orthodox Society in Jerusalem, invited these rural women to participate in its annual bazaar, which took place November 1-3, 2003 in Jerusalem. The women were thrilled with the opportunity to market their products and quickly brought their items to the Project Coordinators in Nablus and Jenin. With IOCC's help, large quantities of embroidery, honey, pickles, thyme, and herbs were transported to Jerusalem despite many closures. Invitations were sent to Consulates, USAID and other international organizations in Jerusalem and advertisements were placed in the local newspapers. The turnout was good and the rural women's products received a lot of community attention and media coverage. Perhaps the most beneficial result of the sale was the income it provided to these women who so desperately need it for their families. For at least a few nights they were able to breathe easier knowing that they had contributed to their household finances, and they remain eager for more opportunities to share their products with consumers. Many organizations have expressed interested in facilitating the marketing of these products and both the Orthodox Council in Nazareth and the Haifa Christian Community have offered to host sales for the women before the end of the year. Contributed by Nora Kort, IOCC |
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